Best 151 Cards to Grade
The 151 cards worth grading, ranked by expected profit per submission — every grade outcome weighted by how often the card actually receives it — after current grading fees. The PSA 10 best case is shown on every row but does not decide the order. Top pick: Charizard ex at an expected +$184.
Ranked by expected profit 34
| # | Card | Raw | PSA 9 | PSA 10 | Cost | Best case | Gem rate | Expected | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Expected +$184 per submission: 28% of 99,517 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($1,350), and only a PSA 10 covers the $468 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $355 | $360 | $1,350 | $113 | +$882 | 28% | +$184 | 99,517 high |
| 2 | Expected +$55 per submission: 30.3% of 60,308 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($588), and only a PSA 10 covers the $222 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $136 | $138 | $588 | $86 | +$366 | 30.3% | +$55 | 60,308 high |
| 3 | Expected +$50 per submission: 27.5% of 31,655 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($546), and only a PSA 10 covers the $166 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $81 | $91 | $546 | $85 | +$380 | 27.5% | +$50 | 31,655 high |
| 4 | Expected +$40 per submission: 30.8% of 16,823 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($426), and only a PSA 10 covers the $146 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $62 | $80 | $426 | $84 | +$280 | 30.8% | +$40 | 16,823 high |
| 5 | Expected +$39 per submission: 23.9% of 36,783 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($570), and only a PSA 10 covers the $176 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $90 | $110 | $570 | $86 | +$394 | 23.9% | +$39 | 36,783 high |
| 6 | Expected +$28 per submission: 24% of 31,424 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($456), and only a PSA 10 covers the $145 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $60 | $90 | $456 | $85 | +$311 | 24% | +$28 | 31,424 high |
| 7 | Expected +$18 per submission: 26.7% of 33,722 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($432), and only a PSA 10 covers the $173 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $89 | $105 | $432 | $84 | +$259 | 26.7% | +$18 | 33,722 high |
| 8 | Expected +$15 per submission: 25.3% of 26,171 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($425), and only a PSA 10 covers the $144 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $60 | $70 | $425 | $84 | +$281 | 25.3% | +$15 | 26,171 high |
| 9 | Expected +$13 per submission: 28.6% of 29,152 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($312), and only a PSA 10 covers the $156 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $73 | $125 | $312 | $83 | +$156 | 28.6% | +$13 | 29,152 high |
| 10 | Expected +$8 per submission: 29.5% of 53,920 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($430), and only a PSA 10 covers the $193 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $109 | $106 | $430 | $84 | +$236 | 29.5% | +$8 | 53,920 high |
| 11 | Expected +$1 per submission: 39.5% of 8,762 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($225), and only a PSA 10 covers the $114 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $32 | $45 | $225 | $82 | +$110 | 39.5% | +$1 | 8,762 high |
| 12 | Expected +$0 per submission: 30.9% of 14,667 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($288), and only a PSA 10 covers the $126 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $43 | $56 | $288 | $83 | +$162 | 30.9% | +$0 | 14,667 high |
| 13 | Expected loss −$3 per submission: 29.1% of 47,026 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($372), and only a PSA 10 covers the $179 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $95 | $96 | $372 | $84 | +$193 | 29.1% | −$3 | 47,026 high |
| 14 | Expected loss −$8 per submission: 26.3% of 24,651 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($295), and only a PSA 10 covers the $128 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $45 | $62 | $295 | $83 | +$167 | 26.3% | −$8 | 24,651 high |
| 15 | Expected loss −$9 per submission: 29.3% of 38,166 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($312), and only a PSA 10 covers the $153 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $70 | $75 | $312 | $83 | +$159 | 29.3% | −$9 | 38,166 high |
| 16 | Expected loss −$17 per submission: 30.3% of 15,305 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($255), and only a PSA 10 covers the $128 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $45 | $49 | $255 | $83 | +$127 | 30.3% | −$17 | 15,305 high |
| 17 | Expected loss −$19 per submission: 41.1% of 1,522 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($126), and only a PSA 10 covers the $89 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $8 | $35 | $126 | $81 | +$37 | 41.1% | −$19 | 1,522 high |
| 18 | Expected loss −$24 per submission: 31.1% of 5,395 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($190), and only a PSA 10 covers the $101 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $19 | $28 | $190 | $82 | +$89 | 31.1% | −$24 | 5,395 high |
| 19 | Expected loss −$24 per submission: 37.2% of 23,990 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($192), and only a PSA 10 covers the $126 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $44 | $48 | $192 | $82 | +$67 | 37.2% | −$24 | 23,990 high |
| 20 | Expected loss −$26 per submission: 30.8% of 5,944 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($146), and only a PSA 10 covers the $90 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $9 | $31 | $146 | $81 | +$56 | 30.8% | −$26 | 5,944 high |
| 21 | Expected loss −$26 per submission: 38.4% of 1,615 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($125), and only a PSA 10 covers the $88 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $7 | $25 | $125 | $81 | +$37 | 38.4% | −$26 | 1,615 high |
| 22 | Expected loss −$29 per submission: 28.1% of 9,382 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($191), and only a PSA 10 covers the $106 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $24 | $35 | $191 | $82 | +$85 | 28.1% | −$29 | 9,382 high |
