Is TOM Thumb #218a worth grading?
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Strong grading candidate — 22× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 TOM Thumb #218a sells for $48.87 against $2.25 raw: a $46.62 spread, 22× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($24.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $2.25
- PSA 10
- $48.87
- PSA 9
- $24.99
- Gem premium
- 22×
- 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 | $48.87 | +$21.62 | −$3.38 | −$103 |
| PSA 9 | $24.99 | −$2.26 | −$27.26 | −$127 |
Net = sale price − $2.25 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% | $30.96 | −$21.29 |
| 50% | $36.93 | −$15.32 |
| 75% | $42.90 | −$9.35 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $64.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $48.87 | −$15.13 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $29.00 | −$35.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $29.00 | −$35.00 | 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 | $48.87 | $29.00 | $64.00 | $29.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $27.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $24.99 |
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 TOM Thumb #218a — FAQ
Is TOM Thumb #218a worth grading?
A PSA 10 TOM Thumb #218a sells for $48.87 against $2.25 raw: a $46.62 spread, 22× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($24.99) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 TOM Thumb #218a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 TOM Thumb #218a (1986 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $48.87 versus $2.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 22× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for TOM Thumb #218a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $64.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $48.87. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does TOM Thumb #218a 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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