Is Pikachu VMAX worth grading?
Pokémon · Lost Origin Trainer Gallery · TG17/TG30 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Pikachu VMAX brings $303 versus $114 raw — a $189 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($130) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $114
- PSA 10
- $303
- PSA 9
- $130
- Gem premium
- 2.7×
- As of
- Sep 13, 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 | $303 | +$164 | +$139 | +$39.29 |
| PSA 9 | $130 | −$8.98 | −$33.98 | −$134 |
| PSA 8 | $95.17 | −$43.96 | −$68.96 | −$169 |
Net = sale price − $114 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% | $173 | +$9.34 |
| 50% | $217 | +$52.66 |
| 75% | $260 | +$95.97 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 20%. 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 | $595 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| TAG 10 | $348 | −$248 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| PSA 10 | $303 | −$292 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $165 | −$430 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $89.72 | −$505 | 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 VMAX — FAQ
Is Pikachu VMAX worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu VMAX brings $303 versus $114 raw — a $189 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($130) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Pikachu VMAX worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pikachu VMAX (Lost Origin Trainer Gallery TG17/TG30) sells for about $303 versus $114 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.7× premium as of Sep 13, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu VMAX?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $595, ahead of TAG 10 at $348. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pikachu VMAX 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 VMAX break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Pikachu VMAX breaks even when it gems about 20% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $130).
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