Is Alolan Sandslash worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM18 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Alolan Sandslash sells for $395 against $17.75 raw: a $377 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($61.06) 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)
- $17.75
- PSA 10
- $395
- PSA 9
- $61.06
- Gem premium
- 22×
- 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 | $395 | +$352 | +$327 | +$227 |
| PSA 9 | $61.06 | +$18.31 | −$6.69 | −$107 |
| PSA 8 | $73.91 | +$31.16 | +$6.16 | −$93.84 |
Net = sale price − $17.75 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% | $145 | +$76.80 |
| 50% | $228 | +$160 |
| 75% | $312 | +$244 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 2%. 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 | $1,500 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $174 | −$1,326 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,500 | $174 |
| 9 | $61.06 | — |
| 8 | $400 | — |
| 6.5 | — | $65.00 |
| 6 | $44.38 | — |
Run your own numbers
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Grading Alolan Sandslash — FAQ
Is Alolan Sandslash worth grading?
A PSA 10 Alolan Sandslash sells for $395 against $17.75 raw: a $377 spread, 22× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($61.06) 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 Alolan Sandslash worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Alolan Sandslash (SM Black Star Promos SM18) sells for about $395 versus $17.75 for a raw near-mint copy — a 22× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Alolan Sandslash?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $1,500, ahead of CGC 10 at $174. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Alolan Sandslash 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 Alolan Sandslash break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Alolan Sandslash breaks even when it gems about 2% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $61.06).
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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