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: Mewtwo & Mew-GX at an expected +$1,071.
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 profit56 matching
| # | Card | Raw | PSA 9 | PSA 10 | Cost | Best case | Gem rate | Expected | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Expected +$1,071 per submission: 50.8% of 18,374 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,943), and a PSA 9 ($570) still clears the $816 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $418 | $570 | $2,943 | $398 | +$2,127 | 50.8% | +$1,071 | 18,374 high |
| 2 | Expected +$967 per submission: 38.3% of 13,406 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($3,200), and a PSA 9 ($353) still clears the $649 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $248 | $353 | $3,200 | $401 | +$2,551 | 38.3% | +$967 | 13,406 high |
| 3 | Expected +$625 per submission: 38.8% of 10,738 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,000), and a PSA 9 ($325) still clears the $388 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $199 | $325 | $2,000 | $189 | +$1,612 | 38.8% | +$625 | 10,738 high |
| 4 | Expected +$621 per submission: 16.5% of 490 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($4,500), and only a PSA 10 covers the $454 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $40 | $72 | $4,500 | $414 | +$4,046 | 16.5% | +$621 | 490 high |
| 5 | Expected +$596 per submission: 4.7% of 6,384 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($12,500), and a PSA 9 ($800) still clears the $1,379 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $235 | $800 | $12,500 | $1,144 | +$11,121 | 4.7% | +$596 | 6,384 high |
| 6 | Expected +$594 per submission: 14.9% of 4,006 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($5,200), and only a PSA 10 covers the $809 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $138 | $150 | $5,200 | $671 | +$4,391 | 14.9% | +$594 | 4,006 high |
| 7 | Expected +$520 per submission: 5.3% of 57 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,640), and a PSA 9 ($1,056) still clears the $504 you have in it. Confidence medium on that sample. | $109 | $1,056 | $2,640 | $395 | +$2,136 | 5.3% | +$520 | 57 medium |
| 8 | Expected +$343 per submission: 15.1% of 611 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,475), and a PSA 9 ($170) still clears the $217 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $23 | $170 | $2,475 | $194 | +$2,257 | 15.1% | +$343 | 611 high |
| 9 | Expected +$305 per submission: 15.3% of 1,098 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,070), and a PSA 9 ($175) still clears the $209 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $19 | $175 | $2,070 | $190 | +$1,862 | 15.3% | +$305 | 1,098 high |
| 10 | Expected +$267 per submission: 33.6% of 8,871 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,100), and only a PSA 10 covers the $202 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $91 | $125 | $1,100 | $111 | +$898 | 33.6% | +$267 | 8,871 high |
| 11 | Expected +$263 per submission: 14.6% of 1,369 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,941), and a PSA 9 ($153) still clears the $214 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $26 | $153 | $1,941 | $188 | +$1,727 | 14.6% | +$263 | 1,369 high |
| 12 | Expected +$245 per submission: 16.4% of 11,572 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,925), and a PSA 9 ($288) still clears the $352 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $164 | $288 | $1,925 | $188 | +$1,572 | 16.4% | +$245 | 11,572 high |
| 13 | Expected +$231 per submission: 5.7% of 5,057 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($4,425), and a PSA 9 ($300) still clears the $518 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $105 | $300 | $4,425 | $413 | +$3,906 | 5.7% | +$231 | 5,057 high |
| 14 | Expected +$182 per submission: 7.8% of 346 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,625), and a PSA 9 ($134) still clears the $422 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $27 | $134 | $2,625 | $395 | +$2,202 | 7.8% | +$182 | 346 high |
| 15 | Expected +$181 per submission: 18.1% of 5,072 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,175), and a PSA 9 ($200) still clears the $178 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $66 | $200 | $1,175 | $112 | +$998 | 18.1% | +$181 | 5,072 high |
| 16 | Expected +$176 per submission: 4.7% of 3,936 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($4,227), and a PSA 9 ($219) still clears the $480 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $69 | $219 | $4,227 | $411 | +$3,747 | 4.7% | +$176 | 3,936 high |
| 17 | Expected +$173 per submission: 46.3% of 4,377 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($700), and only a PSA 10 covers the $234 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $127 | $125 | $700 | $107 | +$466 | 46.3% | +$173 | 4,377 high |
| 18 | Expected +$170 per submission: 7.9% of 114 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($750), and a PSA 9 ($400) still clears the $146 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $39 | $400 | $750 | $107 | +$604 | 7.9% | +$170 | 114 high |
