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 $42.72 against $3.03 raw: a $39.69 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.15) 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)
- $3.03
- PSA 10
- $42.72
- PSA 9
- $39.15
- Gem premium
- 14×
- 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 | $42.72 | +$14.69 | −$10.31 | −$110 |
| PSA 9 | $39.15 | +$11.12 | −$13.88 | −$114 |
| PSA 8 | $32.54 | +$4.51 | −$20.49 | −$120 |
Net = sale price − $3.03 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% | $40.04 | −$12.99 |
| 50% | $40.94 | −$12.09 |
| 75% | $41.83 | −$11.20 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $2,500 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| BGS 10 | $288 | −$2,212 | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| CGC 10 | $84.77 | −$2,415 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $16.00 | −$2,484 | 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 | BGS | SGC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $2,500 | $84.77 | $288 | $16.00 |
| 9.5 | — | $17.00 | $609 | $1.00 |
| 9 | $205 | $69.00 | $13.00 | — |
| 8.5 | $20.00 | $12.88 | $299 | — |
| 8 | $27.67 | $23.23 | $7.00 | — |
| 7.5 | — | $50.00 | — | — |
| 7 | $16.17 | — | — | — |
| 6 | $14.00 | — | — | — |
| 5 | $24.92 | — | — | — |
| 4 | $10.00 | — | — | — |
| 3.5 | — | $10.00 | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other XY cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $42.72 against $3.03 raw: a $39.69 spread, 14× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($39.15) 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 $42.72 versus $3.03 for a raw near-mint copy — a 14× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $2,500, ahead of BGS 10 at $288. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pikachu 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.
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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