Is Steelix worth grading?
Pokémon · Mega Evolution · 150/132 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 8.6× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Steelix sells for $69.01 against $8.01 raw: a $61.00 spread, 8.6× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($23.16) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $8.01
- PSA 10
- $69.01
- PSA 9
- $23.16
- Gem premium
- 8.6×
- As of
- Aug 23, 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 | $69.01 | +$36.00 | +$11.00 | −$89.00 |
| PSA 9 | $23.16 | −$9.85 | −$34.85 | −$135 |
| PSA 8 | $12.30 | −$20.71 | −$45.71 | −$146 |
Net = sale price − $8.01 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% | $34.62 | −$23.39 |
| 50% | $46.09 | −$11.92 |
| 75% | $57.55 | −$0.46 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 76%. 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 | $216 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| TAG 10 | $73.66 | −$142 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| PSA 10 | $69.01 | −$146 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $24.07 | −$191 | 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 Steelix — FAQ
Is Steelix worth grading?
A PSA 10 Steelix sells for $69.01 against $8.01 raw: a $61.00 spread, 8.6× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($23.16) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. 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 (Mega Evolution 150/132) sells for about $69.01 versus $8.01 for a raw near-mint copy — a 8.6× premium as of Aug 23, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Steelix?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $216, ahead of TAG 10 at $73.66. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Steelix 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 Steelix break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Steelix breaks even when it gems about 76% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $23.16).
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