Is Absol worth grading?
Pokémon · Astral Radiance · 097/189 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 322× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Absol sells for $103 against $0.32 raw: a $103 spread, 322× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($22.93) 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)
- $0.32
- PSA 10
- $103
- PSA 9
- $22.93
- Gem premium
- 322×
- 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 | $103 | +$77.68 | +$52.68 | −$47.32 |
| PSA 9 | $22.93 | −$2.39 | −$27.39 | −$127 |
| PSA 8 | $8.46 | −$16.86 | −$41.86 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $0.32 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% | $42.95 | −$7.37 |
| 50% | $62.97 | +$12.65 |
| 75% | $82.98 | +$32.66 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 34%. 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 | $143 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $45.00 | −$97.50 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $11.00 | −$132 | 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 | SGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $143 | $45.00 | $11.00 |
| 9.5 | — | $30.00 | — |
| 9 | $25.72 | — | — |
| 8 | $8.46 | — | — |
| 7 | $12.50 | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Astral Radiance cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Absol — FAQ
Is Absol worth grading?
A PSA 10 Absol sells for $103 against $0.32 raw: a $103 spread, 322× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($22.93) 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 Absol worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Absol (Astral Radiance 097/189) sells for about $103 versus $0.32 for a raw near-mint copy — a 322× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Absol?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $143, ahead of CGC 10 at $45.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Absol 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 Absol break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Absol breaks even when it gems about 34% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $22.93).
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.
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