Is Lt. Surge's Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · Gym Heroes · 81/132 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lt. Surge's Pikachu sells for $1,456 against $25.56 raw: a $1,430 spread, 57× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($163) 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)
- $25.56
- PSA 10
- $1,456
- PSA 9
- $163
- Gem premium
- 57×
- As of
- Aug 20, 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 | $1,456 | +$1,405 | +$1,380 | +$1,280 |
| PSA 9 | $163 | +$113 | +$87.72 | −$12.28 |
| PSA 8 | $57.32 | +$6.76 | −$18.24 | −$118 |
Net = sale price − $25.56 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% | $486 | +$411 |
| 50% | $809 | +$734 |
| 75% | $1,133 | +$1,057 |
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 | $655 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $66.74 | −$588 | 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 Lt. Surge's Pikachu — FAQ
Is Lt. Surge's Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lt. Surge's Pikachu sells for $1,456 against $25.56 raw: a $1,430 spread, 57× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($163) 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 Lt. Surge's Pikachu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lt. Surge's Pikachu (Gym Heroes 81/132) sells for about $1,456 versus $25.56 for a raw near-mint copy — a 57× premium as of Aug 20, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lt. Surge's Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $655, ahead of CGC 10 at $66.74. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lt. Surge's 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.
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