Is Zay Flowers #42 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2023 Panini Absolute Explosive · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Zay Flowers #42 brings $223 versus $83.18 raw — a $140 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($108) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $83.18
- PSA 10
- $223
- PSA 9
- $108
- Gem premium
- 2.7×
- 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 | $223 | +$115 | +$89.84 | −$10.16 |
| PSA 9 | $108 | −$0.68 | −$25.68 | −$126 |
| PSA 8 | $65.26 | −$42.92 | −$67.92 | −$168 |
Net = sale price − $83.18 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% | $136 | +$3.20 |
| 50% | $165 | +$32.08 |
| 75% | $194 | +$60.96 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 22%. 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 | $290 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $223 | −$66.98 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $183 | −$107 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $134 | −$156 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2023 Panini Absolute Explosive cards worth checking
Full set checklist →![Bijan Robinson [Gold] #44 2023 Panini Absolute Explosive card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/XRUAAeSwwtFqmzoB/s-l500.jpg)
![Anthony Richardson [Gold] #38 2023 Panini Absolute Explosive card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/gsMAAeSwS3Bqkjhh/s-l500.jpg)
![Brock Purdy [Gold] #5 2023 Panini Absolute Explosive card](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/GJkAAeSwX4xqlwq6/s-l500.jpg)
Grading Zay Flowers #42 — FAQ
Is Zay Flowers #42 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Zay Flowers #42 brings $223 versus $83.18 raw — a $140 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($108) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Zay Flowers #42 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Zay Flowers #42 (Football Cards 2023 Panini Absolute Explosive) sells for about $223 versus $83.18 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.7× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Zay Flowers #42?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $290, ahead of PSA 10 at $223. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Zay Flowers #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 Zay Flowers #42 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Zay Flowers #42 breaks even when it gems about 22% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $108).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your football card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
