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: Vaporeon ☆ at +$56,937 best-case net.

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

#	Card	Raw	PSA 10	Cost	Net (best)	Risk-adj.
1	Vaporeon ☆Power Keepers #102 · 3.9% gem rate	$840	$58,987	$1,210	+$56,937	+$1,689
2	Shining MewtwoNeo Destiny #109 · 6.8% gem rate	$940	$56,299	$1,183	+$54,176	+$2,938
3	CharizardBase #4 · 0.4% gem rate	$774	$46,800	$1,088	+$44,938	−$546
4	Rayquaza ☆Deoxys #107 · 2.6% gem rate	$2,501	$47,641	$1,096	+$44,044	−$40
5	UmbreonSkyridge #H30 · 8.4% gem rate	$1,682	$44,656	$1,067	+$41,908	+$4,494
6	Charizard ☆ δDragon Frontiers #100 · 2% gem rate	$4,000	$41,215	$1,032	+$36,183	+$476
7	LugiaAquapolis #149 · 4.3% gem rate	$2,225	$30,300	$923	+$27,152	+$2,049
8	MudkipPoké Card Creator Pack #4 · 5.4% gem rate	$400	$25,100	$871	+$23,829	+$1,554
9	Metagross ☆Delta Species #113 · 4.1% gem rate	$952	$25,650	$877	+$23,822	+$1,149
10	Mewtwo exRuby & Sapphire #101 · 2% gem rate	$311	$24,449	$664	+$23,474	+$21
11	Shining CharizardNeo Destiny #107 · 6.6% gem rate	$1,518	$25,800	$878	+$23,404	+$1,178
12	Gengar exFireRed & LeafGreen #108 · 3.4% gem rate	$1,400	$25,067	$871	+$22,797	+$477
13	Mewtwo ☆Holon Phantoms #103 · 5.7% gem rate	$1,769	$24,497	$665	+$22,064	+$2,413
14	Rocket's Snorlax exTeam Rocket Returns #104 · 7.2% gem rate	$900	$23,509	$655	+$21,954	+$1,456
15	CharizardSkyridge #146 · 15.2% gem rate	$716	$22,200	$642	+$20,842	+$3,815
16	UmbreonHS—Undaunted #86 · 1.7% gem rate	$485	$21,646	$636	+$20,525	+$84
17	TreeckoPoké Card Creator Pack #1 · 3.3% gem rate	$399	$21,100	$631	+$20,070	+$2,820
18	SuicuneCall of Legends #SL11 · 4.4% gem rate	$325	$20,400	$624	+$19,451	+$474
19	Charizard δCrystal Guardians #4 · 1.4% gem rate	$623	$20,400	$624	+$19,153	−$31
20	Flareon ☆Power Keepers #100 · 3.4% gem rate	$245	$18,487	$605	+$17,637	+$510
21	Jolteon ☆Power Keepers #101 · 3.4% gem rate	$449	$18,457	$605	+$17,404	+$497
22	EspeonNeo Discovery #1 · 5.8% gem rate	$400	$18,125	$601	+$17,124	+$621
23	Espeon exUnseen Forces #102 · 3% gem rate	$333	$17,805	$598	+$16,874	+$138
24	Lugia exUnseen Forces #105 · 3.8% gem rate	$902	$18,022	$600	+$16,519	+$530
25	Blaine's CharizardGym Challenge #2 · 10.9% gem rate	$700	$17,282	$593	+$15,989	+$1,458
26	BlastoiseBase #2 · 0.6% gem rate	$232	$16,800	$588	+$15,980	−$392
27	RaikouCall of Legends #SL9 · 2.8% gem rate	$170	$16,500	$585	+$15,745	+$226
28	GyaradosSkyridge #H10 · 11.3% gem rate	$1,191	$17,403	$594	+$15,618	+$1,947
29	Sabrina's GengarGym Heroes #14 · 3.3% gem rate	$601	$16,500	$585	+$15,314	+$414
30	HoundoomAquapolis #H11 · 4.6% gem rate	$400	$15,920	$579	+$14,941	+$602
31	Latias & Latios-GXTeam Up #170 · 40.1% gem rate	$1,121	$16,346	$583	+$14,641	+$6,520
