Is Steelix worth grading?
Pokémon · Paradox Rift · 125/182 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 939× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Steelix sells for $207 against $0.22 raw: a $206 spread, 939× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($24.79) 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)
- $0.22
- PSA 10
- $207
- PSA 9
- $24.79
- Gem premium
- 939×
- As of
- Oct 4, 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 | $207 | +$181 | +$156 | +$56.43 |
| PSA 9 | $24.79 | −$0.43 | −$25.43 | −$125 |
| PSA 8 | $5.33 | −$19.89 | −$44.89 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $0.22 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% | $70.25 | +$20.03 |
| 50% | $116 | +$65.50 |
| 75% | $161 | +$111 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 14%. 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 | $207 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $15.00 | −$192 | 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 Steelix — FAQ
Is Steelix worth grading?
A PSA 10 Steelix sells for $207 against $0.22 raw: a $206 spread, 939× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($24.79) 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 Steelix worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Steelix (Paradox Rift 125/182) sells for about $207 versus $0.22 for a raw near-mint copy — a 939× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Steelix?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $207, ahead of CGC 10 at $15.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Steelix 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 Steelix break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Steelix breaks even when it gems about 14% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $24.79).
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