Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · Sandstorm · 72/100 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $710 against $12.38 raw: a $698 spread, 57× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($61.78) 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)
- $12.38
- PSA 10
- $710
- PSA 9
- $61.78
- Gem premium
- 57×
- 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 | $710 | +$673 | +$648 | +$548 |
| PSA 9 | $61.78 | +$24.40 | −$0.60 | −$101 |
| PSA 8 | $45.69 | +$8.31 | −$16.69 | −$117 |
Net = sale price − $12.38 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% | $224 | +$161 |
| 50% | $386 | +$323 |
| 75% | $548 | +$486 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 0%. 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 | $1,993 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $750 | −$1,243 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,993 | $750 | — |
| 9.5 | — | $250 | — |
| 9 | $599 | $225 | — |
| 8.5 | — | $115 | $396 |
| 8 | $269 | $196 | $42.00 |
| 7.5 | — | $62.00 | — |
| 7 | $127 | $14.00 | — |
| 6.5 | $248 | — | — |
| 6 | $198 | — | — |
| 5 | $39.80 | — | — |
| 4 | $47.00 | — | — |
| 1 | $70.00 | — | — |
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 Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $710 against $12.38 raw: a $698 spread, 57× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($61.78) 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 Pikachu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pikachu (Sandstorm 72/100) sells for about $710 versus $12.38 for a raw near-mint copy — a 57× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $1,993, ahead of CGC 10 at $750. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pikachu 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 Pikachu break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Pikachu breaks even when it gems about 0% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $61.78).
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.
Check my card free