Is Ekans worth grading?
Pokémon · Sandstorm · 64/100 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ekans sells for $149 against $0.71 raw: a $148 spread, 210× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($55.27) 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)
- $0.71
- PSA 10
- $149
- PSA 9
- $55.27
- Gem premium
- 210×
- 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 | $149 | +$123 | +$98.17 | −$1.83 |
| PSA 9 | $55.27 | +$29.56 | +$4.56 | −$95.44 |
| PSA 8 | $31.93 | +$6.22 | −$18.78 | −$119 |
Net = sale price − $0.71 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% | $78.67 | +$27.96 |
| 50% | $102 | +$51.37 |
| 75% | $125 | +$74.77 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $149 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $149 | −$0.15 | 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 | $16.50 | $149 |
| 9.5 | — | $25.00 |
| 9 | $69.94 | — |
| 8.5 | — | $7.00 |
| 8 | $31.93 | — |
| 7.5 | — | $15.00 |
| 7 | $6.00 | — |
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 Ekans — FAQ
Is Ekans worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ekans sells for $149 against $0.71 raw: a $148 spread, 210× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($55.27) 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 Ekans worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ekans (Sandstorm 64/100) sells for about $149 versus $0.71 for a raw near-mint copy — a 210× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ekans?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $149, ahead of PSA 10 at $149. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ekans need for a CGC 10?
CGC 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.
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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