Is TOM Thumb #218a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1986 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 TOM Thumb #218a sells for $49.43 against $1.49 raw: a $47.94 spread, 33× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.70) 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)
- $1.49
- PSA 10
- $49.43
- PSA 9
- $29.70
- Gem premium
- 33×
- As of
- Oct 4, 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 | $49.43 | +$22.94 | −$2.06 | −$102 |
| PSA 9 | $29.70 | +$3.21 | −$21.79 | −$122 |
Net = sale price − $1.49 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% | $34.63 | −$16.86 |
| 50% | $39.56 | −$11.93 |
| 75% | $44.50 | −$6.99 |
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 | $49.43 | −$14.57 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $30.00 | −$34.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $30.00 | −$34.00 | 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.
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Grading TOM Thumb #218a — FAQ
Is TOM Thumb #218a worth grading?
A PSA 10 TOM Thumb #218a sells for $49.43 against $1.49 raw: a $47.94 spread, 33× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.70) 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 TOM Thumb #218a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 TOM Thumb #218a (1986 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $49.43 versus $1.49 for a raw near-mint copy — a 33× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for TOM Thumb #218a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $64.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $49.43. 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.
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