Is Alolan Sandslash-GX worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM236 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Alolan Sandslash-GX sells for $120 against $14.77 raw: a $105 spread, 8.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.00) 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)
- $14.77
- PSA 10
- $120
- PSA 9
- $50.00
- Gem premium
- 8.1×
- 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 | $120 | +$79.93 | +$54.93 | −$45.07 |
| PSA 9 | $50.00 | +$10.23 | −$14.77 | −$115 |
Net = sale price − $14.77 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% | $67.42 | +$2.66 |
| 50% | $84.85 | +$20.08 |
| 75% | $102 | +$37.51 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 21%. 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 | $120 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $70.00 | −$49.70 | 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 | $120 | $70.00 |
| 9 | $50.00 | $9.99 |
Run your own numbers
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Grading Alolan Sandslash-GX — FAQ
Is Alolan Sandslash-GX worth grading?
A PSA 10 Alolan Sandslash-GX sells for $120 against $14.77 raw: a $105 spread, 8.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.00) 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-GX worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Alolan Sandslash-GX (SM Black Star Promos SM236) sells for about $120 versus $14.77 for a raw near-mint copy — a 8.1× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Alolan Sandslash-GX?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $120, ahead of CGC 10 at $70.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Alolan Sandslash-GX 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-GX break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Alolan Sandslash-GX breaks even when it gems about 21% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $50.00).
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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