Is Riolu worth grading?
Pokémon · Paldean Fates · 173/091 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 9.9× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Riolu sells for $128 against $12.87 raw: a $115 spread, 9.9× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($31.92) 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)
- $12.87
- PSA 10
- $128
- PSA 9
- $31.92
- Gem premium
- 9.9×
- 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 | $128 | +$89.85 | +$64.85 | −$35.15 |
| PSA 9 | $31.92 | −$5.95 | −$30.95 | −$131 |
| PSA 8 | $14.96 | −$22.91 | −$47.91 | −$148 |
Net = sale price − $12.87 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% | $55.87 | −$7.00 |
| 50% | $79.82 | +$16.95 |
| 75% | $104 | +$40.90 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 32%. 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 | $128 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $35.18 | −$92.54 | 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 Riolu — FAQ
Is Riolu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Riolu sells for $128 against $12.87 raw: a $115 spread, 9.9× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($31.92) 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 Riolu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Riolu (Paldean Fates 173/091) sells for about $128 versus $12.87 for a raw near-mint copy — a 9.9× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Riolu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $128, ahead of CGC 10 at $35.18. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Riolu 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 Riolu break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Riolu breaks even when it gems about 32% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $31.92).
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