Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · SM Black Star Promos · SM98 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $4,029 against $65.58 raw: a $3,964 spread, 61× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($711) 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)
- $65.58
- PSA 10
- $4,029
- PSA 9
- $711
- Gem premium
- 61×
- 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 | $4,029 | +$3,939 | +$3,914 | +$3,814 |
| PSA 9 | $711 | +$620 | +$595 | +$495 |
| PSA 8 | $220 | +$130 | +$105 | +$4.78 |
Net = sale price − $65.58 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% | $1,540 | +$1,425 |
| 50% | $2,370 | +$2,255 |
| 75% | $3,200 | +$3,084 |
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 | $4,029 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $427 | −$3,602 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $160 | −$3,869 | 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 — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $4,029 against $65.58 raw: a $3,964 spread, 61× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($711) 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 SM98) sells for about $4,029 versus $65.58 for a raw near-mint copy — a 61× premium as of Oct 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $4,029, ahead of CGC 10 at $427. 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.
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.
