Is Swell MEL #20a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1985 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Swell MEL #20a sells for $832 against $12.74 raw: a $819 spread, 65× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($110) 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)
- $12.74
- PSA 10
- $832
- PSA 9
- $110
- Gem premium
- 65×
- 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 | $832 | +$794 | +$769 | +$669 |
| PSA 9 | $110 | +$72.64 | +$47.64 | −$52.36 |
| PSA 8 | $43.94 | +$6.20 | −$18.80 | −$119 |
Net = sale price − $12.74 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% | $291 | +$228 |
| 50% | $471 | +$408 |
| 75% | $652 | +$589 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $1,081 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $832 | −$249 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $499 | −$582 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $499 | −$582 | 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 | $832 | $499 | $1,081 | $499 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $121 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $110 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $43.94 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $24.95 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1985 Garbage Pail Kids cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Swell MEL #20a — FAQ
Is Swell MEL #20a worth grading?
A PSA 10 Swell MEL #20a sells for $832 against $12.74 raw: a $819 spread, 65× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($110) 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 Swell MEL #20a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Swell MEL #20a (1985 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $832 versus $12.74 for a raw near-mint copy — a 65× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Swell MEL #20a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $1,081, ahead of PSA 10 at $832. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Swell MEL #20a 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.
Is your Garbage Pail Kids 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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