Is Michael Jordan #40 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1994 Upper Deck Jordan Heroes · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #40 sells for $168 against $7.48 raw: a $161 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($75.00) 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)
- $7.48
- PSA 10
- $168
- PSA 9
- $75.00
- Gem premium
- 23×
- As of
- Sep 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 | $168 | +$136 | +$111 | +$10.98 |
| PSA 9 | $75.00 | +$42.52 | +$17.52 | −$82.48 |
| PSA 8 | $37.50 | +$5.02 | −$19.98 | −$120 |
Net = sale price − $7.48 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% | $98.37 | +$40.89 |
| 50% | $122 | +$64.25 |
| 75% | $145 | +$87.62 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $219 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $168 | −$50.54 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $101 | −$118 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $101 | −$118 | 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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Other 1994 Upper Deck Jordan Heroes cards worth checking
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Grading Michael Jordan #40 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #40 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #40 sells for $168 against $7.48 raw: a $161 spread, 23× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($75.00) 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 Michael Jordan #40 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #40 (Basketball Cards 1994 Upper Deck Jordan Heroes) sells for about $168 versus $7.48 for a raw near-mint copy — a 23× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #40?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $219, ahead of PSA 10 at $168. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #40 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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