Is Pidgey worth grading?
Pokémon · Obsidian Flames · 162/197 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 214× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Pidgey sells for $45.00 against $0.21 raw: a $44.79 spread, 214× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($9.00) 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)
- $0.21
- PSA 10
- $45.00
- PSA 9
- $9.00
- Gem premium
- 214×
- 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 | $45.00 | +$19.79 | −$5.21 | −$105 |
| PSA 9 | $9.00 | −$16.21 | −$41.21 | −$141 |
| PSA 8 | $9.99 | −$15.22 | −$40.22 | −$140 |
Net = sale price − $0.21 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% | $18.00 | −$32.21 |
| 50% | $27.00 | −$23.21 |
| 75% | $36.00 | −$14.21 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG 10 | $75.00 | best | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| PSA 10 | $45.00 | −$30.00 | 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 Pidgey — FAQ
Is Pidgey worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pidgey sells for $45.00 against $0.21 raw: a $44.79 spread, 214× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($9.00) 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 Pidgey worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pidgey (Obsidian Flames 162/197) sells for about $45.00 versus $0.21 for a raw near-mint copy — a 214× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pidgey?
By resale value, TAG 10 leads at $75.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $45.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pidgey 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.
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