| 19 | Expected +$161 per submission: 18.1% of 1,039 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,128), and only a PSA 10 covers the $136 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $25 | $90 | $1,128 | $111 | +$992 | 18.1% | +$161 | 1,039 high |
| 20 | Expected +$160 per submission: 51.2% of 8,997 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($570), and only a PSA 10 covers the $216 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $110 | $148 | $570 | $106 | +$355 | 51.2% | +$160 | 8,997 high |
| 21 | Expected +$159 per submission: 11% of 218 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,025), and only a PSA 10 covers the $204 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $15 | $73 | $2,025 | $189 | +$1,820 | 11% | +$159 | 218 high |
| 22 | Expected +$158 per submission: 11.9% of 285 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,075), and a PSA 9 ($550) still clears the $374 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $263 | $550 | $1,075 | $111 | +$701 | 11.9% | +$158 | 285 high |
| 23 | Expected +$129 per submission: 15.2% of 1,107 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,127), and a PSA 9 ($105) still clears the $130 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $19 | $105 | $1,127 | $111 | +$997 | 15.2% | +$129 | 1,107 high |
| 24 | Expected +$122 per submission: 19.1% of 152 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,000), and only a PSA 10 covers the $131 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $21 | $40 | $1,000 | $110 | +$869 | 19.1% | +$122 | 152 high |
| 25 | Expected +$115 per submission: 24.5% of 184 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($777), and only a PSA 10 covers the $131 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $23 | $55 | $777 | $108 | +$647 | 24.5% | +$115 | 184 high |
| 26 | Expected +$112 per submission: 24.1% of 1,026 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($700), and only a PSA 10 covers the $117 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $55 | $700 | $107 | +$583 | 24.1% | +$112 | 1,026 high |
| 27 | Expected +$106 per submission: 7.3% of 137 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,625), and a PSA 9 ($170) still clears the $195 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $170 | $1,625 | $185 | +$1,429 | 7.3% | +$106 | 137 high |
| 28 | Expected +$98 per submission: 8.9% of 750 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,775), and only a PSA 10 covers the $200 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $13 | $65 | $1,775 | $187 | +$1,575 | 8.9% | +$98 | 750 high |
| 29 | Expected +$95 per submission: 45.7% of 484 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($375), and only a PSA 10 covers the $92 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $18 | $26 | $375 | $74 | +$284 | 45.7% | +$95 | 484 high |
| 30 | Expected +$90 per submission: 9.2% of 173 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,150), and a PSA 9 ($145) still clears the $124 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $13 | $145 | $1,150 | $111 | +$1,025 | 9.2% | +$90 | 173 high |
| 31 | Expected +$89 per submission: 8.3% of 264 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,954), and only a PSA 10 covers the $212 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $23 | $40 | $1,954 | $189 | +$1,742 | 8.3% | +$89 | 264 high |
| 32 | Expected +$89 per submission: 59.1% of 6,724 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($345), and only a PSA 10 covers the $144 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $71 | $75 | $345 | $73 | +$201 | 59.1% | +$89 | 6,724 high |
| 33 | Expected +$70 per submission: 9.4% of 170 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,110), and a PSA 9 ($105) still clears the $122 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $11 | $105 | $1,110 | $111 | +$987 | 9.4% | +$70 | 170 high |
| 34 | Expected +$70 per submission: 22.5% of 71 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($455), and a PSA 9 ($110) still clears the $86 you have in it. Confidence medium on that sample. | $11 | $110 | $455 | $75 | +$370 | 22.5% | +$70 | 71 medium |
| 35 | Expected +$67 per submission: 13.3% of 1,177 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($930), and only a PSA 10 covers the $132 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $23 | $74 | $930 | $109 | +$798 | 13.3% | +$67 | 1,177 high |
| 36 | Expected +$65 per submission: 18.8% of 479 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($600), and only a PSA 10 covers the $120 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $14 | $68 | $600 | $106 | +$480 | 18.8% | +$65 | 479 high |
| 37 | Expected +$64 per submission: 5.3% of 451 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,404), and only a PSA 10 covers the $202 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $9 | $39 | $2,404 | $193 | +$2,202 | 5.3% | +$64 | 451 high |
| 38 | Expected +$60 per submission: 14.4% of 1,067 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($759), and only a PSA 10 covers the $119 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $11 | $75 | $759 | $108 | +$641 | 14.4% | +$60 | 1,067 high |
