Is KIM Kong #34a worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 KIM Kong #34a sells for $606 against $12.03 raw: a $594 spread, 50× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($107) 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)
- $12.03
- PSA 10
- $606
- PSA 9
- $107
- Gem premium
- 50×
- 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 | $606 | +$569 | +$544 | +$444 |
| PSA 9 | $107 | +$70.09 | +$45.09 | −$54.91 |
| PSA 8 | $58.28 | +$21.25 | −$3.75 | −$104 |
Net = sale price − $12.03 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% | $232 | +$170 |
| 50% | $356 | +$294 |
| 75% | $481 | +$419 |
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 | $788 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $606 | −$182 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $364 | −$424 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $364 | −$424 | 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 | $606 | $364 | $788 | $364 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $118 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $107 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $58.28 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $38.02 |
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 KIM Kong #34a — FAQ
Is KIM Kong #34a worth grading?
A PSA 10 KIM Kong #34a sells for $606 against $12.03 raw: a $594 spread, 50× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($107) 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 KIM Kong #34a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 KIM Kong #34a (1985 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $606 versus $12.03 for a raw near-mint copy — a 50× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for KIM Kong #34a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $788, ahead of PSA 10 at $606. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does KIM Kong #34a 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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