Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · Burning Shadows · 40/147 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $33.85 against $1.08 raw: a $32.77 spread, 31× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.58) 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)
- $1.08
- PSA 10
- $33.85
- PSA 9
- $27.58
- 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 10 | $33.85 | +$7.77 | −$17.23 | −$117 |
| PSA 9 | $27.58 | +$1.50 | −$23.50 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $16.20 | −$9.88 | −$34.88 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $1.08 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% | $29.15 | −$21.93 |
| 50% | $30.71 | −$20.37 |
| 75% | $32.28 | −$18.80 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $33.85 | 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.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Burning Shadows cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $33.85 against $1.08 raw: a $32.77 spread, 31× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($27.58) 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 Pikachu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pikachu (Burning Shadows 40/147) sells for about $33.85 versus $1.08 for a raw near-mint copy — a 31× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
What centering does Pikachu need for a PSA 10?
PSA 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Pokémon 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.
