Is Detective Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM190 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Detective Pikachu sells for $345 against $25.89 raw: a $319 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($57.58) 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)
- $25.89
- PSA 10
- $345
- PSA 9
- $57.58
- Gem premium
- 13×
- As of
- Aug 17, 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 | $345 | +$294 | +$269 | +$169 |
| PSA 9 | $57.58 | +$6.69 | −$18.31 | −$118 |
| PSA 8 | $31.11 | −$19.78 | −$44.78 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $25.89 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% | $129 | +$53.48 |
| 50% | $201 | +$125 |
| 75% | $273 | +$197 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 6%. 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 | $345 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $106 | −$239 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $62.91 | −$282 | 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 | TAG | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $345 | $62.91 | — | — | $106 | — |
| 9.5 | — | $28.60 | $11.00 | — | — | — |
| 9 | $57.58 | $20.46 | $30.00 | — | $75.99 | $26.87 |
| 8.5 | — | $13.49 | $1.25 | — | — | — |
| 8 | $31.11 | $10.68 | $7.00 | $17.00 | — | — |
| 7 | $22.53 | — | — | — | — | $15.50 |
| 6.5 | — | $12.86 | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | $21.51 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | $7.70 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | — | $15.00 | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | $45.00 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | $55.00 | — | — | — | — | — |
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 Detective Pikachu — FAQ
Is Detective Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Detective Pikachu sells for $345 against $25.89 raw: a $319 spread, 13× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($57.58) 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 SM190) sells for about $345 versus $25.89 for a raw near-mint copy — a 13× premium as of Aug 17, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Detective Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $345, ahead of TAG 10 at $106. 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 6% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $57.58).
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.
Check my card free