Is Charmander worth grading?
Pokémon · Mega Evolution Black Star Promos · 038 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 4.8× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Charmander sells for $188 against $39.39 raw: a $149 spread, 4.8× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($47.48) 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)
- $39.39
- PSA 10
- $188
- PSA 9
- $47.48
- Gem premium
- 4.8×
- 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 | $188 | +$124 | +$98.60 | −$1.40 |
| PSA 9 | $47.48 | −$16.91 | −$41.91 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $39.39 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% | $82.61 | −$6.78 |
| 50% | $118 | +$28.34 |
| 75% | $153 | +$63.47 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 30%. 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 | $474 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| TAG 10 | $190 | −$284 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| PSA 10 | $188 | −$286 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $68.54 | −$405 | 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 | $188 | $68.54 | $474 | $190 | $96.07 |
| 9.5 | $36.99 | $46.45 | $89.04 | — | — |
| 9 | $47.48 | $53.53 | $36.90 | $54.78 | $18.74 |
| 8.5 | — | $21.29 | — | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other Mega Evolution Black Star Promos cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Charmander — FAQ
Is Charmander worth grading?
A PSA 10 Charmander sells for $188 against $39.39 raw: a $149 spread, 4.8× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($47.48) 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 Charmander worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Charmander (Mega Evolution Black Star Promos 038) sells for about $188 versus $39.39 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.8× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Charmander?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $474, ahead of TAG 10 at $190. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Charmander 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 Charmander break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Charmander breaks even when it gems about 30% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $47.48).
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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