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 +$137,906 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	$142,046	$2,040	+$137,906	+$2,517
2	CharizardSkyridge #146 · 8.9% gem rate	$1,200	$73,475	$1,355	+$70,920	+$6,163
3	UmbreonNeo Discovery #13 · 1.6% gem rate	$1,775	$66,261	$1,283	+$63,204	−$168
4	Shining MewtwoNeo Destiny #109	$3,000	$56,148	$1,181	+$51,967	—
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	−$636
7	UmbreonSkyridge #H30 · 8.4% gem rate	$5,000	$44,990	$1,070	+$38,920	+$3,368
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	$2,225	$30,300	$923	+$27,152	+$2,046
11	Regice ☆Legend Maker #90 · 4% gem rate	$1,250	$28,193	$902	+$26,041	+$722
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	$25,365	$874	+$24,049	+$441
14	MudkipPoké Card Creator Pack #4 · 5.4% gem rate	$400	$25,100	$871	+$23,829	+$1,554
15	Mewtwo exRuby & Sapphire #101 · 2% gem rate	$311	$24,384	$664	+$23,409	+$20
16	Metagross ☆Delta Species #113 · 4.1% gem rate	$1,488	$25,650	$877	+$23,285	+$1,129
17	Gengar-EXPhantom Forces #114 · 1.7% gem rate	$749	$24,588	$666	+$23,173	+$55
18	Gengar exFireRed & LeafGreen #108 · 3.4% gem rate	$1,400	$25,067	$871	+$22,797	+$515
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	+$2,408
21	Rocket's Snorlax exTeam Rocket Returns #104 · 7.2% gem rate	$900	$23,509	$655	+$21,954	+$1,448
22	Shining CharizardNeo Destiny #107	$3,999	$25,800	$878	+$20,923	—
23	UmbreonHS—Undaunted #86 · 1.7% gem rate	$485	$21,646	$636	+$20,525	+$73
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	$18,661	$607	+$17,809	+$513
28	RaikouNeo Revelation #13 · 2.3% gem rate	$348	$18,511	$605	+$17,558	−$17
29	Jolteon ☆Power Keepers #101 · 3.4% gem rate	$449	$18,457	$605	+$17,404	+$496
30	EspeonNeo Discovery #1 · 5.8% gem rate	$400	$18,125	$601	+$17,124	+$620
31	Espeon exUnseen Forces #102 · 3% gem rate	$333	$18,027	$600	+$17,094	+$511
32	Gyarados δHolon Phantoms #8 · 4.4% gem rate	$350	$17,494	$595	+$16,549	+$226
33	Lugia exUnseen Forces #105 · 3.8% gem rate	$902	$18,022	$600	+$16,519	+$530
34	VenusaurLegendary Collection #18 · 4.1% gem rate	$800	$17,700	$597	+$16,303	+$157
35	Regirock ☆Legend Maker #91 · 6.1% gem rate	$747	$17,123	$591	+$15,785	+$727
36	Blaine's CharizardGym Challenge #2 · 10.9% gem rate	$895	$17,236	$592	+$15,749	+$1,358
37	RaikouCall of Legends #SL9 · 2.8% gem rate	$170	$16,500	$585	+$15,745	+$207
38	GyaradosSkyridge #H10 · 11.3% gem rate	$1,250	$17,356	$594	+$15,513	+$1,917
39	BlastoiseBase #2 · 0.6% gem rate	$825	$16,800	$588	+$15,387	−$447
40	Sabrina's GengarGym Heroes #14 · 3.3% gem rate	$601	$16,500	$585	+$15,314	+$412
41	SuicuneNeo Revelation #14 · 2% gem rate	$461	$16,307	$583	+$15,262	+$199
42	HoundoomAquapolis #H11 · 4.6% gem rate	$400	$15,878	$579	+$14,899	+$600
43	Entei ☆Unseen Forces #113 · 7.5% gem rate	$701	$15,563	$576	+$14,287	+$1,096
44	TorchicPoké Card Creator Pack #3 · 12.1% gem rate	$400	$15,170	$572	+$14,199	+$1,843
45	Mewtwo LV.XLegends Awakened #144 · 3.1% gem rate	$276	$15,000	$570	+$14,154	+$185
46	Tyranitar exUnseen Forces #111 · 4.6% gem rate	$500	$15,165	$572	+$14,093	+$463
47	Dragonite exDragon #90 · 4.5% gem rate	$520	$15,000	$570	+$13,910	+$363
48	M Rayquaza-EXRoaring Skies #105 · 2.7% gem rate	$397	$14,787	$568	+$13,822	+$109
49	Dark CharizardTeam Rocket #4 · 4.8% gem rate	$444	$14,700	$567	+$13,689	+$554
50	RaichuBase #14 · 3% gem rate	$468	$14,700	$567	+$13,666	−$150
51	SnorlaxJungle #11 · 1.4% gem rate	$372	$14,550	$566	+$13,613	−$7
52	PichuNeo Genesis #12 · 1.1% gem rate	$319	$14,400	$564	+$13,517	−$186
53	Dark DragoniteTeam Rocket #5 · 2.6% gem rate	$353	$14,400	$564	+$13,483	+$80
