Best Pokémon cards to grade
Ranked by expected profit per submission — every grade outcome weighted by how often the card actually receives it in the PSA population — after current grading fees. The PSA 10 best case is on every row, but it no longer decides the order: a card that gems one time in twenty is not a better bet than one that gems one time in three. Top pick: Mimikyu-GX at an expected +$566.
Cards worth grading4,804
With a gem-rate sample4,51194% of the population
Positive expected value2,827
Median gem rate18.3%
PSA fees as of2026-08-26
Ranked by expected profit49 matching
| # | Card | Raw | PSA 9 | PSA 10 | Cost | Best case | Gem rate | Expected | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Expected +$566 per submission: 29.2% of 473 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,600), and only a PSA 10 covers the $515 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $120 | $160 | $2,600 | $395 | +$2,085 | 29.2% | +$566 | 473 high |
| 2 | Expected +$539 per submission: 31.8% of 538 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,300), and only a PSA 10 covers the $457 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $265 | $320 | $2,300 | $192 | +$1,843 | 31.8% | +$539 | 538 high |
| 3 | Expected +$404 per submission: 32.6% of 2,296 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,896), and only a PSA 10 covers the $474 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $286 | $325 | $1,896 | $188 | +$1,422 | 32.6% | +$404 | 2,296 high |
| 4 | Expected +$285 per submission: 12.4% of 476 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,500), and a PSA 9 ($119) still clears the $205 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $11 | $119 | $2,500 | $194 | +$2,295 | 12.4% | +$285 | 476 high |
| 5 | Expected +$257 per submission: 26.4% of 1,992 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,516), and only a PSA 10 covers the $338 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $154 | $163 | $1,516 | $184 | +$1,178 | 26.4% | +$257 | 1,992 high |
| 6 | Expected +$224 per submission: 13.9% of 288 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,604), and a PSA 9 ($187) still clears the $204 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $19 | $187 | $1,604 | $185 | +$1,400 | 13.9% | +$224 | 288 high |
| 7 | Expected +$174 per submission: 33.3% of 174 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($750), and only a PSA 10 covers the $128 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $21 | $48 | $750 | $107 | +$622 | 33.3% | +$174 | 174 high |
| 8 | Expected +$124 per submission: 31.5% of 852 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($699), and only a PSA 10 covers the $209 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $102 | $161 | $699 | $107 | +$490 | 31.5% | +$124 | 852 high |
| 9 | Expected +$117 per submission: 36.7% of 1,576 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($510), and only a PSA 10 covers the $141 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $36 | $95 | $510 | $105 | +$369 | 36.7% | +$117 | 1,576 high |
| 10 | Expected +$115 per submission: 31.5% of 260 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($550), and only a PSA 10 covers the $129 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $24 | $80 | $550 | $105 | +$421 | 31.5% | +$115 | 260 high |
| 11 | Expected +$96 per submission: 25.8% of 644 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($776), and only a PSA 10 covers the $223 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $115 | $145 | $776 | $108 | +$553 | 25.8% | +$96 | 644 high |
| 12 | Expected +$91 per submission: 44.4% of 450 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($350), and only a PSA 10 covers the $86 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $13 | $42 | $350 | $73 | +$263 | 44.4% | +$91 | 450 high |
| 13 | Expected +$90 per submission: 40.8% of 316 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($453), and only a PSA 10 covers the $181 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $106 | $150 | $453 | $75 | +$272 | 40.8% | +$90 | 316 high |
| 14 | Expected +$89 per submission: 16.5% of 164 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($850), and only a PSA 10 covers the $121 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $13 | $65 | $850 | $108 | +$729 | 16.5% | +$89 | 164 high |
| 15 | Expected +$78 per submission: 36.3% of 540 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($429), and only a PSA 10 covers the $117 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $43 | $68 | $429 | $74 | +$313 | 36.3% | +$78 | 540 high |
| 16 | Expected +$75 per submission: 39% of 469 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($480), and only a PSA 10 covers the $167 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $92 | $90 | $480 | $75 | +$313 | 39% | +$75 | 469 high |