| 39 | Expected +$52 per submission: 46.4% of 511 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($280), and only a PSA 10 covers the $91 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $18 | $22 | $280 | $73 | +$190 | 46.4% | +$52 | 511 high |
| 40 | Expected +$46 per submission: 56.5% of 72,418 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($440), and only a PSA 10 covers the $269 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $195 | $156 | $440 | $74 | +$170 | 56.5% | +$46 | 72,418 high |
| 41 | Expected +$39 per submission: 7.9% of 178 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($358), and a PSA 9 ($125) still clears the $94 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $20 | $125 | $358 | $74 | +$264 | 7.9% | +$39 | 178 high |
| 42 | Expected +$38 per submission: 32.5% of 151 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($324), and only a PSA 10 covers the $105 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $32 | $67 | $324 | $73 | +$218 | 32.5% | +$38 | 151 high |
| 43 | Expected +$35 per submission: 24.5% of 375 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($400), and only a PSA 10 covers the $90 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $16 | $50 | $400 | $74 | +$310 | 24.5% | +$35 | 375 high |
| 44 | Expected +$34 per submission: 10.1% of 138 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($521), and a PSA 9 ($115) still clears the $120 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $15 | $115 | $521 | $105 | +$401 | 10.1% | +$34 | 138 high |
| 45 | Expected +$27 per submission: 35.1% of 450 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($250), and only a PSA 10 covers the $82 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $36 | $250 | $72 | +$167 | 35.1% | +$27 | 450 high |
| 46 | Expected +$24 per submission: 14.8% of 270 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($500), and only a PSA 10 covers the $92 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $17 | $54 | $500 | $75 | +$408 | 14.8% | +$24 | 270 high |
| 47 | Expected +$19 per submission: 12.7% of 252 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($611), and only a PSA 10 covers the $144 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $38 | $79 | $611 | $106 | +$467 | 12.7% | +$19 | 252 high |
| 48 | Expected +$14 per submission: 20.8% of 48 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($400), and only a PSA 10 covers the $101 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence medium on that sample. | $27 | $50 | $400 | $74 | +$299 | 20.8% | +$14 | 48 medium |
| 49 | Expected +$14 per submission: 26% of 603 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($300), and only a PSA 10 covers the $79 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $6 | $20 | $300 | $73 | +$221 | 26% | +$14 | 603 high |
| 50 | Expected +$13 per submission: 16.5% of 272 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($482), and only a PSA 10 covers the $88 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $13 | $34 | $482 | $75 | +$395 | 16.5% | +$13 | 272 high |
| 51 | Expected +$8 per submission: 52.8% of 691 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($153), and only a PSA 10 covers the $89 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $17 | $40 | $153 | $72 | +$64 | 52.8% | +$8 | 691 high |
| 52 | Expected +$7 per submission: 15.4% of 78 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($450), and only a PSA 10 covers the $80 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence medium on that sample. | $6 | $30 | $450 | $74 | +$369 | 15.4% | +$7 | 78 medium |
| 53 | Expected +$6 per submission: 11.7% of 230 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($474), and only a PSA 10 covers the $85 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $60 | $474 | $75 | +$389 | 11.7% | +$6 | 230 high |
| 54 | Expected +$4 per submission: 55.1% of 267 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($146), and only a PSA 10 covers the $83 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $12 | $16 | $146 | $71 | +$62 | 55.1% | +$4 | 267 high |
| 55 | Expected +$3 per submission: 19.8% of 81 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($357), and only a PSA 10 covers the $79 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence medium on that sample. | $5 | $17 | $357 | $74 | +$278 | 19.8% | +$3 | 81 medium |
| 56 | Expected +$2 per submission: 23.2% of 665 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($280), and only a PSA 10 covers the $80 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $7 | $23 | $280 | $73 | +$200 | 23.2% | +$2 | 665 high |
Best case only — no gem-rate evidence 44
Fewer than 10 graded copies in the PSA and CGC population reports, so nothing can be said about how often these gem. They clear the cost if they do — that is all the numbers support.
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 Mewtwo & Mew-GX (SM Black Star Promos) at an expected +$1,071 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.