Best Pokémon cards to grade

The Pokémon cards where grading adds the most value — ranked by net profit from raw to PSA 10 after real grading costs, with each card's estimated gem rate and risk-adjusted return (what you'd expect once you weight every grade outcome, not just the PSA 10 best case). Top pick: Charizard at +$137,025 best-case net.

Best cards to grade, ranked by risk-adjusted grading profit

#	Card	Raw	PSA 10	Cost	Net (best)	Risk-adj.
1	CharizardLegendary Collection #3 · 2.1% gem rate	$2,100	$141,156	$2,032	+$137,025	+$2,495
2	CharizardSkyridge #146 · 8.9% gem rate	$1,200	$73,014	$1,350	+$70,464	+$6,122
3	Shining MewtwoNeo Destiny #109	$3,000	$55,797	$1,178	+$51,619	—
4	Pikachu ☆Holon Phantoms #104 · 4.8% gem rate	$3,200	$50,000	$1,120	+$45,680	+$3,578
5	Rayquaza ☆Deoxys #107 · 2.6% gem rate	$2,501	$47,641	$1,096	+$44,044	+$2,260
6	CharizardBase #4 · 0.4% gem rate	$2,146	$46,800	$1,088	+$43,566	−$639
7	UmbreonSkyridge #H30 · 8.4% gem rate	$5,000	$44,708	$1,067	+$38,641	+$3,332
8	Charizard ☆ δDragon Frontiers #100 · 2% gem rate	$4,000	$41,215	$1,032	+$36,183	+$476
9	CharmanderLegendary Collection #70 · 2.5% gem rate	$599	$29,400	$914	+$27,887	+$1,715
10	LugiaAquapolis #149 · 4.3% gem rate	$2,500	$30,300	$923	+$26,877	+$1,981
11	Regice ☆Legend Maker #90 · 4% gem rate	$1,250	$28,193	$902	+$26,041	+$717
12	Dark BlastoiseLegendary Collection #4 · 3.6% gem rate	$550	$27,100	$891	+$25,659	+$497
13	Charizard G LV.XSupreme Victors #143 · 3.9% gem rate	$443	$25,206	$872	+$23,891	+$434
14	MudkipPoké Card Creator Pack #4 · 5.4% gem rate	$400	$25,100	$871	+$23,829	+$1,554
15	Metagross ☆Delta Species #113 · 4.1% gem rate	$1,488	$25,650	$877	+$23,285	+$1,308
16	Mewtwo exRuby & Sapphire #101 · 2% gem rate	$311	$24,231	$662	+$23,258	+$16
17	Gengar-EXPhantom Forces #114 · 1.7% gem rate	$749	$24,588	$666	+$23,173	+$52
18	Gengar exFireRed & LeafGreen #108 · 3.4% gem rate	$1,400	$25,067	$871	+$22,797	+$572
19	CharizardBase Set 2 #4 · 0.3% gem rate	$453	$23,817	$658	+$22,705	−$504
20	Mewtwo ☆Holon Phantoms #103 · 5.7% gem rate	$1,769	$24,497	$665	+$22,064	+$2,397
21	Rocket's Snorlax exTeam Rocket Returns #104 · 7.2% gem rate	$900	$23,509	$655	+$21,954	+$1,591
22	Shining CharizardNeo Destiny #107	$3,999	$25,800	$878	+$20,923	—
23	UmbreonHS—Undaunted #86 · 1.7% gem rate	$507	$21,646	$636	+$20,502	+$66
24	TreeckoPoké Card Creator Pack #1 · 3.3% gem rate	$399	$21,100	$631	+$20,070	+$2,820
25	SuicuneCall of Legends #SL11 · 4.4% gem rate	$325	$20,400	$624	+$19,451	+$474
26	Charizard δCrystal Guardians #4 · 1.8% gem rate	$559	$20,400	$624	+$19,218	+$107
27	Flareon ☆Power Keepers #100 · 3.4% gem rate	$245	$18,544	$605	+$17,693	+$507
28	Celebi ☆Crystal Guardians #100 · 4.1% gem rate	$950	$19,199	$612	+$17,637	+$729
29	RaikouNeo Revelation #13 · 2.3% gem rate	$348	$18,511	$605	+$17,558	−$19
30	Jolteon ☆Power Keepers #101 · 3.4% gem rate	$300	$18,457	$605	+$17,553	+$522
31	EspeonNeo Discovery #1 · 5.8% gem rate	$400	$18,125	$601	+$17,124	+$618
