Is Lapras worth grading?
Pokémon · Obsidian Flames · 045/197 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Lapras sells for $136 against $0.13 raw: a $136 spread, 1049× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.00) 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)
- $0.13
- PSA 10
- $136
- PSA 9
- $29.00
- Gem premium
- 1049×
- 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 | $136 | +$111 | +$86.28 | −$13.72 |
| PSA 9 | $29.00 | +$3.87 | −$21.13 | −$121 |
| PSA 8 | $50.49 | +$25.36 | +$0.36 | −$99.64 |
Net = sale price − $0.13 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% | $55.85 | +$5.72 |
| 50% | $82.70 | +$32.58 |
| 75% | $110 | +$59.43 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 20%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $136 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $10.85 | −$126 | 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 | SGC |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $136 | $10.85 |
| 9 | $20.00 | — |
| 8 | $50.49 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
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Other Obsidian Flames cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Lapras — FAQ
Is Lapras worth grading?
A PSA 10 Lapras sells for $136 against $0.13 raw: a $136 spread, 1049× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($29.00) 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 Lapras worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Lapras (Obsidian Flames 045/197) sells for about $136 versus $0.13 for a raw near-mint copy — a 1049× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Lapras?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $136, ahead of SGC 10 at $10.85. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Lapras 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.
What gem rate makes grading Lapras break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Lapras breaks even when it gems about 20% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $29.00).
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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