Is Volbeat worth grading?
Pokémon · Sandstorm · 53/100 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Volbeat sells for $270 against $2.11 raw: a $267 spread, 128× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.27) 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)
- $2.11
- PSA 10
- $270
- PSA 9
- $45.27
- Gem premium
- 128×
- 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 | $270 | +$242 | +$217 | +$117 |
| PSA 9 | $45.27 | +$18.16 | −$6.84 | −$107 |
| PSA 8 | $7.50 | −$19.61 | −$44.61 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $2.11 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% | $101 | +$49.22 |
| 50% | $157 | +$105 |
| 75% | $213 | +$161 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $270 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $44.48 | −$225 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $270 | $44.48 |
| 9.5 | — | $17.54 |
| 9 | $45.27 | $39.94 |
| 8.5 | — | $29.84 |
| 8 | $6.66 | $6.00 |
Run your own numbers
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Other Sandstorm cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Volbeat — FAQ
Is Volbeat worth grading?
A PSA 10 Volbeat sells for $270 against $2.11 raw: a $267 spread, 128× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($45.27) 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 Volbeat worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Volbeat (Sandstorm 53/100) sells for about $270 versus $2.11 for a raw near-mint copy — a 128× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Volbeat?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $270, ahead of CGC 10 at $44.48. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Volbeat 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 Volbeat break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Volbeat breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $45.27).
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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