Is Darth Vader #29 worth grading?
Star Wars · Star Wars 2025 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Darth Vader #29 sells for $94.12 against $1.97 raw: a $92.15 spread, 48× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.00) 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)
- $1.97
- PSA 10
- $94.12
- PSA 9
- $41.00
- Gem premium
- 48×
- As of
- Aug 16, 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 | $94.12 | +$67.15 | +$42.15 | −$57.85 |
| PSA 9 | $41.00 | +$14.03 | −$10.97 | −$111 |
| PSA 8 | $20.69 | −$6.28 | −$31.28 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $1.97 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% | $54.28 | +$2.31 |
| 50% | $67.56 | +$15.59 |
| 75% | $80.84 | +$28.87 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 21%. 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 | $122 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $94.12 | −$27.88 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $56.00 | −$66.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $22.95 | −$99.05 | 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 | SGC | Graded |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $94.12 | $22.95 | $122 | $56.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $45.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $41.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $20.69 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Star Wars 2025 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Darth Vader #29 — FAQ
Is Darth Vader #29 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Darth Vader #29 sells for $94.12 against $1.97 raw: a $92.15 spread, 48× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.00) 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 Darth Vader #29 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Darth Vader #29 (Star Wars 2025 Topps Chrome) sells for about $94.12 versus $1.97 for a raw near-mint copy — a 48× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Darth Vader #29?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $122, ahead of PSA 10 at $94.12. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Darth Vader #29 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 Darth Vader #29 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Darth Vader #29 breaks even when it gems about 21% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $41.00).
Is your Star Wars 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.
Check my card free