Is Detective Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM170 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Detective Pikachu sells for $647 against $40.31 raw: a $607 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($74.42) 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)
- $40.31
- PSA 10
- $647
- PSA 9
- $74.42
- 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 | $647 | +$582 | +$557 | +$457 |
| PSA 9 | $74.42 | +$9.11 | −$15.89 | −$116 |
| PSA 8 | $38.95 | −$26.36 | −$51.36 | −$151 |
Net = sale price − $40.31 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% | $218 | +$127 |
| 50% | $361 | +$271 |
| 75% | $504 | +$414 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $647 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $14.00 | −$633 | 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.
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Grading Detective Pikachu — FAQ
Is Detective Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Detective Pikachu sells for $647 against $40.31 raw: a $607 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($74.42) 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 Detective Pikachu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Detective Pikachu (SM Black Star Promos SM170) sells for about $647 versus $40.31 for a raw near-mint copy — a 16× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Detective Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $647, ahead of CGC 10 at $14.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Detective 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.
What gem rate makes grading Detective Pikachu break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Detective Pikachu breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $74.42).
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