Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM234 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $1,223 against $24.91 raw: a $1,198 spread, 49× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($86.62) 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)
- $24.91
- PSA 10
- $1,223
- PSA 9
- $86.62
- Gem premium
- 49×
- 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 | $1,223 | +$1,173 | +$1,148 | +$1,048 |
| PSA 9 | $86.62 | +$36.71 | +$11.71 | −$88.29 |
| PSA 8 | $50.03 | +$0.12 | −$24.88 | −$125 |
Net = sale price − $24.91 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% | $371 | +$296 |
| 50% | $655 | +$580 |
| 75% | $939 | +$864 |
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 | $1,223 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $276 | −$947 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $167 | −$1,056 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
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 | TAG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,223 | $276 | — | $167 |
| 9.5 | — | $103 | — | — |
| 9 | $86.62 | $91.06 | — | — |
| 8.5 | — | $12.00 | $27.00 | — |
| 8 | $50.03 | $49.84 | — | — |
| 7 | $21.50 | — | — | — |
| 6 | $135 | — | — | — |
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 Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $1,223 against $24.91 raw: a $1,198 spread, 49× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($86.62) 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 Pikachu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pikachu (SM Black Star Promos SM234) sells for about $1,223 versus $24.91 for a raw near-mint copy — a 49× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $1,223, ahead of CGC 10 at $276. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does 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.
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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