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: Latias & Latios-GX at an expected +$4,630.
Cards worth grading4,810
With a gem-rate sample4,51594% of the population
Positive expected value2,846
Median gem rate18.2%
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 +$4,630 per submission: 40.1% of 6,132 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($15,750), and a PSA 9 ($5,403) still clears the $4,454 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $3,277 | $5,403 | $15,750 | $1,177 | +$11,296 | 40.1% | +$4,630 | 6,132 high |
| 2 | Expected +$2,227 per submission: 46.2% of 4,497 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($7,900), and a PSA 9 ($2,588) still clears the $2,765 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $2,067 | $2,588 | $7,900 | $698 | +$5,135 | 46.2% | +$2,227 | 4,497 high |
| 3 | Expected +$1,292 per submission: 51.7% of 4,186 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($4,000), and a PSA 9 ($1,400) still clears the $1,475 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $1,066 | $1,400 | $4,000 | $409 | +$2,525 | 51.7% | +$1,292 | 4,186 high |
| 4 | Expected +$665 per submission: 37.4% of 2,419 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,382), and a PSA 9 ($599) still clears the $594 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $401 | $599 | $2,382 | $193 | +$1,788 | 37.4% | +$665 | 2,419 high |
| 5 | Expected +$595 per submission: 31.2% of 7,756 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($2,800), and a PSA 9 ($518) still clears the $773 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $376 | $518 | $2,800 | $397 | +$2,027 | 31.2% | +$595 | 7,756 high |
| 6 | Expected +$570 per submission: 51.4% of 2,702 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,750), and a PSA 9 ($483) still clears the $582 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $395 | $483 | $1,750 | $187 | +$1,168 | 51.4% | +$570 | 2,702 high |
| 7 | Expected +$395 per submission: 52.1% of 1,790 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,000), and a PSA 9 ($255) still clears the $244 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $134 | $255 | $1,000 | $110 | +$756 | 52.1% | +$395 | 1,790 high |
| 8 | Expected +$351 per submission: 22.7% of 308 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,996), and only a PSA 10 covers the $218 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $29 | $39 | $1,996 | $189 | +$1,777 | 22.7% | +$351 | 308 high |
| 9 | Expected +$301 per submission: 24.3% of 432 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,225), and a PSA 9 ($223) still clears the $136 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $24 | $223 | $1,225 | $112 | +$1,089 | 24.3% | +$301 | 432 high |
| 10 | Expected +$292 per submission: 40.9% of 1,759 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,030), and a PSA 9 ($251) still clears the $274 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $164 | $251 | $1,030 | $110 | +$756 | 40.9% | +$292 | 1,759 high |
| 11 | Expected +$292 per submission: 43.7% of 1,618 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($999), and only a PSA 10 covers the $298 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $188 | $255 | $999 | $110 | +$701 | 43.7% | +$292 | 1,618 high |
| 12 | Expected +$248 per submission: 56.7% of 1,736 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($842), and only a PSA 10 covers the $331 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $223 | $230 | $842 | $108 | +$511 | 56.7% | +$248 | 1,736 high |
| 13 | Expected +$245 per submission: 42.4% of 1,373 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,201), and only a PSA 10 covers the $460 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $348 | $350 | $1,201 | $112 | +$741 | 42.4% | +$245 | 1,373 high |
| 14 | Expected +$235 per submission: 56.6% of 1,693 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($682), and only a PSA 10 covers the $222 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $115 | $144 | $682 | $107 | +$460 | 56.6% | +$235 | 1,693 high |
| 15 | Expected +$190 per submission: 53.9% of 1,498 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($650), and only a PSA 10 covers the $245 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $139 | $173 | $650 | $106 | +$404 | 53.9% | +$190 | 1,498 high |
| 16 | Expected +$174 per submission: 36.8% of 3,165 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($782), and only a PSA 10 covers the $203 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $95 | $124 | $782 | $108 | +$579 | 36.8% | +$174 | 3,165 high |
| 17 | Expected +$155 per submission: 39.3% of 3,564 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($625), and only a PSA 10 covers the $177 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $71 | $120 | $625 | $106 | +$448 | 39.3% | +$155 | 3,564 high |
| 18 | Expected +$132 per submission: 44.9% of 1,005 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($570), and only a PSA 10 covers the $207 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $101 | $123 | $570 | $106 | +$363 | 44.9% | +$132 | 1,005 high |
| 19 | Expected +$110 per submission: 25.9% of 158 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($675), and only a PSA 10 covers the $112 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $5 | $36 | $675 | $107 | +$563 | 25.9% | +$110 | 158 high |
| 20 | Expected +$105 per submission: 42.5% of 261 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($422), and only a PSA 10 covers the $114 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $40 | $85 | $422 | $74 | +$308 | 42.5% | +$105 | 261 high |
| 21 | Expected +$102 per submission: 58.5% of 376 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($325), and only a PSA 10 covers the $100 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $27 | $35 | $325 | $73 | +$224 | 58.5% | +$102 | 376 high |
| 22 | Expected +$102 per submission: 58.7% of 167 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($300), and only a PSA 10 covers the $81 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $8 | $14 | $300 | $73 | +$219 | 58.7% | +$102 | 167 high |
| 23 | Expected +$87 per submission: 43.8% of 1,368 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($555), and only a PSA 10 covers the $242 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $136 | $130 | $555 | $106 | +$313 | 43.8% | +$87 | 1,368 high |
| 24 | Expected +$85 per submission: 56.5% of 230 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 | $39 | $275 | $73 | +$189 | 56.5% | +$85 | 230 high |
