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 $200 against $32.93 raw: a $167 spread, 6.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($266) 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)
- $32.93
- PSA 10
- $200
- PSA 9
- $266
- Gem premium
- 6.1×
- 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 | $200 | +$142 | +$117 | +$16.95 |
| PSA 9 | $266 | +$208 | +$183 | +$83.41 |
| PSA 8 | $123 | +$64.67 | +$39.67 | −$60.33 |
Net = sale price − $32.93 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% | $250 | +$167 |
| 50% | $233 | +$150 |
| 75% | $216 | +$134 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $349 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $200 | −$149 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $200 | $349 | — | — | — |
| 9.5 | — | $76.80 | $111 | — | — |
| 9 | $43.00 | — | — | — | — |
| 8.5 | — | $50.79 | — | $50.00 | $103 |
| 8 | $123 | $17.93 | — | — | — |
| 7.5 | — | $49.99 | — | — | — |
| 7 | $94.41 | $20.00 | — | $16.00 | — |
| 6.5 | — | $6.00 | — | — | — |
| 6 | $17.00 | — | — | $10.00 | — |
| 5.5 | — | $30.00 | — | — | — |
| 5 | $19.95 | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | $51.87 | — | — | — | — |
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 $200 against $32.93 raw: a $167 spread, 6.1× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($266) 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 $200 versus $32.93 for a raw near-mint copy — a 6.1× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $349, ahead of PSA 10 at $200. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pikachu need for a CGC 10?
CGC 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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