32	Espeon exUnseen Forces #102 · 3% gem rate	$333	$17,914	$599	+$16,982	+$505
33	Gyarados δHolon Phantoms #8 · 4.4% gem rate	$350	$17,494	$595	+$16,549	+$226
34	Lugia exUnseen Forces #105 · 3.8% gem rate	$902	$18,022	$600	+$16,519	+$530
35	VenusaurLegendary Collection #18 · 4.1% gem rate	$800	$17,700	$597	+$16,303	+$159
36	Regirock ☆Legend Maker #91 · 6.1% gem rate	$747	$17,123	$591	+$15,785	+$724
37	RaikouCall of Legends #SL9 · 2.8% gem rate	$170	$16,500	$585	+$15,745	+$204
38	Blaine's CharizardGym Challenge #2 · 10.9% gem rate	$895	$17,128	$591	+$15,642	+$1,344
39	GyaradosSkyridge #H10 · 11.3% gem rate	$1,250	$17,247	$592	+$15,405	+$1,902
40	BlastoiseBase #2 · 0.6% gem rate	$825	$16,800	$588	+$15,387	−$447
41	Sabrina's GengarGym Heroes #14 · 3.3% gem rate	$601	$16,500	$585	+$15,314	+$408
42	SuicuneNeo Revelation #14 · 2% gem rate	$461	$16,307	$583	+$15,262	+$196
43	HoundoomAquapolis #H11 · 4.6% gem rate	$400	$15,778	$578	+$14,801	+$595
44	TorchicPoké Card Creator Pack #3 · 12.1% gem rate	$400	$15,170	$572	+$14,199	+$1,843
45	Entei ☆Unseen Forces #113 · 7.5% gem rate	$705	$15,466	$575	+$14,186	+$1,082
46	Mewtwo LV.XLegends Awakened #144 · 3.1% gem rate	$276	$15,000	$570	+$14,154	+$185
47	Tyranitar exUnseen Forces #111 · 4.6% gem rate	$500	$15,165	$572	+$14,093	+$468
48	Dragonite exDragon #90 · 4.5% gem rate	$520	$15,000	$570	+$13,910	+$362
49	M Rayquaza-EXRoaring Skies #105 · 2.7% gem rate	$397	$14,787	$568	+$13,822	+$209
50	Dark CharizardTeam Rocket #4 · 4.8% gem rate	$444	$14,700	$567	+$13,689	+$551
51	RaichuBase #14 · 3% gem rate	$468	$14,700	$567	+$13,666	−$61
52	SnorlaxJungle #11 · 1.4% gem rate	$372	$14,550	$566	+$13,613	−$10
53	PichuNeo Genesis #12 · 1.1% gem rate	$319	$14,400	$564	+$13,517	−$355
54	Dark DragoniteTeam Rocket #5 · 2.6% gem rate	$353	$14,400	$564	+$13,483	+$78
55	Blastoise exFireRed & LeafGreen #104 · 8.3% gem rate	$430	$14,103	$561	+$13,112	+$854
56	Gyarados ☆ δHolon Phantoms #102 · 1.8% gem rate	$1,200	$14,857	$569	+$13,088	+$94
57	DragoniteFossil #4 · 2.8% gem rate	$429	$13,800	$558	+$12,813	+$250
58	JolteonLegendary Collection #14 · 2.6% gem rate	$300	$13,562	$556	+$12,706	−$127
59	AmpharosAquapolis #H1 · 5.7% gem rate	$274	$13,519	$555	+$12,690	+$364
60	Latias & Latios-GXTeam Up #170 · 40.1% gem rate	$2,969	$16,200	$582	+$12,649	+$5,168
61	Suicune ☆Unseen Forces #115 · 7.1% gem rate	$1,100	$14,168	$562	+$12,506	+$865
62	Latios ☆Deoxys #106 · 2.2% gem rate	$1,500	$14,269	$563	+$12,206	+$1,640
63	MewHS—Triumphant #97 · 6.7% gem rate	$331	$12,863	$549	+$11,983	+$938
64	TyranitarAquapolis #H28 · 8.3% gem rate	$500	$13,000	$550	+$11,950	+$1,080
65	CharizardSecret Wonders #3 · 1.2% gem rate	$165	$12,600	$546	+$11,889	−$152
66	GyaradosLegendary Collection #12 · 1.4% gem rate	$220	$12,600	$546	+$11,834	−$378
67	UmbreonCall of Legends #22 · 1.7% gem rate	$154	$12,520	$545	+$11,821	−$250
68	Raikou ☆Unseen Forces #114 · 9.9% gem rate	$167	$12,055	$541	+$11,348	+$1,354
