Is Rayquaza worth grading?
Pokémon · SWSH Black Star Promos · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Rayquaza sells for $346 against $8.74 raw: a $337 spread, 40× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.62) 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)
- $8.74
- PSA 10
- $346
- PSA 9
- $39.62
- Gem premium
- 40×
- 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 | $346 | +$312 | +$287 | +$187 |
| PSA 9 | $39.62 | +$5.88 | −$19.12 | −$119 |
| PSA 8 | $19.81 | −$13.93 | −$38.93 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $8.74 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% | $116 | +$57.42 |
| 50% | $193 | +$134 |
| 75% | $269 | +$210 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 6%. 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 | $346 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $304 | −$41.49 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| BGS 10 | $81.00 | −$265 | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| CGC 10 | $79.88 | −$266 | 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 Rayquaza — FAQ
Is Rayquaza worth grading?
A PSA 10 Rayquaza sells for $346 against $8.74 raw: a $337 spread, 40× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.62) 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 Rayquaza worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Rayquaza (SWSH Black Star Promos) sells for about $346 versus $8.74 for a raw near-mint copy — a 40× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Rayquaza?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $346, ahead of TAG 10 at $304. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Rayquaza 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 Rayquaza break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Rayquaza breaks even when it gems about 6% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $39.62).
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