54	Blastoise exFireRed & LeafGreen #104 · 8.3% gem rate	$430	$14,192	$562	+$13,200	+$863
55	Gyarados ☆ δHolon Phantoms #102 · 1.8% gem rate	$1,200	$14,857	$569	+$13,088	+$94
56	Latias & Latios-GXTeam Up #170 · 40.1% gem rate	$2,636	$16,302	$583	+$13,083	+$5,447
57	DragoniteFossil #4 · 2.8% gem rate	$429	$13,800	$558	+$12,813	+$253
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	Suicune ☆Unseen Forces #115 · 7.1% gem rate	$1,100	$14,257	$563	+$12,594	+$876
61	Latios ☆Deoxys #106 · 2.2% gem rate	$1,500	$14,269	$563	+$12,206	+$1,640
62	MewHS—Triumphant #97 · 6.7% gem rate	$309	$12,909	$549	+$12,050	+$954
63	TyranitarAquapolis #H28 · 8.3% gem rate	$500	$13,000	$550	+$11,950	+$1,082
64	CharizardSecret Wonders #3 · 1.2% gem rate	$165	$12,600	$546	+$11,889	−$152
65	GyaradosLegendary Collection #12 · 1.4% gem rate	$220	$12,600	$546	+$11,834	−$378
66	UmbreonCall of Legends #22 · 1.7% gem rate	$154	$12,520	$545	+$11,821	−$250
67	Raikou ☆Unseen Forces #114 · 9.9% gem rate	$167	$12,131	$541	+$11,423	+$1,366
68	ArticunoFossil #2 · 2.2% gem rate	$208	$12,000	$540	+$11,252	−$132
69	BlastoisePlasma Storm #137 · 3.1% gem rate	$465	$12,250	$543	+$11,243	+$53
70	Blastoise-EXXY Black Star Promos #XY122 · 1.5% gem rate	$287	$11,892	$539	+$11,066	−$263
71	M Charizard-EXFlashfire #108 · 5.8% gem rate	$1,001	$12,594	$546	+$11,048	+$218
72	Salamence exDeoxys #103 · 6% gem rate	$189	$11,761	$538	+$11,035	+$260
73	TyranitarNeo Discovery #12 · 6.1% gem rate	$425	$12,000	$540	+$11,035	+$158
74	SnorlaxCall of Legends #33 · 9.8% gem rate	$925	$12,500	$545	+$11,030	+$543
75	EspeonAquapolis #H9 · 8.7% gem rate	$317	$11,882	$539	+$11,026	+$878
76	Dark TyranitarNeo Destiny #11 · 1.9% gem rate	$271	$11,533	$535	+$10,726	−$276
77	Infernape LV.XDiamond & Pearl #121 · 7.2% gem rate	$145	$11,269	$533	+$10,591	+$424
78	Deoxys exDeoxys #98 · 5.5% gem rate	$180	$11,250	$533	+$10,538	+$165
79	GengarLegend Maker #5 · 4.1% gem rate	$245	$11,251	$533	+$10,473	+$229
80	M Rayquaza-EXAncient Origins #98	$972	$11,935	$539	+$10,423	—
81	Light DragoniteNeo Destiny #14 · 11.7% gem rate	$500	$11,400	$534	+$10,366	+$1,321
82	SlowkingNeo Genesis #14 · 0.4% gem rate	$203	$11,000	$530	+$10,267	−$329
83	Treecko ☆Team Rocket Returns #109 · 4.1% gem rate	$2,400	$13,099	$551	+$10,148	+$1,307
84	ZekromLegendary Treasures #115	$353	$10,685	$527	+$9,805	—
85	Giovanni's PersianGym Challenge #8 · 3.9% gem rate	$195	$10,500	$525	+$9,780	+$61
86	Glaceon LV.XMajestic Dawn #98 · 1.5% gem rate	$500	$10,670	$527	+$9,643	−$143
87	Espeon ☆POP Series 5 #16	$5,772	$15,900	$579	+$9,549	—
88	CharizardDragon #100 · 5.6% gem rate	$772	$10,800	$528	+$9,500	+$377
89	Rayquaza δHolon Phantoms #16 · 6.6% gem rate	$387	$10,115	$521	+$9,206	+$857
90	KingdraAquapolis #148 · 5.4% gem rate	$600	$10,249	$522	+$9,126	+$166
91	Pikachu-EXXY Black Star Promos #XY124	$366	$10,000	$520	+$9,114	—
92	SlowkingSouthern Islands #14 · 2% gem rate	$222	$9,855	$519	+$9,114	−$130
93	FeraligatrNeo Genesis #4 · 4.6% gem rate	$200	$9,730	$517	+$9,013	+$64
94	Dialga-EXPhantom Forces #122 · 1.9% gem rate	$975	$10,440	$524	+$8,941	−$155
95	FlareonSkyridge #H7 · 10.1% gem rate	$590	$10,007	$520	+$8,897	+$801
96	PikachuPokémon Rumble #7 · 2.7% gem rate	$750	$10,150	$522	+$8,879	+$292
97	CharizardStormfront #103 · 1.7% gem rate	$669	$10,050	$521	+$8,861	+$54
98	Dark GengarNeo Destiny #6 · 4% gem rate	$700	$9,900	$519	+$8,681	+$103
99	EnteiNeo Revelation #6 · 2.4% gem rate	$262	$9,426	$514	+$8,649	−$166
100	Light ArcanineNeo Destiny #12 · 8.6% gem rate	$440	$9,497	$515	+$8,542	+$933

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.