Is Ray Bourque #3 worth grading?
Hockey · Hockey Cards 1996 Spx · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Ray Bourque #3 brings $29.99 versus $1.77 raw — a $28.22 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($18.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.77
- PSA 10
- $29.99
- PSA 9
- $18.50
- Gem premium
- 17×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $29.99 | +$3.22 | −$21.78 | −$122 |
| PSA 9 | $18.50 | −$8.27 | −$33.27 | −$133 |
| PSA 8 | $10.23 | −$16.54 | −$41.54 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $1.77 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% | $21.37 | −$30.40 |
| 50% | $24.24 | −$27.53 |
| 75% | $27.12 | −$24.65 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $39.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $29.99 | −$9.01 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $18.00 | −$21.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $18.00 | −$21.00 | 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 →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 1996 Spx cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Jaromir Jagr [Gold] #38 1996 Spx card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/Su4AAeSwmL1qu~a-/s-l500.jpg)
![Wayne Gretzky [Gold] #39 1996 Spx card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jaAAAOSw~9Ji12lc/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Ray Bourque #3 — FAQ
Is Ray Bourque #3 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ray Bourque #3 brings $29.99 versus $1.77 raw — a $28.22 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($18.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Ray Bourque #3 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ray Bourque #3 (Hockey Cards 1996 Spx) sells for about $29.99 versus $1.77 for a raw near-mint copy — a 17× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ray Bourque #3?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $39.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $29.99. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ray Bourque #3 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.
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