Is Steelix worth grading?
Pokémon · Sandstorm · 23/100 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Steelix sells for $279 against $3.39 raw: a $276 spread, 82× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.66) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $3.39
- PSA 10
- $279
- PSA 9
- $28.66
- Gem premium
- 82×
- As of
- Aug 10, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $279 | +$251 | +$226 | +$126 |
| PSA 9 | $28.66 | +$0.27 | −$24.73 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $20.44 | −$7.95 | −$32.95 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $3.39 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $91.25 | +$37.86 |
| 50% | $154 | +$100 |
| 75% | $216 | +$163 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 10%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $279 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $142 | −$137 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $200 | $142 | — | — |
| 9.5 | — | $59.99 | — | — |
| 9 | $60.42 | $69.65 | $30.09 | — |
| 8.5 | — | $39.81 | — | — |
| 8 | $46.13 | $47.15 | — | — |
| 7.5 | — | $11.00 | — | — |
| 7 | $29.78 | — | — | $3.28 |
| 5 | $15.00 | — | — | — |
| 4 | $16.00 | — | — | — |
| 3 | $7.50 | — | — | — |
| 1 | $69.99 | — | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Sandstorm cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Steelix — FAQ
Is Steelix worth grading?
A PSA 10 Steelix sells for $279 against $3.39 raw: a $276 spread, 82× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($28.66) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Steelix worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Steelix (Sandstorm 23/100) sells for about $279 versus $3.39 for a raw near-mint copy — a 82× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Steelix?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $279, ahead of CGC 10 at $142. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Steelix need for a PSA 10?
PSA publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
What gem rate makes grading Steelix break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Steelix breaks even when it gems about 10% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $28.66).
Is your Pokémon card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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