Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM86 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $2,218 against $37.28 raw: a $2,181 spread, 60× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($272) 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)
- $37.28
- PSA 10
- $2,218
- PSA 9
- $272
- Gem premium
- 60×
- As of
- Oct 3, 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 | $2,218 | +$2,156 | +$2,131 | +$2,031 |
| PSA 9 | $272 | +$210 | +$185 | +$84.92 |
| PSA 8 | $148 | +$85.58 | +$60.58 | −$39.42 |
Net = sale price − $37.28 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% | $759 | +$671 |
| 50% | $1,245 | +$1,158 |
| 75% | $1,732 | +$1,645 |
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 | $2,218 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $273 | −$1,946 | 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.
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Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $2,218 against $37.28 raw: a $2,181 spread, 60× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($272) 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 SM86) sells for about $2,218 versus $37.28 for a raw near-mint copy — a 60× premium as of Oct 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $2,218, ahead of CGC 10 at $273. 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.
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