Is Emerging from the Pit #305 worth grading?
Star Wars · 1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Emerging from the Pit #305 sells for $133 against $2.25 raw: a $131 spread, 59× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.99) 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)
- $2.25
- PSA 10
- $133
- PSA 9
- $29.99
- Gem premium
- 59×
- 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 | $133 | +$106 | +$80.78 | −$19.22 |
| PSA 9 | $29.99 | +$2.74 | −$22.26 | −$122 |
| PSA 8 | $8.00 | −$19.25 | −$44.25 | −$144 |
Net = sale price − $2.25 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% | $55.75 | +$3.50 |
| 50% | $81.51 | +$29.26 |
| 75% | $107 | +$55.02 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 22%. 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 | $173 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $133 | −$39.97 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $80.00 | −$93.00 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $80.00 | −$93.00 | 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 | $133 | $80.00 | $173 | $80.00 | — |
| 9.5 | — | — | — | — | $33.00 |
| 9 | — | — | — | — | $29.99 |
| 8 | — | — | — | — | $8.00 |
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 Emerging from the Pit #305 — FAQ
Is Emerging from the Pit #305 worth grading?
A PSA 10 Emerging from the Pit #305 sells for $133 against $2.25 raw: a $131 spread, 59× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.99) 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 Emerging from the Pit #305 worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Emerging from the Pit #305 (1980 Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back) sells for about $133 versus $2.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 59× premium as of Aug 16, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Emerging from the Pit #305?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $173, ahead of PSA 10 at $133. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Emerging from the Pit #305 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 Emerging from the Pit #305 break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Emerging from the Pit #305 breaks even when it gems about 22% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $29.99).
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