Is Ash's Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM114 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ash's Pikachu sells for $757 against $48.15 raw: a $709 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($125) 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)
- $48.15
- PSA 10
- $757
- PSA 9
- $125
- Gem premium
- 16×
- 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 | $757 | +$684 | +$659 | +$559 |
| PSA 9 | $125 | +$52.02 | +$27.02 | −$72.98 |
| PSA 8 | $59.01 | −$14.14 | −$39.14 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $48.15 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% | $283 | +$185 |
| 50% | $441 | +$343 |
| 75% | $599 | +$501 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $757 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $84.00 | −$673 | 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 | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $757 | $84.00 | — |
| 9 | $125 | $28.01 | — |
| 8.5 | — | $26.48 | — |
| 8 | $59.01 | $21.99 | — |
| 7.5 | — | $16.48 | — |
| 7 | $44.46 | — | — |
| 6.5 | — | $17.00 | — |
| 6 | — | $20.00 | $13.50 |
| 5.5 | — | $14.50 | — |
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 Ash's Pikachu — FAQ
Is Ash's Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ash's Pikachu sells for $757 against $48.15 raw: a $709 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($125) 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 Ash's Pikachu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ash's Pikachu (SM Black Star Promos SM114) sells for about $757 versus $48.15 for a raw near-mint copy — a 16× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ash's Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $757, ahead of CGC 10 at $84.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ash's 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.
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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