Is Hot Head HARVEY [Atomic] #87a worth grading?
Garbage Pail Kids · 2020 Garbage Pail Kids Chrome · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Hot Head HARVEY [Atomic] #87a sells for $55.00 against $2.40 raw: a $52.60 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.99) 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)
- $2.40
- Grade 9.5
- $55.00
- PSA 9
- $49.99
- Gem premium
- 23×
- 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 — Grade 9.5 | $55.00 | +$27.60 | +$2.60 | −$97.40 |
| PSA 9 | $49.99 | +$22.59 | −$2.41 | −$102 |
Net = sale price − $2.40 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% | $51.24 | −$1.16 |
| 50% | $52.50 | +$0.10 |
| 75% | $53.75 | +$1.35 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 48%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $55.00 |
| 9 | $49.99 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2020 Garbage Pail Kids Chrome cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Hot Head HARVEY [Atomic] #87a — FAQ
Is Hot Head HARVEY [Atomic] #87a worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Hot Head HARVEY [Atomic] #87a sells for $55.00 against $2.40 raw: a $52.60 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($49.99) 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.
What gem rate makes grading Hot Head HARVEY [Atomic] #87a break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Hot Head HARVEY [Atomic] #87a breaks even when it gems about 48% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $49.99).
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