Is Wayne Gretzky #256 worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky #256 sells for $114 against $3.99 raw: a $110 spread, 28× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.01) 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)
- $3.99
- PSA 10
- $114
- PSA 9
- $41.01
- Gem premium
- 28×
- As of
- Jul 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 | $114 | +$84.62 | +$59.62 | −$40.38 |
| PSA 9 | $41.01 | +$12.02 | −$12.98 | −$113 |
| PSA 8 | $16.44 | −$12.55 | −$37.55 | −$138 |
Net = sale price − $3.99 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% | $59.16 | +$5.17 |
| 50% | $77.31 | +$23.32 |
| 75% | $95.46 | +$41.47 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 18%. 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 | $148 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $114 | −$34.39 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $68.00 | −$80.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $68.00 | −$80.00 | 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 | $114 | $68.00 | $148 | $68.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $45.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $41.01 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $16.44 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $7.00 |
Run your own numbers
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Grading Wayne Gretzky #256 — FAQ
Is Wayne Gretzky #256 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky #256 sells for $114 against $3.99 raw: a $110 spread, 28× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.01) 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 Wayne Gretzky #256 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Wayne Gretzky #256 (Hockey Cards 1982 Topps Stickers) sells for about $114 versus $3.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 28× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Wayne Gretzky #256?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $148, ahead of PSA 10 at $114. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Wayne Gretzky #256 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 Wayne Gretzky #256 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Wayne Gretzky #256 breaks even when it gems about 18% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $41.01).
Is your hockey 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.
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