Is Michael Jordan #488 worth grading?
Basketball · Basketball Cards 1992 Upper Deck · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #488 sells for $500 against $2.88 raw: a $497 spread, 174× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.66) 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)
- $2.88
- PSA 10
- $500
- PSA 9
- $51.66
- Gem premium
- 174×
- 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 | $500 | +$472 | +$447 | +$347 |
| PSA 9 | $51.66 | +$23.78 | −$1.22 | −$101 |
| PSA 8 | $30.99 | +$3.11 | −$21.89 | −$122 |
Net = sale price − $2.88 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% | $164 | +$111 |
| 50% | $276 | +$223 |
| 75% | $388 | +$335 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 0%. 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 | $650 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $500 | −$150 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $238 | −$412 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $103 | −$547 | 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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Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1992 Upper Deck cards worth checking
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Grading Michael Jordan #488 — FAQ
Is Michael Jordan #488 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #488 sells for $500 against $2.88 raw: a $497 spread, 174× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($51.66) 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 #488 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Michael Jordan #488 (Basketball Cards 1992 Upper Deck) sells for about $500 versus $2.88 for a raw near-mint copy — a 174× premium as of Sep 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Michael Jordan #488?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $650, ahead of PSA 10 at $500. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Michael Jordan #488 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 Michael Jordan #488 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Michael Jordan #488 breaks even when it gems about 0% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $51.66).
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