Is Zapdos worth grading?
Pokémon · Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos · 157 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 67× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Zapdos sells for $140 against $2.09 raw: a $137 spread, 67× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($16.88) 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)
- $2.09
- PSA 10
- $140
- PSA 9
- $16.88
- Gem premium
- 67×
- 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 | $140 | +$112 | +$87.48 | −$12.52 |
| PSA 9 | $16.88 | −$10.21 | −$35.21 | −$135 |
| PSA 8 | $7.53 | −$19.56 | −$44.56 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $2.09 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% | $47.55 | −$4.54 |
| 50% | $78.22 | +$26.13 |
| 75% | $109 | +$56.81 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 29%. 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 | $140 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $70.77 | −$68.80 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $21.46 | −$118 | 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 | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $140 | $21.46 | $70.77 | $38.43 |
| 9.5 | — | $6.00 | — | — |
| 9 | $16.88 | $8.50 | $13.00 | — |
| 8 | $7.53 | — | — | — |
| 7 | $10.00 | — | — | — |
| 6 | $7.50 | — | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Zapdos — FAQ
Is Zapdos worth grading?
A PSA 10 Zapdos sells for $140 against $2.09 raw: a $137 spread, 67× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($16.88) 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 Zapdos worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Zapdos (Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos 157) sells for about $140 versus $2.09 for a raw near-mint copy — a 67× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Zapdos?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $140, ahead of TAG 10 at $70.77. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Zapdos 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 Zapdos break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Zapdos breaks even when it gems about 29% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $16.88).
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