Is Articuno worth grading?
Pokémon · Team Up · 32/181 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Articuno sells for $145 against $3.35 raw: a $141 spread, 43× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.13) 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)
- $3.35
- PSA 10
- $145
- PSA 9
- $41.13
- Gem premium
- 43×
- 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 | $145 | +$116 | +$91.39 | −$8.61 |
| PSA 9 | $41.13 | +$12.78 | −$12.22 | −$112 |
| PSA 8 | $29.85 | +$1.50 | −$23.50 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $3.35 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% | $67.03 | +$13.68 |
| 50% | $92.94 | +$39.59 |
| 75% | $119 | +$65.49 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 12%. 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 | $145 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $27.92 | −$117 | 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 | $145 | $27.92 |
| 9 | $41.13 | $3.00 |
| 8 | $29.85 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Team Up cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Articuno — FAQ
Is Articuno worth grading?
A PSA 10 Articuno sells for $145 against $3.35 raw: a $141 spread, 43× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($41.13) 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 Articuno worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Articuno (Team Up 32/181) sells for about $145 versus $3.35 for a raw near-mint copy — a 43× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Articuno?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $145, ahead of CGC 10 at $27.92. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Articuno 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 Articuno break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Articuno breaks even when it gems about 12% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $41.13).
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.
Check my card free