Is Absol ex worth grading?
Pokémon · Obsidian Flames · 135/197 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 38× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Absol ex sells for $50.97 against $1.34 raw: a $49.63 spread, 38× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($14.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $1.34
- PSA 10
- $50.97
- PSA 9
- $14.50
- Gem premium
- 38×
- 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 | $50.97 | +$24.63 | −$0.37 | −$100 |
| PSA 9 | $14.50 | −$11.84 | −$36.84 | −$137 |
| PSA 8 | $20.13 | −$6.21 | −$31.21 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $1.34 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% | $23.62 | −$27.72 |
| 50% | $32.73 | −$18.61 |
| 75% | $41.85 | −$9.49 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $50.97 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $31.68 | −$19.29 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $10.00 | −$40.97 | 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 Absol ex — FAQ
Is Absol ex worth grading?
A PSA 10 Absol ex sells for $50.97 against $1.34 raw: a $49.63 spread, 38× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($14.50) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Absol ex worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Absol ex (Obsidian Flames 135/197) sells for about $50.97 versus $1.34 for a raw near-mint copy — a 38× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Absol ex?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $50.97, ahead of CGC 10 at $31.68. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Absol ex 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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