Is Charizard worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM158 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Charizard sells for $2,619 against $100 raw: a $2,519 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($198) 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)
- $100
- PSA 10
- $2,619
- PSA 9
- $198
- Gem premium
- 26×
- 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 | $2,619 | +$2,494 | +$2,469 | +$2,369 |
| PSA 9 | $198 | +$72.40 | +$47.40 | −$52.60 |
| PSA 8 | $131 | +$5.33 | −$19.67 | −$120 |
Net = sale price − $100 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% | $803 | +$653 |
| 50% | $1,408 | +$1,258 |
| 75% | $2,013 | +$1,863 |
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 | $2,619 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $245 | −$2,374 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $211 | −$2,408 | 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 | BGS | SGC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,856 | $245 | — | $211 |
| 9.5 | — | $60.97 | — | — |
| 9 | $692 | $88.89 | $355 | — |
| 8.5 | — | $66.35 | $68.41 | — |
| 8 | $117 | $125 | — | — |
| 7.5 | — | $83.80 | — | — |
| 7 | $83.77 | $36.00 | — | — |
| 5 | $20.00 | — | — | — |
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 Charizard — FAQ
Is Charizard worth grading?
A PSA 10 Charizard sells for $2,619 against $100 raw: a $2,519 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($198) 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 Charizard worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Charizard (SM Black Star Promos SM158) sells for about $2,619 versus $100 for a raw near-mint copy — a 26× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Charizard?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $2,619, ahead of CGC 10 at $245. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Charizard 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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