Is Steelix worth grading?
Pokémon · HS—Unleashed · 87/95 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Steelix sells for $1,775 against $124 raw: a $1,651 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($986) 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)
- $124
- PSA 10
- $1,775
- PSA 9
- $986
- Gem premium
- 14×
- 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 | $1,775 | +$1,626 | +$1,601 | +$1,501 |
| PSA 9 | $986 | +$837 | +$812 | +$712 |
| PSA 8 | $217 | +$67.72 | +$42.72 | −$57.28 |
Net = sale price − $124 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% | $1,183 | +$1,009 |
| 50% | $1,380 | +$1,206 |
| 75% | $1,577 | +$1,404 |
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 | $1,775 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $540 | −$1,235 | 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 | TAG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,775 | $540 | — | — |
| 9 | $986 | $145 | $81.00 | — |
| 8.5 | — | $53.72 | — | — |
| 8 | $217 | $44.97 | — | — |
| 7 | $147 | — | — | — |
| 6.5 | — | $18.09 | — | — |
| 6 | $23.80 | — | — | $115 |
| 5 | $54.21 | — | — | — |
| 4 | $22.48 | $15.00 | — | — |
| 2 | $41.00 | — | — | — |
| 1 | $150 | — | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other HS—Unleashed cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Steelix — FAQ
Is Steelix worth grading?
A PSA 10 Steelix sells for $1,775 against $124 raw: a $1,651 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($986) 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 Steelix worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Steelix (HS—Unleashed 87/95) sells for about $1,775 versus $124 for a raw near-mint copy — a 14× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Steelix?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $1,775, ahead of CGC 10 at $540. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Steelix 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.
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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