Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM04 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $65.91 against $12.66 raw: a $53.25 spread, 5.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($149) 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)
- $12.66
- PSA 10
- $65.91
- PSA 9
- $149
- Gem premium
- 5.2×
- As of
- Sep 15, 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 | $65.91 | +$28.25 | +$3.25 | −$96.75 |
| PSA 9 | $149 | +$112 | +$86.66 | −$13.34 |
| PSA 8 | $20.65 | −$17.01 | −$42.01 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $12.66 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% | $128 | +$65.81 |
| 50% | $108 | +$44.95 |
| 75% | $86.76 | +$24.10 |
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 | $65.91 | 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 SM Black Star Promos cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $65.91 against $12.66 raw: a $53.25 spread, 5.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($149) 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 (SM Black Star Promos SM04) sells for about $65.91 versus $12.66 for a raw near-mint copy — a 5.2× premium as of Sep 15, 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.
