Is Slowpoke worth grading?
Pokémon · Paldean Fates · 116/091 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 16× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Slowpoke sells for $314 against $20.02 raw: a $294 spread, 16× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($11.53) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $20.02
- PSA 10
- $314
- PSA 9
- $11.53
- Gem premium
- 16×
- 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 | $314 | +$269 | +$244 | +$144 |
| PSA 9 | $11.53 | −$33.49 | −$58.49 | −$158 |
| PSA 8 | $37.38 | −$7.64 | −$32.64 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $20.02 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% | $87.06 | +$17.04 |
| 50% | $163 | +$92.57 |
| 75% | $238 | +$168 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 19%. 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 | $314 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $74.00 | −$240 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $15.42 | −$298 | 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 | CGC | TAG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $314 | $15.42 | $74.00 |
| 9.5 | — | $14.96 | — |
| 9 | $11.53 | $7.19 | — |
| 8 | $37.38 | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Paldean Fates cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Slowpoke — FAQ
Is Slowpoke worth grading?
A PSA 10 Slowpoke sells for $314 against $20.02 raw: a $294 spread, 16× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($11.53) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Slowpoke worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Slowpoke (Paldean Fates 116/091) sells for about $314 versus $20.02 for a raw near-mint copy — a 16× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Slowpoke?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $314, ahead of TAG 10 at $74.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Slowpoke 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 Slowpoke break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Slowpoke breaks even when it gems about 19% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $11.53).
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.
Check my card free