Is Chewbacca #5 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 Chewbacca #5 sells for $138 against $2.47 raw: a $136 spread, 56× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($125) 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)
- $2.47
- Grade 9.5
- $138
- PSA 9
- $125
- Gem premium
- 56×
- As of
- Oct 4, 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 | $138 | +$111 | +$85.53 | −$14.47 |
| PSA 9 | $125 | +$97.75 | +$72.75 | −$27.25 |
| PSA 8 | $34.19 | +$6.72 | −$18.28 | −$118 |
Net = sale price − $2.47 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% | $128 | +$75.94 |
| 50% | $132 | +$79.14 |
| 75% | $135 | +$82.34 |
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 →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 Chewbacca #5 — FAQ
Is Chewbacca #5 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Chewbacca #5 sells for $138 against $2.47 raw: a $136 spread, 56× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($125) 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Star Wars 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.