| 23 | Expected loss −$29 per submission: 33.3% of 9,321 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($156), and only a PSA 10 covers the $101 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $19 | $30 | $156 | $82 | +$55 | 33.3% | −$29 | 9,321 high |
| 24 | Expected loss −$32 per submission: 37.7% of 6,708 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($130), and only a PSA 10 covers the $95 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $14 | $25 | $130 | $81 | +$35 | 37.7% | −$32 | 6,708 high |
| 25 | Expected loss −$32 per submission: 36% of 3,759 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($128), and only a PSA 10 covers the $96 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $15 | $30 | $128 | $81 | +$32 | 36% | −$32 | 3,759 high |
| 26 | Expected loss −$32 per submission: 37.2% of 9,448 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($133), and only a PSA 10 covers the $101 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $20 | $35 | $133 | $81 | +$31 | 37.2% | −$32 | 9,448 high |
| 27 | Expected loss −$34 per submission: 32% of 4,805 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($144), and only a PSA 10 covers the $96 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $15 | $25 | $144 | $81 | +$48 | 32% | −$34 | 4,805 high |
| 28 | Expected loss −$34 per submission: 34.8% of 5,862 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($135), and only a PSA 10 covers the $96 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $15 | $25 | $135 | $81 | +$39 | 34.8% | −$34 | 5,862 high |
| 29 | Expected loss −$37 per submission: 28.1% of 5,269 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($156), and only a PSA 10 covers the $98 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $16 | $24 | $156 | $82 | +$58 | 28.1% | −$37 | 5,269 high |
| 30 | Expected loss −$38 per submission: 39.1% of 1,609 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($98), and only a PSA 10 covers the $89 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $8 | $22 | $98 | $81 | +$9 | 39.1% | −$38 | 1,609 high |
| 31 | Expected loss −$38 per submission: 38.3% of 3,636 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($100), and only a PSA 10 covers the $92 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $11 | $28 | $100 | $81 | +$8 | 38.3% | −$38 | 3,636 high |
| 32 | Expected loss −$42 per submission: 35.4% of 1,371 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($100), and only a PSA 10 covers the $88 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $7 | $19 | $100 | $81 | +$12 | 35.4% | −$42 | 1,371 high |
| 33 | Expected loss −$46 per submission: 26.9% of 1,856 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($99), and only a PSA 10 covers the $86 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $5 | $20 | $99 | $81 | +$13 | 26.9% | −$46 | 1,856 high |
| 34 | Expected loss −$47 per submission: 26.8% of 12,759 graded copies came back PSA 10 ($126), and only a PSA 10 covers the $98 you have in it — a 9 loses money. Confidence high on that sample. | $17 | $25 | $126 | $81 | +$28 | 26.8% | −$47 | 12,759 high |
Best case only — no gem-rate evidence 2
Fewer than 10 graded copies in the PSA and CGC population reports. They clear the grading cost if they gem — that is all the numbers support.
| # | Card | Raw | PSA 9 | PSA 10 | Cost | Best case | Gem rate | Expected | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | $30 | — | $252 | $83 | +$139 | — | — | none <10 | |
| 36 | $7 | — | $119 | $81 | +$31 | — | — | none <10 |
Expected = every grade outcome weighted by its share of the card's graded population, minus the raw price and the grading cost (PSA tier fee for the graded value plus ~$20 round-trip shipping, fees as of 2026-09-26). Best case is the PSA 10 leg alone. Gem rates come from a self-selected population — collectors grade their cleanest copies — so read them as an upper bound. Raw is a blended market price, not a sale of your copy. Full method and filters on the grading index.
How to read the 151 ranking
Every 151 card listed here clears one bar: its PSA 10 price beats its raw price by more than the cost of grading it. 36 cards from the set pass. 34 of them (94%) have a gem-rate sample of at least ten graded copies in the population reports, and 11 of those keep a positive expected value once every grade outcome is weighted by how often the card actually receives it.
The order is expected profit, not the PSA 10 best case, which rewards the widest raw-to-gem gap whether the card gems one time in two or one in fifty. Here the top row, the Charizard ex from 151, gems 28% of the time across 99,517 graded copies: +$184 is what a long run of submissions would average, $882 is what one lucky copy returns.
The median gem rate across the sampled 151 cards is 30.8%. Roughly one submitted copy in 3 came back PSA 10, and no row here covers raw price plus fee at PSA 9, so the gem rate decides whether a submission pays. Of the 34 ranked cards, 34 need a 10 to break even and 22 lose money on expectation. 34 rest on a hundred or more graded copies.
2 cards sit below the ranking with a best case only, fewer than ten graded copies. The largest best case among them is the Mew ex from 151 at +$139.
Before you submit a 151 card
Grading pays on condition. The four things every grader scores — centering, corners, edges and surface — can be checked at home before paying a fee, and a copy that is visibly off-centre or has a whitened corner will not gem whatever the population says. Those gem rates come from a self-selected population of clean copies, so a random copy does worse.
The cost column assumes a PSA submission at the tier covering the card's PSA 10 value, fees as of 2026-09-26, and raw is CardTrack's blended near-mint price, not a sale of your copy: pay more, or hold a lighter copy, and the break-even moves against you. Test a card with your own numbers in the ROI calculator, see the printings that fail the bar on the 151 card list, or see how gem-mint premiums run across the whole catalogue on the PSA premium index.