Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · McDonald's Collection 2021 · 25/25 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $183 against $4.12 raw: a $179 spread, 44× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.67) 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)
- $4.12
- PSA 10
- $183
- PSA 9
- $31.67
- Gem premium
- 44×
- As of
- Sep 21, 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 | $183 | +$154 | +$129 | +$28.63 |
| PSA 9 | $31.67 | +$2.55 | −$22.45 | −$122 |
| PSA 8 | $18.94 | −$10.18 | −$35.18 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $4.12 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% | $69.44 | +$15.32 |
| 50% | $107 | +$53.09 |
| 75% | $145 | +$90.86 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 15%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $400 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $357 | −$43.04 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $107 | −$293 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $37.68 | −$362 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other McDonald's Collection 2021 cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $183 against $4.12 raw: a $179 spread, 44× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.67) 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 (McDonald's Collection 2021 25/25) sells for about $183 versus $4.12 for a raw near-mint copy — a 44× premium as of Sep 21, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $400, ahead of PSA 10 at $357. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pikachu need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 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 15% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $31.67).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Pokémon card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