| 17 | Expected +$72 per submission: 44.4% of 349 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($330), and only a PSA 10 covers the $123 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $50 | $109 | $330 | $73 | +$207 | 44.4% | +$72 | 349 high |
| 18 | Expected +$69 per submission: 29% of 535 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($490), and only a PSA 10 covers the $101 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $26 | $43 | $490 | $75 | +$389 | 29% | +$69 | 535 high |
| 19 | Expected +$69 per submission: 32.5% of 366 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($435), and only a PSA 10 covers the $119 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $45 | $85 | $435 | $74 | +$316 | 32.5% | +$69 | 366 high |
| 20 | Expected +$69 per submission: 41.7% of 379 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($416), and only a PSA 10 covers the $161 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $87 | $114 | $416 | $74 | +$255 | 41.7% | +$69 | 379 high |
| 21 | Expected +$65 per submission: 12.2% of 82 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($918), and only a PSA 10 covers the $123 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence medium on that sample. | $14 | $67 | $918 | $109 | +$795 | 12.2% | +$65 | 82 medium |
| 22 | Expected +$59 per submission: 36.8% of 250 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($350), and only a PSA 10 covers the $122 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $49 | $100 | $350 | $73 | +$228 | 36.8% | +$59 | 250 high |
| 23 | Expected +$58 per submission: 36.5% of 249 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($325), and only a PSA 10 covers the $110 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $37 | $90 | $325 | $73 | +$215 | 36.5% | +$58 | 249 high |
| 24 | Expected +$54 per submission: 30.8% of 1,100 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($750), and only a PSA 10 covers the $306 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $199 | $200 | $750 | $107 | +$444 | 30.8% | +$54 | 1,100 high |
| 25 | Expected +$53 per submission: 15.3% of 307 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($750), and only a PSA 10 covers the $113 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $6 | $26 | $750 | $107 | +$636 | 15.3% | +$53 | 307 high |
| 26 | Expected +$44 per submission: 47% of 151 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($250), and only a PSA 10 covers the $81 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $9 | $15 | $250 | $72 | +$169 | 47% | +$44 | 151 high |
| 27 | Expected +$34 per submission: 38% of 108 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($249), and only a PSA 10 covers the $78 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $6 | $28 | $249 | $72 | +$170 | 38% | +$34 | 108 high |
| 28 | Expected +$17 per submission: 31.6% of 155 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($245), and only a PSA 10 covers the $82 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $40 | $245 | $72 | +$162 | 31.6% | +$17 | 155 high |
| 29 | Expected +$14 per submission: 43.8% of 112 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($183), and only a PSA 10 covers the $82 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $30 | $183 | $72 | +$101 | 43.8% | +$14 | 112 high |
| 30 | Expected +$5 per submission: 27.5% of 189 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($275), and only a PSA 10 covers the $87 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $14 | $27 | $275 | $73 | +$188 | 27.5% | +$5 | 189 high |
| 31 | Expected +$5 per submission: 37.6% of 338 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($250), and only a PSA 10 covers the $118 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $46 | $55 | $250 | $72 | +$132 | 37.6% | +$5 | 338 high |
| 32 | Expected +$3 per submission: 37.4% of 227 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($225), and only a PSA 10 covers the $91 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $19 | $17 | $225 | $72 | +$133 | 37.4% | +$3 | 227 high |
| 33 | Expected +$2 per submission: 33.2% of 883 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($298), and only a PSA 10 covers the $132 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $59 | $52 | $298 | $73 | +$166 | 33.2% | +$2 | 883 high |
| 34 | Expected +$1 per submission: 17.8% of 90 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($420), and only a PSA 10 covers the $118 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence medium on that sample. | $44 | $60 | $420 | $74 | +$302 | 17.8% | +$1 | 90 medium |
| 35 | Expected +$1 per submission: 43.9% of 132 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($183), and only a PSA 10 covers the $93 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $21 | $23 | $183 | $72 | +$90 | 43.9% | +$1 | 132 high |
