Is Phoenix #5 worth grading?
Marvel · Marvel 1994 Flair Power Blast · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Phoenix #5 sells for $113 against $3.99 raw: a $109 spread, 28× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.00) 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)
- $3.99
- PSA 10
- $113
- PSA 9
- $32.00
- Gem premium
- 28×
- 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 | $113 | +$83.51 | +$58.51 | −$41.49 |
| PSA 9 | $32.00 | +$3.01 | −$21.99 | −$122 |
| PSA 8 | $11.00 | −$17.99 | −$42.99 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $3.99 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% | $52.13 | −$1.87 |
| 50% | $72.25 | +$18.26 |
| 75% | $92.38 | +$38.39 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 27%. 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 | $146 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $113 | −$33.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $80.00 | −$66.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $68.00 | −$78.00 | 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 | $113 | $80.00 | $146 | $68.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $72.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $32.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $11.00 |
Run your own numbers
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Other Marvel 1994 Flair Power Blast cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Phoenix #5 — FAQ
Is Phoenix #5 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Phoenix #5 sells for $113 against $3.99 raw: a $109 spread, 28× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.00) 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 Phoenix #5 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Phoenix #5 (Marvel 1994 Flair Power Blast) sells for about $113 versus $3.99 for a raw near-mint copy — a 28× premium as of Aug 15, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Phoenix #5?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $146, ahead of PSA 10 at $113. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Phoenix #5 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 Phoenix #5 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Phoenix #5 breaks even when it gems about 27% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $32.00).
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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