Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · XY Black Star Promos · XY89 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 9 Pikachu sells for $10,000 against $45.81 raw: a $9,954 spread, 218× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($10,000) 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)
- $45.81
- PSA 9
- $10,000
- PSA 9
- $10,000
- Gem premium
- 218×
- As of
- Oct 6, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 9 | $10,000 | +$9,929 | +$9,904 | +$9,804 |
| PSA 9 | $10,000 | +$9,929 | +$9,904 | +$9,804 |
| PSA 8 | $42.83 | −$27.98 | −$52.98 | −$153 |
Net = sale price − $45.81 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% | $10,000 | +$9,904 |
| 50% | $10,000 | +$9,904 |
| 75% | $10,000 | +$9,904 |
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 Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 9 Pikachu sells for $10,000 against $45.81 raw: a $9,954 spread, 218× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($10,000) 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.
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