Is Alien IAN #138a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1986 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Alien IAN #138a sells for $98.24 against $2.84 raw: a $95.40 spread, 35× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($65.00) 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)
- $2.84
- PSA 10
- $98.24
- PSA 9
- $65.00
- Gem premium
- 35×
- 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 | $98.24 | +$70.40 | +$45.40 | −$54.60 |
| PSA 9 | $65.00 | +$37.16 | +$12.16 | −$87.84 |
| PSA 8 | $19.70 | −$8.14 | −$33.14 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $2.84 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% | $73.31 | +$20.47 |
| 50% | $81.62 | +$28.78 |
| 75% | $89.93 | +$37.09 |
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 | $128 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $98.24 | −$29.76 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $59.00 | −$69.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $59.00 | −$69.00 | 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 | $98.24 | $59.00 | $128 | $59.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $72.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $65.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $19.70 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $16.00 |
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 Alien IAN #138a — FAQ
Is Alien IAN #138a worth grading?
A PSA 10 Alien IAN #138a sells for $98.24 against $2.84 raw: a $95.40 spread, 35× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($65.00) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Alien IAN #138a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Alien IAN #138a (1986 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $98.24 versus $2.84 for a raw near-mint copy — a 35× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Alien IAN #138a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $128, ahead of PSA 10 at $98.24. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Alien IAN #138a 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.
Check my card free