Is Lt. Surge's Raichu worth grading?
Pokémon · Gym Challenge · 11/132 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lt. Surge's Raichu sells for $2,484 against $170 raw: a $2,314 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($466) 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)
- $170
- PSA 10
- $2,484
- PSA 9
- $466
- Gem premium
- 15×
- As of
- Sep 29, 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 | $2,484 | +$2,289 | +$2,264 | +$2,164 |
| PSA 9 | $466 | +$271 | +$246 | +$146 |
| PSA 8 | $254 | +$59.48 | +$34.48 | −$65.52 |
Net = sale price − $170 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% | $971 | +$751 |
| 50% | $1,475 | +$1,255 |
| 75% | $1,980 | +$1,760 |
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 | $1,667 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $281 | −$1,387 | 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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Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Other Gym Challenge cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Lt. Surge's Raichu — FAQ
Is Lt. Surge's Raichu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lt. Surge's Raichu sells for $2,484 against $170 raw: a $2,314 spread, 15× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($466) 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 Raichu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lt. Surge's Raichu (Gym Challenge 11/132) sells for about $2,484 versus $170 for a raw near-mint copy — a 15× premium as of Sep 29, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lt. Surge's Raichu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $1,667, ahead of CGC 10 at $281. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lt. Surge's Raichu 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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