Is Bulbasaur worth grading?
Pokémon · SWSH Black Star Promos · full price guide →
Grading rarely pays for this card
CGC 9 copies of Bulbasaur sell for $22.97, only $12.28 above the $10.69 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($19.27) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
- Raw (NM)
- $10.69
- CGC 9
- $22.97
- PSA 9
- $19.27
- Gem premium
- 2.1×
- 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 — CGC 9 | $22.97 | −$12.72 | −$37.72 | −$138 |
| PSA 9 | $19.27 | −$16.42 | −$41.42 | −$141 |
| PSA 8 | $16.96 | −$18.73 | −$43.73 | −$144 |
Net = sale price − $10.69 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% | $20.20 | −$40.49 |
| 50% | $21.12 | −$39.57 |
| 75% | $22.04 | −$38.65 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Bulbasaur — FAQ
Is Bulbasaur worth grading?
CGC 9 copies of Bulbasaur sell for $22.97, only $12.28 above the $10.69 raw price — less than an economy-tier grading fee. A PSA 9 ($19.27) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Keep it raw unless you are grading for the slab itself.
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