Is Iron Man #42 worth grading?
Marvel · Marvel 1990 Universe · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Iron Man #42 sells for $545 against $2.94 raw: a $542 spread, 185× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.81) 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)
- $2.94
- PSA 10
- $545
- PSA 9
- $29.81
- Gem premium
- 185×
- As of
- Aug 15, 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 | $545 | +$517 | +$492 | +$392 |
| PSA 9 | $29.81 | +$1.87 | −$23.13 | −$123 |
| PSA 8 | $10.66 | −$17.28 | −$42.28 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $2.94 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% | $158 | +$106 |
| 50% | $287 | +$234 |
| 75% | $416 | +$363 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 4%. 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 | $708 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $545 | −$163 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $327 | −$381 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $327 | −$381 | 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 | $545 | $327 | $708 | $327 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $33.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $29.81 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $10.66 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $9.13 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Marvel 1990 Universe cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Iron Man #42 — FAQ
Is Iron Man #42 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Iron Man #42 sells for $545 against $2.94 raw: a $542 spread, 185× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.81) 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 Iron Man #42 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Iron Man #42 (Marvel 1990 Universe) sells for about $545 versus $2.94 for a raw near-mint copy — a 185× premium as of Aug 15, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Iron Man #42?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $708, ahead of PSA 10 at $545. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Iron Man #42 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 Iron Man #42 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Iron Man #42 breaks even when it gems about 4% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $29.81).
Is your Marvel 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.
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