| 36 | Expected loss −$4 per submission: 40.4% of 99 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($150), and only a PSA 10 covers the $78 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence medium on that sample. | $7 | $28 | $150 | $71 | +$71 | 40.4% | −$4 | 99 medium |
| 37 | Expected loss −$7 per submission: 35.8% of 134 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($224), and only a PSA 10 covers the $107 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $35 | $34 | $224 | $72 | +$118 | 35.8% | −$7 | 134 high |
| 38 | Expected loss −$7 per submission: 37.2% of 339 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($150), and only a PSA 10 covers the $80 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $9 | $32 | $150 | $71 | +$69 | 37.2% | −$7 | 339 high |
| 39 | Expected loss −$11 per submission: 37.7% of 130 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($155), and only a PSA 10 covers the $82 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $22 | $155 | $72 | +$73 | 37.7% | −$11 | 130 high |
| 40 | Expected loss −$16 per submission: 33.2% of 1,336 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($295), and only a PSA 10 covers the $165 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $92 | $80 | $295 | $73 | +$130 | 33.2% | −$16 | 1,336 high |
| 41 | Expected loss −$18 per submission: 44.4% of 270 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($127), and only a PSA 10 covers the $86 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $15 | $23 | $127 | $71 | +$41 | 44.4% | −$18 | 270 high |
| 42 | Expected loss −$20 per submission: 38.8% of 80 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($132), and only a PSA 10 covers the $83 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence medium on that sample. | $12 | $19 | $132 | $71 | +$49 | 38.8% | −$20 | 80 medium |
| 43 | Expected loss −$26 per submission: 29% of 193 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($168), and only a PSA 10 covers the $110 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $38 | $61 | $168 | $72 | +$57 | 29% | −$26 | 193 high |
| 44 | Expected loss −$28 per submission: 45.7% of 293 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($120), and only a PSA 10 covers the $97 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $26 | $27 | $120 | $71 | +$23 | 45.7% | −$28 | 293 high |
| 45 | Expected loss −$36 per submission: 14.6% of 41 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($105), and only a PSA 10 covers the $76 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence medium on that sample. | $5 | $38 | $105 | $71 | +$29 | 14.6% | −$36 | 41 medium |
| 46 | Expected loss −$37 per submission: 27.8% of 826 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($249), and only a PSA 10 covers the $171 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $99 | $100 | $249 | $72 | +$77 | 27.8% | −$37 | 826 high |
| 47 | Expected loss −$42 per submission: 6% of 149 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($350), and only a PSA 10 covers the $90 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $17 | $58 | $350 | $73 | +$259 | 6% | −$42 | 149 high |
| 48 | Expected loss −$50 per submission: 11.3% of 62 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($156), and only a PSA 10 covers the $80 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence medium on that sample. | $8 | $18 | $156 | $72 | +$77 | 11.3% | −$50 | 62 medium |
| 49 | Expected loss −$54 per submission: 38.3% of 196 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($180), and only a PSA 10 covers the $146 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $74 | $42 | $180 | $72 | +$34 | 38.3% | −$54 | 196 high |
How the ranking works — and where it can mislead
Expected profit = (gem rate × PSA 10) + (PSA 9 rate × PSA 9) + (sub-9 rate × the card's own sub-9 prices) − raw price − grading cost. Best case is the PSA 10 leg alone. Grading cost is the PSA tier fee for the graded value plus roughly $20 round-trip shipping, at fees as of 2026-08-26; the paused PSA Value tier is excluded and membership is not included.
Population selection bias. Gem rates are the share of the graded population at PSA 10 (PSA population report; CGC's when PSA has fewer than 10 copies). That population is self-selected: collectors grade their cleanest copies, and near misses get cracked and resubmitted, so it overstates what a random raw copy would achieve. Read a gem rate as an upper bound, and read it against its sample — confidence is high from 100, medium from 30, low from 10 graded copies; under 10, the card is shown as best-case only rather than ranked.
Prices. Raw is CardTrack's blended near-mint price for the exact printing; PSA 9 and PSA 10 come from the card's graded price ladder, with a PSA 9 estimated at 0.4× the 10 when the ladder has no 9. Where the ladder has no price for a lower grade, that leg is valued at raw. None of this is a sold price for your copy — it is a model of what the market has paid, and grading outcomes are not guaranteed.
