Is Pikachu & Zekrom-GX worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM248 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX sells for $271 against $37.44 raw: a $233 spread, 7.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($62.65) 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)
- $37.44
- PSA 10
- $271
- PSA 9
- $62.65
- Gem premium
- 7.2×
- As of
- Sep 18, 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 | $271 | +$208 | +$183 | +$83.07 |
| PSA 9 | $62.65 | +$0.21 | −$24.79 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $42.16 | −$20.28 | −$45.28 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $37.44 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% | $115 | +$27.17 |
| 50% | $167 | +$79.14 |
| 75% | $219 | +$131 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 12%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG 10 | $357 | best | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| PSA 10 | $271 | −$86.20 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $96.40 | −$260 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| BGS 10 | $91.75 | −$265 | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| SGC 10 | $31.98 | −$325 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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 & Zekrom-GX — FAQ
Is Pikachu & Zekrom-GX worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX sells for $271 against $37.44 raw: a $233 spread, 7.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($62.65) 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 & Zekrom-GX worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX (SM Black Star Promos SM248) sells for about $271 versus $37.44 for a raw near-mint copy — a 7.2× premium as of Sep 18, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu & Zekrom-GX?
By resale value, TAG 10 leads at $357, ahead of PSA 10 at $271. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pikachu & Zekrom-GX need for a TAG 10?
TAG publishes 55/45 front and 72/28 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 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Pikachu & Zekrom-GX breaks even when it gems about 12% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $62.65).
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Pokémon card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
