Is Lugia worth grading?
Pokémon · POP Series 5 · 2/17 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lugia sells for $511 against $152 raw: a $359 spread, 3.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,011) 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)
- $152
- PSA 10
- $511
- PSA 9
- $5,011
- Gem premium
- 3.4×
- As of
- Sep 29, 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 | $511 | +$334 | +$309 | +$209 |
| PSA 9 | $5,011 | +$4,834 | +$4,809 | +$4,709 |
| PSA 8 | $266 | +$89.08 | +$64.08 | −$35.92 |
Net = sale price − $152 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% | $3,886 | +$3,684 |
| 50% | $2,761 | +$2,559 |
| 75% | $1,636 | +$1,434 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $600 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $511 | −$88.99 | 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 Lugia — FAQ
Is Lugia worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lugia sells for $511 against $152 raw: a $359 spread, 3.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,011) 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 Lugia worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lugia (POP Series 5 2/17) sells for about $511 versus $152 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3.4× premium as of Sep 29, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lugia?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $600, ahead of PSA 10 at $511. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lugia need for a CGC 10?
CGC 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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