Is Smelly KELLY #43a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1985 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Smelly KELLY #43a sells for $269 against $4.72 raw: a $264 spread, 57× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.66) 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)
- $4.72
- PSA 10
- $269
- PSA 9
- $59.66
- Gem premium
- 57×
- 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 | $269 | +$239 | +$214 | +$114 |
| PSA 9 | $59.66 | +$29.94 | +$4.94 | −$95.06 |
| PSA 8 | $55.00 | +$25.28 | +$0.28 | −$99.72 |
Net = sale price − $4.72 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% | $112 | +$57.26 |
| 50% | $164 | +$110 |
| 75% | $217 | +$162 |
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 | $350 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $269 | −$81.05 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $161 | −$189 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $161 | −$189 | 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 | $269 | $161 | $350 | $161 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $66.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $59.66 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $55.00 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $31.96 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
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Full set checklist →Grading Smelly KELLY #43a — FAQ
Is Smelly KELLY #43a worth grading?
A PSA 10 Smelly KELLY #43a sells for $269 against $4.72 raw: a $264 spread, 57× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.66) 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 Smelly KELLY #43a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Smelly KELLY #43a (1985 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $269 versus $4.72 for a raw near-mint copy — a 57× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Smelly KELLY #43a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $350, ahead of PSA 10 at $269. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Smelly KELLY #43a 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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