Is MAX Axe #137a worth grading?
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Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 MAX Axe #137a sells for $110 against $1.37 raw: a $108 spread, 80× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.99) 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)
- $1.37
- PSA 10
- $110
- PSA 9
- $37.99
- Gem premium
- 80×
- 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 | $110 | +$83.14 | +$58.14 | −$41.86 |
| PSA 9 | $37.99 | +$11.62 | −$13.38 | −$113 |
| PSA 8 | $11.48 | −$14.89 | −$39.89 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $1.37 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% | $55.87 | +$4.50 |
| 50% | $73.75 | +$22.38 |
| 75% | $91.63 | +$40.26 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 19%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $142 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $110 | −$32.49 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $66.00 | −$76.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $25.01 | −$117 | 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 | $110 | $25.01 | $142 | $66.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $42.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $37.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $11.48 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $9.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1986 Garbage Pail Kids cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading MAX Axe #137a — FAQ
Is MAX Axe #137a worth grading?
A PSA 10 MAX Axe #137a sells for $110 against $1.37 raw: a $108 spread, 80× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($37.99) 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 MAX Axe #137a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 MAX Axe #137a (1986 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $110 versus $1.37 for a raw near-mint copy — a 80× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for MAX Axe #137a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $142, ahead of PSA 10 at $110. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does MAX Axe #137a 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.
What gem rate makes grading MAX Axe #137a break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting MAX Axe #137a breaks even when it gems about 19% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $37.99).
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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