Is Onix worth grading?
Pokémon · Sandstorm · 71/100 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Onix sells for $288 against $0.94 raw: a $287 spread, 306× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.99) 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)
- $0.94
- PSA 10
- $288
- PSA 9
- $29.99
- Gem premium
- 306×
- 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 | $288 | +$262 | +$237 | +$137 |
| PSA 9 | $29.99 | +$4.05 | −$20.95 | −$121 |
| PSA 8 | $10.50 | −$15.44 | −$40.44 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $0.94 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% | $94.40 | +$43.46 |
| 50% | $159 | +$108 |
| 75% | $223 | +$172 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 8%. 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 | $288 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $37.33 | −$250 | 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 | $69.83 | $37.33 |
| 9.5 | — | $69.99 |
| 9 | $44.55 | $54.85 |
| 8.5 | — | $29.96 |
| 8 | $34.96 | $24.99 |
| 7 | $38.07 | — |
| 6 | $7.50 | — |
| 5 | $43.00 | — |
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 Onix — FAQ
Is Onix worth grading?
A PSA 10 Onix sells for $288 against $0.94 raw: a $287 spread, 306× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.99) 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 Onix worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Onix (Sandstorm 71/100) sells for about $288 versus $0.94 for a raw near-mint copy — a 306× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Onix?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $288, ahead of CGC 10 at $37.33. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Onix 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 Onix break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Onix breaks even when it gems about 8% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $29.99).
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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