Is Grilled GIL #259a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1987 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 29× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Grilled GIL #259a sells for $56.56 against $1.92 raw: a $54.64 spread, 29× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($21.00) 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)
- $1.92
- PSA 10
- $56.56
- PSA 9
- $21.00
- Gem premium
- 29×
- 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 | $56.56 | +$29.64 | +$4.64 | −$95.36 |
| PSA 9 | $21.00 | −$5.92 | −$30.92 | −$131 |
| PSA 8 | $15.50 | −$11.42 | −$36.42 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $1.92 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% | $29.89 | −$22.03 |
| 50% | $38.78 | −$13.14 |
| 75% | $47.67 | −$4.25 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 87%. 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 | $74.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $56.56 | −$17.44 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $34.00 | −$40.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $34.00 | −$40.00 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1987 Garbage Pail Kids cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Grilled GIL #259a — FAQ
Is Grilled GIL #259a worth grading?
A PSA 10 Grilled GIL #259a sells for $56.56 against $1.92 raw: a $54.64 spread, 29× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($21.00) 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 Grilled GIL #259a worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Grilled GIL #259a (1987 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $56.56 versus $1.92 for a raw near-mint copy — a 29× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Grilled GIL #259a?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $74.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $56.56. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Grilled GIL #259a 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 Grilled GIL #259a break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Grilled GIL #259a breaks even when it gems about 87% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $21.00).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Garbage Pail Kids card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
