Is Zekrom ex #172 worth grading?
Pokémon · Pokemon Black Bolt · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Zekrom ex #172 brings $1,438 versus $595 raw — a $843 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($550) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $595
- PSA 10
- $1,438
- PSA 9
- $550
- Gem premium
- 2.4×
- As of
- Sep 6, 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 | $1,438 | +$818 | +$793 | +$693 |
| PSA 9 | $550 | −$70.19 | −$95.19 | −$195 |
| PSA 8 | $515 | −$105 | −$130 | −$230 |
Net = sale price − $595 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% | $772 | +$127 |
| 50% | $994 | +$349 |
| 75% | $1,216 | +$571 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 11%. 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 | $1,869 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $1,438 | −$431 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $863 | −$1,006 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $650 | −$1,219 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Pokemon Black Bolt cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Zekrom ex #172 — FAQ
Is Zekrom ex #172 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Zekrom ex #172 brings $1,438 versus $595 raw — a $843 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($550) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Zekrom ex #172 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Zekrom ex #172 (Pokemon Black Bolt) sells for about $1,438 versus $595 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.4× premium as of Sep 6, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Zekrom ex #172?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,869, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,438. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Zekrom ex #172 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 Zekrom ex #172 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Zekrom ex #172 breaks even when it gems about 11% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $550).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Pokémon card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
