Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · Nintendo Black Star Promos · 012 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $6,356 against $157 raw: a $6,199 spread, 41× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($887) 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)
- $157
- PSA 10
- $6,356
- PSA 9
- $887
- Gem premium
- 41×
- As of
- Sep 30, 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 | $6,356 | +$6,174 | +$6,149 | +$6,049 |
| PSA 9 | $887 | +$705 | +$680 | +$580 |
| PSA 8 | $382 | +$200 | +$175 | +$75.48 |
Net = sale price − $157 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% | $2,254 | +$2,047 |
| 50% | $3,621 | +$3,415 |
| 75% | $4,988 | +$4,782 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $6,356 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $5,400 | −$956 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $1,228 | −$5,128 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $810 | −$5,546 | 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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Other Nintendo Black Star Promos cards worth checking
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Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $6,356 against $157 raw: a $6,199 spread, 41× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($887) 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 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pikachu (Nintendo Black Star Promos 012) sells for about $6,356 versus $157 for a raw near-mint copy — a 41× premium as of Sep 30, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $6,356, ahead of TAG 10 at $5,400. 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.
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