32	Entei ☆Unseen Forces #113 · 7.5% gem rate	$707	$15,605	$576	+$14,322	+$1,098
33	TorchicPoké Card Creator Pack #3 · 12.1% gem rate	$400	$15,170	$572	+$14,199	+$1,843
34	Dragonite exDragon #90 · 4.5% gem rate	$290	$15,000	$570	+$14,140	+$420
35	M Rayquaza-EXRoaring Skies #105 · 2.7% gem rate	$386	$14,787	$568	+$13,832	+$112
36	Dark CharizardTeam Rocket #4 · 4.8% gem rate	$444	$14,700	$567	+$13,689	+$556
37	SnorlaxJungle #11 · 1.4% gem rate	$372	$14,550	$566	+$13,613	−$266
38	Dark DragoniteTeam Rocket #5 · 2.6% gem rate	$318	$14,400	$564	+$13,518	+$91
39	PichuNeo Genesis #12 · 1.1% gem rate	$319	$14,400	$564	+$13,517	−$185
40	Suicune ☆Unseen Forces #115 · 7.1% gem rate	$515	$14,078	$561	+$13,002	+$1,174
41	Blastoise exFireRed & LeafGreen #104 · 8.3% gem rate	$430	$13,979	$560	+$12,990	+$895
42	AmpharosAquapolis #H1 · 5.7% gem rate	$177	$13,519	$555	+$12,787	+$395
43	DragoniteFossil #4 · 2.8% gem rate	$462	$13,800	$558	+$12,780	+$248
44	Raikou ☆Unseen Forces #114 · 9.9% gem rate	$167	$13,216	$552	+$12,497	+$1,482
45	Latios ☆Deoxys #106 · 2.2% gem rate	$1,500	$14,269	$563	+$12,206	+$1,640
46	MewHS—Triumphant #97 · 6.7% gem rate	$309	$12,928	$549	+$12,070	+$957
47	TyranitarAquapolis #H28 · 8.3% gem rate	$500	$13,000	$550	+$11,950	+$1,083
48	UmbreonCall of Legends #22 · 1.7% gem rate	$173	$12,520	$545	+$11,802	−$253
49	M Charizard-EXFlashfire #108 · 5.8% gem rate	$464	$12,498	$545	+$11,489	+$399
50	ArticunoFossil #2 · 2.2% gem rate	$202	$12,000	$540	+$11,258	−$130
51	BlastoisePlasma Storm #137 · 3.1% gem rate	$465	$12,250	$543	+$11,243	+$53
52	Salamence exDeoxys #103 · 6% gem rate	$192	$11,793	$538	+$11,063	+$261
53	Blastoise-EXXY Black Star Promos #XY122 · 1.5% gem rate	$293	$11,892	$539	+$11,061	−$262
54	EspeonAquapolis #H9 · 8.7% gem rate	$317	$11,882	$539	+$11,026	+$879
55	Dark TyranitarNeo Destiny #11 · 1.9% gem rate	$271	$11,553	$536	+$10,746	−$276
56	M Rayquaza-EXAncient Origins #98 · 9.6% gem rate	$972	$12,125	$541	+$10,612	+$805
57	Infernape LV.XDiamond & Pearl #121 · 7.2% gem rate	$145	$11,282	$533	+$10,604	+$418
58	Deoxys exDeoxys #98 · 5.5% gem rate	$180	$11,250	$533	+$10,538	+$165
59	Light DragoniteNeo Destiny #14 · 11.7% gem rate	$338	$11,400	$534	+$10,528	+$1,412
60	Shining TyranitarNeo Destiny #113 · 6.7% gem rate	$576	$11,282	$533	+$10,174	+$430
61	Treecko ☆Team Rocket Returns #109 · 4.1% gem rate	$2,400	$13,099	$551	+$10,148	+$1,311
62	ZekromLegendary Treasures #115 · 0.9% gem rate	$328	$10,685	$527	+$9,829	−$407
63	Giovanni's PersianGym Challenge #8 · 3.9% gem rate	$195	$10,500	$525	+$9,780	+$62
64	Glaceon LV.XMajestic Dawn #98 · 1.5% gem rate	$500	$10,670	$527	+$9,643	−$143
65	Dialga-EXPhantom Forces #122 · 1.9% gem rate	$285	$10,440	$524	+$9,631	−$37