69	ArticunoFossil #2 · 2.2% gem rate	$208	$12,000	$540	+$11,252	−$134
70	BlastoisePlasma Storm #137 · 3.1% gem rate	$465	$12,250	$543	+$11,243	+$51
71	Blastoise-EXXY Black Star Promos #XY122 · 1.5% gem rate	$282	$11,892	$539	+$11,071	−$263
72	TyranitarNeo Discovery #12 · 6.1% gem rate	$425	$12,000	$540	+$11,035	+$157
73	SnorlaxCall of Legends #33 · 9.8% gem rate	$925	$12,500	$545	+$11,030	+$543
74	EspeonAquapolis #H9 · 8.7% gem rate	$317	$11,882	$539	+$11,026	+$916
75	M Charizard-EXFlashfire #108 · 5.8% gem rate	$1,001	$12,515	$545	+$10,970	+$212
76	Salamence exDeoxys #103 · 6% gem rate	$189	$11,687	$537	+$10,962	+$256
77	Dark TyranitarNeo Destiny #11 · 1.9% gem rate	$261	$11,486	$535	+$10,689	−$275
78	Infernape LV.XDiamond & Pearl #121 · 7.2% gem rate	$145	$11,237	$532	+$10,560	+$421
79	Deoxys exDeoxys #98 · 5.5% gem rate	$180	$11,250	$533	+$10,538	+$165
80	GengarLegend Maker #5 · 4.1% gem rate	$245	$11,251	$533	+$10,473	+$226
81	Light DragoniteNeo Destiny #14 · 11.7% gem rate	$500	$11,400	$534	+$10,366	+$1,316
82	M Rayquaza-EXAncient Origins #98	$972	$11,860	$539	+$10,349	—
83	SlowkingNeo Genesis #14 · 0.4% gem rate	$203	$11,000	$530	+$10,267	−$330
84	Treecko ☆Team Rocket Returns #109 · 4.1% gem rate	$2,400	$13,099	$551	+$10,148	+$1,299
85	Giovanni's PersianGym Challenge #8 · 3.9% gem rate	$195	$10,500	$525	+$9,780	+$14
86	ZekromLegendary Treasures #115	$411	$10,685	$527	+$9,747	—
87	Glaceon LV.XMajestic Dawn #98 · 1.5% gem rate	$500	$10,670	$527	+$9,643	−$143
88	MewSouthern Islands #1 · 0.4% gem rate	$441	$10,551	$526	+$9,585	−$114
89	Espeon ☆POP Series 5 #16	$5,757	$15,900	$579	+$9,564	—
90	CharizardDragon #100 · 5.6% gem rate	$772	$10,800	$528	+$9,500	+$374
91	Rayquaza δHolon Phantoms #16 · 6.6% gem rate	$387	$10,115	$521	+$9,206	+$857
92	KingdraAquapolis #148 · 5.4% gem rate	$600	$10,249	$522	+$9,126	+$166
93	SlowkingSouthern Islands #14 · 2% gem rate	$222	$9,855	$519	+$9,114	−$132
94	Pikachu-EXXY Black Star Promos #XY124	$374	$10,000	$520	+$9,106	—
95	FeraligatrNeo Genesis #4 · 4.6% gem rate	$200	$9,730	$517	+$9,013	+$63
96	Dialga-EXPhantom Forces #122 · 1.9% gem rate	$975	$10,440	$524	+$8,941	−$157
97	PikachuPokémon Rumble #7 · 2.7% gem rate	$750	$10,150	$522	+$8,879	+$292
98	CharizardStormfront #103 · 1.7% gem rate	$669	$10,050	$521	+$8,861	+$50
99	FlareonSkyridge #H7 · 10.1% gem rate	$590	$9,944	$519	+$8,835	+$792
100	Dark GengarNeo Destiny #6 · 4% gem rate	$700	$9,900	$519	+$8,681	+$100

Net (best) = PSA 10 value − raw value − grading cost (tier fee + ~$20 round-trip shipping), using PSA fees as of 2026-06-28 (the paused PSA Value tier is excluded so ROI isn't overstated). Risk-adjusted return weights every grade by its likelihood, estimated from PSA population data — which is cumulative and skews toward nicer, resubmitted copies, so gem rates are a guide, not a guarantee. Grading outcomes are not guaranteed. For informational purposes · not financial advice.