Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · Crimson Invasion · 30/111 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $468 against $2.25 raw: a $466 spread, 208× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.08) 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
- $468
- PSA 9
- $32.08
- Gem premium
- 208×
- 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 | $468 | +$441 | +$416 | +$316 |
| PSA 9 | $32.08 | +$4.83 | −$20.17 | −$120 |
| PSA 8 | $26.28 | −$0.97 | −$25.97 | −$126 |
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% | $141 | +$88.81 |
| 50% | $250 | +$198 |
| 75% | $359 | +$307 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 5%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $1,475 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $43.27 | −$1,432 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,475 | $36.89 |
| 9 | $28.52 | $15.53 |
| 8.5 | — | $19.00 |
| 8 | $35.96 | $5.50 |
| 7.5 | — | $17.59 |
| 7 | $17.93 | — |
| 6 | $19.99 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Crimson Invasion cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $468 against $2.25 raw: a $466 spread, 208× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.08) 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 (Crimson Invasion 30/111) sells for about $468 versus $2.25 for a raw near-mint copy — a 208× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $1,475, ahead of CGC 10 at $43.27. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
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.
What gem rate makes grading Pikachu break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Pikachu breaks even when it gems about 5% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $32.08).
Is your Pokémon 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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