Is Tapu Lele worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM152 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 9 Tapu Lele sells for $220 against $5.73 raw: a $214 spread, 38× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($220) 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)
- $5.73
- PSA 9
- $220
- PSA 9
- $220
- Gem premium
- 38×
- 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 9 | $220 | +$189 | +$164 | +$64.26 |
| PSA 9 | $220 | +$189 | +$164 | +$64.26 |
| PSA 8 | $60.00 | +$29.27 | +$4.27 | −$95.73 |
Net = sale price − $5.73 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% | $220 | +$164 |
| 50% | $220 | +$164 |
| 75% | $220 | +$164 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Tapu Lele — FAQ
Is Tapu Lele worth grading?
A PSA 9 Tapu Lele sells for $220 against $5.73 raw: a $214 spread, 38× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($220) 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.
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