Is Luke Skywalker #2 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A Grade 9.5 Luke Skywalker #2 sells for $115 against $3.90 raw: a $111 spread, 29× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($105) 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)
- $3.90
- Grade 9.5
- $115
- PSA 9
- $105
- Gem premium
- 29×
- As of
- Aug 16, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — Grade 9.5 | $115 | +$86.10 | +$61.10 | −$38.90 |
| PSA 9 | $105 | +$75.87 | +$50.87 | −$49.13 |
| PSA 8 | $55.00 | +$26.10 | +$1.10 | −$98.90 |
Net = sale price − $3.90 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% | $107 | +$53.43 |
| 50% | $110 | +$55.98 |
| 75% | $112 | +$58.54 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $115 |
| 9 | $105 |
| 8 | $55.00 |
| 7 | $19.47 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Luke Skywalker #2 — FAQ
Is Luke Skywalker #2 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Luke Skywalker #2 sells for $115 against $3.90 raw: a $111 spread, 29× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($105) 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.
Is your Star Wars 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.
Check my card free