| 25 | Expected +$83 per submission: 21.9% of 210 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($575), and only a PSA 10 covers the $114 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $8 | $70 | $575 | $106 | +$462 | 21.9% | +$83 | 210 high |
| 26 | Expected +$82 per submission: 23.1% of 1,293 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($675), and only a PSA 10 covers the $168 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $61 | $105 | $675 | $107 | +$508 | 23.1% | +$82 | 1,293 high |
| 27 | Expected +$80 per submission: 59.1% of 1,214 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($305), and only a PSA 10 covers the $133 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $60 | $100 | $305 | $73 | +$172 | 59.1% | +$80 | 1,214 high |
| 28 | Expected +$77 per submission: 47.8% of 247 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($299), and only a PSA 10 covers the $82 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $9 | $32 | $299 | $73 | +$217 | 47.8% | +$77 | 247 high |
| 29 | Expected +$74 per submission: 38.3% of 2,807 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($405), and only a PSA 10 covers the $124 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $50 | $75 | $405 | $74 | +$280 | 38.3% | +$74 | 2,807 high |
| 30 | Expected +$58 per submission: 28.6% of 189 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($406), and only a PSA 10 covers the $86 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $12 | $40 | $406 | $74 | +$320 | 28.6% | +$58 | 189 high |
| 31 | Expected +$46 per submission: 47.3% of 1,506 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($490), and only a PSA 10 covers the $298 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $223 | $240 | $490 | $75 | +$192 | 47.3% | +$46 | 1,506 high |
| 32 | Expected +$44 per submission: 47.5% of 689 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($315), and only a PSA 10 covers the $135 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $62 | $60 | $315 | $73 | +$180 | 47.5% | +$44 | 689 high |
| 33 | Expected +$44 per submission: 49.3% of 365 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($302), and only a PSA 10 covers the $128 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $55 | $45 | $302 | $73 | +$174 | 49.3% | +$44 | 365 high |
| 34 | Expected +$38 per submission: 35% of 203 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($260), and only a PSA 10 covers the $80 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $7 | $42 | $260 | $73 | +$181 | 35% | +$38 | 203 high |
| 35 | Expected +$37 per submission: 52.7% of 201 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($200), and only a PSA 10 covers the $82 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $10 | $28 | $200 | $72 | +$118 | 52.7% | +$37 | 201 high |
| 36 | Expected +$28 per submission: 13.4% of 1,059 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($410), and a PSA 9 ($140) still clears the $96 you have in it. Confidence high on that sample. | $22 | $140 | $410 | $74 | +$314 | 13.4% | +$28 | 1,059 high |
| 37 | Expected +$28 per submission: 32.9% of 79 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($312), and only a PSA 10 covers the $114 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence medium on that sample. | $41 | $56 | $312 | $73 | +$198 | 32.9% | +$28 | 79 medium |
| 38 | Expected +$16 per submission: 48.9% of 237 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($180), and only a PSA 10 covers the $90 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $18 | $34 | $180 | $72 | +$91 | 48.9% | +$16 | 237 high |
| 39 | Expected +$5 per submission: 50% of 826 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($200), and only a PSA 10 covers the $114 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $42 | $37 | $200 | $72 | +$86 | 50% | +$5 | 826 high |
| 40 | Expected +$-0 per submission: 50.5% of 949 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($200), and only a PSA 10 covers the $132 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $60 | $70 | $200 | $72 | +$68 | 50.5% | +$0 | 949 high |
| 41 | Expected loss −$1 per submission: 52.2% of 490 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($182), and only a PSA 10 covers the $148 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $76 | $133 | $182 | $72 | +$34 | 52.2% | −$1 | 490 high |
| 42 | Expected loss −$12 per submission: 42.2% of 308 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($148), and only a PSA 10 covers the $97 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $26 | $50 | $148 | $71 | +$51 | 42.2% | −$12 | 308 high |
| 43 | Expected loss −$20 per submission: 52.9% of 104 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($108), and only a PSA 10 covers the $84 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $13 | $14 | $108 | $71 | +$24 | 52.9% | −$20 | 104 high |
| 44 | Expected loss −$23 per submission: 47.3% of 294 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($150), and only a PSA 10 covers the $117 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $46 | $56 | $150 | $71 | +$33 | 47.3% | −$23 | 294 high |
| 45 | Expected loss −$23 per submission: 52.2% of 182 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($101), and only a PSA 10 covers the $85 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $14 | $24 | $101 | $71 | +$15 | 52.2% | −$23 | 182 high |
| 46 | Expected loss −$26 per submission: 47.8% of 873 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($202), and only a PSA 10 covers the $156 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $84 | $67 | $202 | $72 | +$46 | 47.8% | −$26 | 873 high |
| 47 | Expected loss −$37 per submission: 28% of 25 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($203), and only a PSA 10 covers the $109 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence low on that sample. | $37 | $21 | $203 | $72 | +$94 | 28% | −$37 | 25 low |
| 48 | Expected loss −$48 per submission: 46.5% of 1,550 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($250), and only a PSA 10 covers the $224 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $152 | $122 | $250 | $72 | +$26 | 46.5% | −$48 | 1,550 high |
| 49 | Expected loss −$73 per submission: 0% of 12 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($90), and only a PSA 10 covers the $88 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence low on that sample. | $17 | $22 | $90 | $71 | +$2 | 0% | −$73 | 12 low |
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 Latias & Latios-GX (Team Up) at an expected +$4,630 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.