Is PAUL Bunion #281b worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 1987 Garbage Pail Kids · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 PAUL Bunion #281b sells for $40.88 against $1.99 raw: a $38.89 spread, 21× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($36.62) 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)
- $1.99
- PSA 10
- $40.88
- PSA 9
- $36.62
- Gem premium
- 21×
- 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 | $40.88 | +$13.89 | −$11.11 | −$111 |
| PSA 9 | $36.62 | +$9.63 | −$15.37 | −$115 |
Net = sale price − $1.99 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% | $37.68 | −$14.31 |
| 50% | $38.75 | −$13.24 |
| 75% | $39.82 | −$12.17 |
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 | $53.00 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $40.88 | −$12.12 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $25.00 | −$28.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $25.00 | −$28.00 | 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 | $40.88 | $25.00 | $53.00 | $25.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $40.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $36.62 |
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 PAUL Bunion #281b — FAQ
Is PAUL Bunion #281b worth grading?
A PSA 10 PAUL Bunion #281b sells for $40.88 against $1.99 raw: a $38.89 spread, 21× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($36.62) 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 PAUL Bunion #281b worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 PAUL Bunion #281b (1987 Garbage Pail Kids) sells for about $40.88 versus $1.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 21× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for PAUL Bunion #281b?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $53.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $40.88. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does PAUL Bunion #281b 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
