Is Dinner Guests #86 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 Dinner Guests #86 sells for $35.00 against $1.59 raw: a $33.41 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.00) 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)
- $1.59
- Grade 9.5
- $35.00
- PSA 9
- $32.00
- Gem premium
- 22×
- 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 | $35.00 | +$8.41 | −$16.59 | −$117 |
| PSA 9 | $32.00 | +$5.41 | −$19.59 | −$120 |
| PSA 8 | $21.17 | −$5.42 | −$30.42 | −$130 |
Net = sale price − $1.59 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% | $32.75 | −$18.84 |
| 50% | $33.50 | −$18.09 |
| 75% | $34.25 | −$17.34 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | Graded |
|---|---|
| 9.5 | $35.00 |
| 9 | $32.00 |
| 8 | $21.17 |
| 7 | $17.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back cards worth checking
Full set checklist →Grading Dinner Guests #86 — FAQ
Is Dinner Guests #86 worth grading?
A Grade 9.5 Dinner Guests #86 sells for $35.00 against $1.59 raw: a $33.41 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.00) 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.
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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