Is Kingdra worth grading?
Pokémon · Burning Shadows · 31/147 · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
PSA 9 copies of Kingdra sell for $20.52, only $19.86 above the $0.66 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($20.52) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.66
- PSA 9
- $20.52
- PSA 9
- $20.52
- Gem premium
- 31×
- As of
- Aug 10, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 9 | $20.52 | −$5.14 | −$30.14 | −$130 |
| PSA 9 | $20.52 | −$5.14 | −$30.14 | −$130 |
| PSA 8 | $7.50 | −$18.16 | −$43.16 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $0.66 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% | $20.52 | −$30.14 |
| 50% | $20.52 | −$30.14 |
| 75% | $20.52 | −$30.14 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $11.00 | best | 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.
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Raw conditions & history →Run your own numbers
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Other Burning Shadows cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Kingdra — FAQ
Is Kingdra worth grading?
PSA 9 copies of Kingdra sell for $20.52, only $19.86 above the $0.66 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($20.52) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
What centering does Kingdra need for a CGC 10?
CGC publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 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.
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