Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · Ascended Heroes · 055/217 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 376× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $132 against $0.35 raw: a $131 spread, 376× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($24.30) 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)
- $0.35
- PSA 10
- $132
- PSA 9
- $24.30
- Gem premium
- 376×
- As of
- Oct 4, 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 | $132 | +$106 | +$81.40 | −$18.60 |
| PSA 9 | $24.30 | −$1.05 | −$26.05 | −$126 |
| PSA 8 | $13.67 | −$11.68 | −$36.68 | −$137 |
Net = sale price − $0.35 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% | $51.16 | +$0.81 |
| 50% | $78.03 | +$27.68 |
| 75% | $105 | +$54.54 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 24%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $132 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $26.26 | −$105 | 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 Ascended Heroes cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $132 against $0.35 raw: a $131 spread, 376× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($24.30) 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 Pikachu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pikachu (Ascended Heroes 055/217) sells for about $132 versus $0.35 for a raw near-mint copy — a 376× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $132, ahead of CGC 10 at $26.26. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pikachu 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.
What gem rate makes grading Pikachu break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Pikachu breaks even when it gems about 24% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $24.30).
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.
