Is Steve Smith #U309 worth grading?
Football · Football Cards 2001 Ultra · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Steve Smith #U309 sells for $229 against $9.43 raw: a $220 spread, 24× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.00) 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)
- $9.43
- PSA 10
- $229
- PSA 9
- $54.00
- Gem premium
- 24×
- As of
- Jul 11, 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 | $229 | +$195 | +$170 | +$69.57 |
| PSA 9 | $54.00 | +$19.57 | −$5.43 | −$105 |
| PSA 8 | $49.00 | +$14.57 | −$10.43 | −$110 |
Net = sale price − $9.43 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% | $97.75 | +$38.32 |
| 50% | $142 | +$82.07 |
| 75% | $185 | +$126 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $298 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $229 | −$69.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $137 | −$161 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $137 | −$161 | 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 | $229 | $137 | $298 | $137 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $65.50 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $54.00 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $49.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 2001 Ultra cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Steve Smith #U309 — FAQ
Is Steve Smith #U309 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Steve Smith #U309 sells for $229 against $9.43 raw: a $220 spread, 24× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.00) 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 Steve Smith #U309 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Steve Smith #U309 (Football Cards 2001 Ultra) sells for about $229 versus $9.43 for a raw near-mint copy — a 24× premium as of Jul 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Steve Smith #U309?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $298, ahead of PSA 10 at $229. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Steve Smith #U309 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 Steve Smith #U309 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Steve Smith #U309 breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $54.00).
Is your football 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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