Is Charmander worth grading?
Pokémon · Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos · 044 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Charmander sells for $550 against $53.46 raw: a $496 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($107) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $53.46
- PSA 10
- $550
- PSA 9
- $107
- Gem premium
- 10×
- As of
- Oct 11, 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 | $550 | +$471 | +$446 | +$346 |
| PSA 9 | $107 | +$28.60 | +$3.60 | −$96.40 |
| PSA 8 | $60.99 | −$17.47 | −$42.47 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $53.46 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% | $218 | +$114 |
| 50% | $329 | +$225 |
| 75% | $439 | +$336 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG 10 | $593 | best | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| PSA 10 | $550 | −$43.14 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $210 | −$383 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $201 | −$392 | 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 Charmander — FAQ
Is Charmander worth grading?
A PSA 10 Charmander sells for $550 against $53.46 raw: a $496 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($107) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Charmander worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Charmander (Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos 044) sells for about $550 versus $53.46 for a raw near-mint copy — a 10× premium as of Oct 11, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Charmander?
By resale value, TAG 10 leads at $593, ahead of PSA 10 at $550. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Charmander need for a TAG 10?
TAG publishes 55/45 front and 72/28 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.
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