Is Pikachu ex worth grading?
Pokémon · Ascended Heroes · 057/217 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu ex sells for $103 against $3.38 raw: a $99.39 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.12) 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)
- $3.38
- PSA 10
- $103
- PSA 9
- $50.12
- Gem premium
- 30×
- 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 | $103 | +$74.39 | +$49.39 | −$50.61 |
| PSA 9 | $50.12 | +$21.74 | −$3.26 | −$103 |
Net = sale price − $3.38 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% | $63.28 | +$9.90 |
| 50% | $76.44 | +$23.06 |
| 75% | $89.61 | +$36.23 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 6%. 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 |
| TAG 10 | $125 | −$275 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| PSA 10 | $103 | −$297 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $39.99 | −$360 | 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 | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $103 | $39.99 | $400 | $125 | $24.23 |
| 9.5 | — | $10.50 | — | — | — |
| 9 | $50.12 | $14.46 | — | $16.21 | — |
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 ex — FAQ
Is Pikachu ex worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu ex sells for $103 against $3.38 raw: a $99.39 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.12) 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 ex worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pikachu ex (Ascended Heroes 057/217) sells for about $103 versus $3.38 for a raw near-mint copy — a 30× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu ex?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $400, ahead of TAG 10 at $125. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pikachu ex 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 ex break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Pikachu ex breaks even when it gems about 6% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $50.12).
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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