Is Steelix worth grading?
Pokémon · Mega Evolution · 093/132 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Steelix brings $31.95 versus $0.17 raw — a $31.78 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($16.57) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.17
- PSA 10
- $31.95
- PSA 9
- $16.57
- Gem premium
- 188×
- 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 | $31.95 | +$6.78 | −$18.22 | −$118 |
| PSA 9 | $16.57 | −$8.60 | −$33.60 | −$134 |
| PSA 8 | $9.99 | −$15.18 | −$40.18 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $0.17 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% | $20.41 | −$29.76 |
| 50% | $24.26 | −$25.91 |
| 75% | $28.10 | −$22.07 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG 10 | $60.00 | best | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| PSA 10 | $54.86 | −$5.14 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $49.99 | −$10.01 | 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 | TAG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $54.86 | $49.99 | $60.00 |
| 9 | $14.50 | — | — |
| 8.5 | — | — | $5.00 |
| 8 | $9.99 | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Mega Evolution cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Steelix — FAQ
Is Steelix worth grading?
A PSA 10 Steelix brings $31.95 versus $0.17 raw — a $31.78 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($16.57) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Steelix worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Steelix (Mega Evolution 093/132) sells for about $31.95 versus $0.17 for a raw near-mint copy — a 188× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Steelix?
By resale value, TAG 10 leads at $60.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $54.86. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Steelix need for a TAG 10?
TAG publishes 55/45 front and 72/28 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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