Is Salamence worth grading?
Pokémon · Dragon · 10/97 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Salamence sells for $5,392 against $327 raw: a $5,065 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($509) 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)
- $327
- PSA 10
- $5,392
- PSA 9
- $509
- Gem premium
- 16×
- As of
- Oct 4, 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 | $5,392 | +$5,040 | +$5,015 | +$4,915 |
| PSA 9 | $509 | +$157 | +$132 | +$32.13 |
| PSA 8 | $306 | −$45.69 | −$70.69 | −$171 |
Net = sale price − $327 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% | $1,730 | +$1,353 |
| 50% | $2,951 | +$2,574 |
| 75% | $4,171 | +$3,794 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $5,392 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $651 | −$4,741 | 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.
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Grading Salamence — FAQ
Is Salamence worth grading?
A PSA 10 Salamence sells for $5,392 against $327 raw: a $5,065 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($509) 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 Salamence worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Salamence (Dragon 10/97) sells for about $5,392 versus $327 for a raw near-mint copy — a 16× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Salamence?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $5,392, ahead of CGC 10 at $651. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Salamence 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.
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