Is Split KIT #81a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1985 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Split KIT #81a sells for $54.00 against $2.99 raw: a $51.01 spread, 18× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.00) 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)
- $2.99
- Grade 9.5
- $54.00
- PSA 9
- $49.00
- Gem premium
- 18×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $54.00 | +$26.01 | +$1.01 | −$98.99 |
| PSA 9 | $49.00 | +$21.01 | −$3.99 | −$104 |
| PSA 8 | $44.99 | +$17.00 | −$8.00 | −$108 |
Net = sale price − $2.99 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% | $50.25 | −$2.74 |
| 50% | $51.50 | −$1.49 |
| 75% | $52.75 | −$0.24 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 80%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $54.00 |
| 9 | $49.00 |
| 8 | $44.99 |
| 7 | $13.50 |
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 Split KIT #81a — FAQ
Is Split KIT #81a worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Split KIT #81a sells for $54.00 against $2.99 raw: a $51.01 spread, 18× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.00) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Split KIT #81a break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Split KIT #81a breaks even when it gems about 80% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $49.00).
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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