Is Pikachu ex worth grading?
Pokémon · Surging Sparks · 238/191 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Pikachu ex brings $790 versus $285 raw — a $504 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($254) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $285
- PSA 10
- $790
- PSA 9
- $254
- Gem premium
- 2.8×
- 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 | $790 | +$479 | +$454 | +$354 |
| PSA 9 | $254 | −$56.03 | −$81.03 | −$181 |
| PSA 8 | $253 | −$57.10 | −$82.10 | −$182 |
Net = sale price − $285 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% | $388 | +$52.85 |
| 50% | $522 | +$187 |
| 75% | $656 | +$321 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 15%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $2,099 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| SGC 10 | $1,000 | −$1,099 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $790 | −$1,309 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $786 | −$1,313 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $344 | −$1,755 | 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 Pikachu ex — FAQ
Is Pikachu ex worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu ex brings $790 versus $285 raw — a $504 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($254) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Pikachu ex worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pikachu ex (Surging Sparks 238/191) sells for about $790 versus $285 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.8× premium as of Oct 4, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu ex?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $2,099, ahead of SGC 10 at $1,000. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pikachu ex need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 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 Pikachu ex break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Pikachu ex breaks even when it gems about 15% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $254).
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