Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · XY · 42/146 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $153 against $3.20 raw: a $150 spread, 48× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($79.43) 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)
- $3.20
- PSA 10
- $153
- PSA 9
- $79.43
- Gem premium
- 48×
- As of
- Sep 18, 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 | $153 | +$125 | +$100 | +$0.12 |
| PSA 9 | $79.43 | +$51.23 | +$26.23 | −$73.77 |
| PSA 8 | $30.01 | +$1.81 | −$23.19 | −$123 |
Net = sale price − $3.20 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% | $97.90 | +$44.70 |
| 50% | $116 | +$63.17 |
| 75% | $135 | +$81.65 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $288 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| PSA 10 | $153 | −$135 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $80.86 | −$207 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $16.00 | −$272 | 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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Other XY cards worth checking
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Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $153 against $3.20 raw: a $150 spread, 48× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($79.43) 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 Pikachu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pikachu (XY 42/146) sells for about $153 versus $3.20 for a raw near-mint copy — a 48× premium as of Sep 18, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $288, ahead of PSA 10 at $153. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pikachu 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.
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