Is Yoda #9 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Yoda #9 sells for $10,000 against $7.23 raw: a $9,993 spread, 1383× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,000) 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)
- $7.23
- PSA 10
- $10,000
- PSA 9
- $1,000
- Gem premium
- 1383×
- 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 — PSA 10 | $10,000 | +$9,968 | +$9,943 | +$9,843 |
| PSA 9 | $1,000 | +$968 | +$943 | +$843 |
| PSA 8 | $225 | +$192 | +$167 | +$67.27 |
Net = sale price − $7.23 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% | $3,250 | +$3,193 |
| 50% | $5,500 | +$5,443 |
| 75% | $7,750 | +$7,693 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $13,000 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $10,000 | −$3,000 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $6,000 | −$7,000 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $6,000 | −$7,000 | 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 | $10,000 | $6,000 | $13,000 | $6,000 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $1,100 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $1,000 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $225 |
| 7 | — | — | — | — | $175 |
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 Yoda #9 — FAQ
Is Yoda #9 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Yoda #9 sells for $10,000 against $7.23 raw: a $9,993 spread, 1383× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($1,000) 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 Yoda #9 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Yoda #9 (1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back) sells for about $10,000 versus $7.23 for a raw near-mint copy — a 1383× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Yoda #9?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $13,000, ahead of PSA 10 at $10,000. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Yoda #9 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.
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.
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