Is Zapdos ex worth grading?
Pokémon · Nintendo Black Star Promos · 033 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Zapdos ex sells for $754 against $135 raw: a $619 spread, 5.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($701) 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)
- $135
- PSA 10
- $754
- PSA 9
- $701
- Gem premium
- 5.6×
- As of
- Sep 11, 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 | $754 | +$594 | +$569 | +$469 |
| PSA 9 | $701 | +$541 | +$516 | +$416 |
| PSA 8 | $444 | +$284 | +$259 | +$159 |
Net = sale price − $135 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% | $714 | +$529 |
| 50% | $728 | +$543 |
| 75% | $741 | +$556 |
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 | $754 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $316 | −$438 | 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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Grading Zapdos ex — FAQ
Is Zapdos ex worth grading?
A PSA 10 Zapdos ex sells for $754 against $135 raw: a $619 spread, 5.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($701) 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 Zapdos ex worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Zapdos ex (Nintendo Black Star Promos 033) sells for about $754 versus $135 for a raw near-mint copy — a 5.6× premium as of Sep 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Zapdos ex?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $754, ahead of CGC 10 at $316. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Zapdos ex 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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