Is Zach Thomas #26 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2006 Topps Chrome · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 401× premium in Grade 9.5
A Grade 9.5 Zach Thomas #26 sells for $630 against $1.57 raw: a $628 spread, 401× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($9.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.57
- Grade 9.5
- $630
- PSA 9
- $9.99
- Gem premium
- 401×
- As of
- Sep 4, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $630 | +$603 | +$578 | +$478 |
| PSA 9 | $9.99 | −$16.58 | −$41.58 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $1.57 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% | $165 | +$113 |
| 50% | $320 | +$268 |
| 75% | $475 | +$423 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 7%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2006 Topps Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
![Tom Brady [Refractor] #106 2006 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Z7MAAeSwXulqnwdi/s-l500.jpg)
![Peyton Manning [Refractor] #8 2006 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/kFgAAeSwuY1qQwCo/s-l500.jpg)
![Aaron Rodgers [Red Refractor] #14 2006 Topps Chrome card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/dcgAAeSwDO9pHeD~/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Zach Thomas #26 — FAQ
Is Zach Thomas #26 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Zach Thomas #26 sells for $630 against $1.57 raw: a $628 spread, 401× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($9.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
What gem rate makes grading Zach Thomas #26 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Zach Thomas #26 breaks even when it gems about 7% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $9.99).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your football 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.