66	CharizardDragon #100 · 5.6% gem rate	$772	$10,800	$528	+$9,500	+$363
67	CharizardStormfront #103 · 1.7% gem rate	$174	$10,050	$521	+$9,355	+$158
68	Espeon ☆POP Series 5 #16	$6,021	$15,900	$579	+$9,300	—
69	KingdraAquapolis #148 · 5.4% gem rate	$600	$10,249	$522	+$9,126	+$166
70	SlowkingSouthern Islands #14 · 2% gem rate	$222	$9,855	$519	+$9,114	−$88
71	Pikachu-EXXY Black Star Promos #XY124	$410	$10,000	$520	+$9,070	—
72	PikachuGenerations #RC29 · 4.9% gem rate	$167	$9,734	$517	+$9,050	+$57
73	FeraligatrNeo Genesis #4 · 4.6% gem rate	$200	$9,730	$517	+$9,013	+$64
74	FlareonSkyridge #H7 · 10.1% gem rate	$590	$10,033	$520	+$8,923	+$827
75	PikachuPokémon Rumble #7 · 2.7% gem rate	$750	$10,150	$522	+$8,879	+$292
76	Dark GengarNeo Destiny #6 · 4% gem rate	$700	$9,900	$519	+$8,681	+$104
77	M Gengar-EXPhantom Forces #121 · 4.3% gem rate	$147	$9,315	$513	+$8,655	+$39
78	M Charizard-EXFlashfire #107 · 4.8% gem rate	$100	$9,244	$512	+$8,632	+$40
79	Mewtwo-GXShining Legends #78 · 16.8% gem rate	$740	$9,820	$518	+$8,562	+$1,439
80	Light ArcanineNeo Destiny #12 · 8.6% gem rate	$440	$9,497	$515	+$8,542	+$935
81	HoundoomSkyridge #H11 · 7.4% gem rate	$578	$9,594	$516	+$8,500	+$719
82	Genesect-EXPlasma Blast #97 · 1.5% gem rate	$292	$9,300	$513	+$8,495	−$323
83	EnteiNeo Revelation #6 · 2.4% gem rate	$500	$9,426	$514	+$8,412	−$236
84	Charizard-EXFlashfire #100 · 4.6% gem rate	$248	$9,126	$511	+$8,367	+$45
85	GengarLegendary Collection #11 · 1.6% gem rate	$160	$9,000	$510	+$8,330	−$258
86	AzumarillNeo Genesis #2 · 1.7% gem rate	$94	$8,931	$509	+$8,327	−$284
87	ArticunoSupreme Victors #148 · 3.1% gem rate	$182	$9,000	$510	+$8,308	+$9
88	Milotic exEmerald #96 · 3.5% gem rate	$480	$9,199	$512	+$8,207	+$181
89	UmbreonSkyridge #32 · 25.7% gem rate	$280	$8,988	$510	+$8,198	+$1,837
90	Registeel ☆Legend Maker #92 · 5.1% gem rate	$500	$9,200	$512	+$8,188	+$326
91	Rocket's Mewtwo exTeam Rocket Returns #99 · 6.1% gem rate	$565	$9,172	$512	+$8,095	+$469
92	Charizard G LV.XDP Black Star Promos #DP45 · 0.5% gem rate	$125	$8,700	$507	+$8,068	−$254
93	Salamence ex δDragon Frontiers #98 · 4.4% gem rate	$205	$8,580	$506	+$7,869	−$14
94	Regirock ☆Legend Maker #91 · 6.1% gem rate	$747	$9,122	$511	+$7,864	+$428
95	GroudonCall of Legends #SL4 · 2.1% gem rate	$413	$8,761	$508	+$7,841	+$28
96	Latios ex δDragon Frontiers #96 · 4.8% gem rate	$116	$8,451	$505	+$7,830	+$95
97	Shining GyaradosNeo Revelation #65 · 5.2% gem rate	$96	$8,400	$504	+$7,800	+$1,936
98	LugiaNeo Genesis #9 · 0.1% gem rate	$528	$8,786	$508	+$7,750	−$472
99	Mew-EXXY Black Star Promos #XY126 · 4.6% gem rate	$201	$8,382	$504	+$7,677	+$57
100	GengarHS—Triumphant #94 · 4.9% gem rate	$493	$8,518	$505	+$7,519	+$294

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.