PSA grading standards
Centering is the one criterion PSA publishes as a hard number, so it is the only part of a grade you can check yourself before paying. The ratios below are the widest border PSA allows at each grade — a card is judged on its worse axis, and the reverse is graded too. Meeting the centering limit does not earn the grade: corners, edges and surface all still have to hold up.
| Grade | Front | Back | What the card looks like |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 GEM-MT | 55/45 | 75/25 | Effectively flawless to the naked eye. Four sharp corners, clean edges, full original gloss and no staining. A minor printing flaw can survive if it does not hurt the card's overall look, but wear cannot — this is the grade where centering is tightest and most 10 attempts fail. |
| PSA 9 MINT | 60/40 | 90/10 | Mint to the eye, with one small permitted flaw: a faint surface imperfection, a tiny printing blemish, or slightly off-white borders. Corners and edges still look sharp. The usual difference between a 9 and a 10 is centering or a single point of very light wear. |
| PSA 8 NM-MT | 65/35 | 90/10 | Very light wear that needs looking for. Typically one slightly fuzzy corner, a minor surface mark, or minimally off-white borders. Still presents as a clean card at arm's length. |
| PSA 7 NM | 70/30 | 90/10 | Light wear that is visible without hunting for it — slight fraying at a corner or two, minor surface wear, or a small loss of gloss. No creasing. |
| PSA 6 EX-MT | 80/20 | 90/10 | Obvious but modest handling. Corners show visible rounding, edges show wear, and the surface may have lost some gloss. Colour is still strong and the card is free of creases. |
| PSA 5 EX | 85/15 | 90/10 | Clearly played. Rounded corners, noticeable edge wear and some surface scuffing, with colour beginning to dull. Still whole and presentable. |
| PSA 4 VG-EX | 85/15 | 90/10 | Well handled. Corner rounding is pronounced, surface wear is easy to see, and a very light crease may be present without dropping the card further. |
| PSA 3 VG | 90/10 | 90/10 | Heavy handling. Rounded corners, dulled colour, scuffing or scratching, and light creasing. The card reads as used rather than collected. |
| PSA 2 GOOD | 90/10 | 90/10 | Substantial wear throughout — heavy corner rounding, creasing, surface damage or writing. Intact and identifiable, but plainly worn. |
| PSA 1.5 FR | 90/10 | 90/10 | Severe wear, stopping short of destroyed. Heavy creasing, major surface loss or damage, but the card is complete with no missing pieces. |
| PSA 1 PR | — | — | The floor. Extreme damage — major creasing, staining, tears, missing paper or pieces. Graded so the card can be authenticated and slabbed at all, not because condition is being certified. |
Qualifiers
When a single defect is the only thing holding a card back, PSA can grade it with a qualifier — a slab reading PSA 8 (OC) rather than dropping to a 6. Qualified cards usually trade below an unqualified card of the same number, so the letters matter when you are pricing one.
- OC — Off-Centre: Centering is outside the tolerance for the grade the card would otherwise earn.
- ST — Staining: A stain the card is otherwise clean enough to have avoided.
- PD — Print Defect: A flaw introduced when the card was printed, not by handling.
- OF — Out of Focus: The image itself was printed soft — a manufacturing fault, not wear.
- MK — Marks: Ink or pencil marks on the card.
- MC — Miscut: Cut outside the intended borders at the factory.
Grade criteria and centering tolerances are published by PSA. Summaries here are ours. See the official PSA grading standards for the authoritative text.
Grading FAQ
Which Pokémon cards are worth grading?
The cards whose expected graded value — PSA 10, PSA 9 and lower grades each weighted by how often that card actually receives them — beats the raw price plus the grading fee. Right now that is led by Mimikyu-GX (Lost Thunder) at an expected +$566 per submission.
How is expected grading profit calculated?
Expected value = (gem rate × PSA 10 price) + (PSA 9 rate × PSA 9 price) + (sub-9 rate × the card's own sub-9 prices) − raw price − grading cost. Rates come from the PSA population report (CGC when PSA has fewer than 10 copies); the grading cost is the PSA tier fee for the graded value plus roughly $20 round-trip shipping, at fees as of 2026-08-26.
Why is a card with a huge PSA 10 price not at the top?
Because a PSA 10 price only matters as often as the card gems. A card with fewer than 10 graded copies has no measurable gem rate, so it is listed separately as best-case only rather than ranked above cards with evidence.
Are gem rates reliable?
They are the share of the graded population at PSA 10, and that population is self-selected: people grade their cleanest copies and crack-and-resubmit near misses. Treat the gem rate as an upper bound for a random raw copy, and weight the sample size — the confidence label on each row reflects it.