Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · XY Black Star Promos · XY202 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $5,040 against $52.61 raw: a $4,987 spread, 96× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($259) 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)
- $52.61
- PSA 10
- $5,040
- PSA 9
- $259
- Gem premium
- 96×
- 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 | $5,040 | +$4,962 | +$4,937 | +$4,837 |
| PSA 9 | $259 | +$182 | +$157 | +$56.58 |
| PSA 8 | $87.85 | +$10.24 | −$14.76 | −$115 |
Net = sale price − $52.61 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% | $1,454 | +$1,352 |
| 50% | $2,650 | +$2,547 |
| 75% | $3,845 | +$3,742 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $5,040 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $461 | −$4,579 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $5,040 | $461 |
| 9 | $259 | $98.60 |
| 8.5 | — | $35.00 |
| 8 | $87.85 | $30.00 |
| 7.5 | — | $43.00 |
| 7 | $75.89 | $9.00 |
| 6 | $31.49 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other XY Black Star Promos cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $5,040 against $52.61 raw: a $4,987 spread, 96× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($259) 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 Black Star Promos XY202) sells for about $5,040 versus $52.61 for a raw near-mint copy — a 96× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $5,040, ahead of CGC 10 at $461. 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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