PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is the largest and most trusted trading card grading company. They authenticate cards and assign a condition grade from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Gem Mint). PSA-graded cards are sealed in tamper-evident cases with a certification number that can be verified online.

How much does it cost to PSA grade a Pokemon card?

PSA grading costs vary by service level. Economy service starts around $20-25 per card with a turnaround of several months. Regular service is approximately $50 per card. Express and Super Express services cost $150-300+ with faster turnaround times. Bulk submissions of 20+ cards can reduce the per-card cost.

What PSA grade is worth grading?

Generally, it is worth grading cards that you expect to receive a PSA 9 or PSA 10. The grading cost needs to be justified by the price difference between raw and graded values. For most modern cards, only potential PSA 10 candidates are worth the cost. For vintage cards (pre-2003), even PSA 7 or 8 grades can add significant value.

Are PSA 10 Pokemon cards a good investment?

PSA 10 Pokemon cards from popular sets have historically appreciated in value, especially vintage cards and chase cards from modern sets. However, card values can be volatile and are influenced by market trends, new set releases, and collector demand. Do your research on population reports and price history before investing.

PSA Graded Pokemon Cards

PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is the most widely recognized grading service for Pokemon cards. A PSA grade authenticates a card's condition on a 1-10 scale and significantly impacts its market value. Browse current PSA prices and recent high-value sales below.

PSA Grading Scale

PSA grades cards from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Gem Mint). Higher grades command exponentially higher prices.

Grade	Label	Description
PSA 10	Gem Mint	Perfect centering, sharp corners, no surface flaws
PSA 9	Mint	Near-perfect with one minor flaw
PSA 8	NM-MT	Near Mint to Mint, slight imperfections
PSA 7	Near Mint	Minor wear on corners or edges
PSA 6	EX-MT	Excellent to Mint, noticeable wear
PSA 5	Excellent	Moderate wear, still presentable
PSA 4	VG-EX	Visible wear on corners and edges
PSA 3	Very Good	Obvious wear, light creasing possible
PSA 2	Good	Heavy wear, creases or staining
PSA 1	Poor	Severe damage, heavily played

Most Valuable Pokemon Cards

Top Pokemon cards by current market price. Click any card to see PSA 10, PSA 9, and raw pricing.

#	Card	Set	Market Price
1	Rocket's Snorlax ex#104	Team Rocket Returns	-
2	Base Set Booster Box [Green Wing Guaranteed Shadowless]	Base Set	-
3	Charizard#146	Skyridge	-
4	Team Up Booster Box	Team Up	-
5	Venusaur#18	Legendary Collection	-
6	Rayquaza#107	Deoxys	-
7	Voltorb#100	Scarlet & Violet 151	-
8	Rocket's Mewtwo#14	Gym Challenge	-
9	Mew ex#151	Scarlet & Violet 151	-
10	Mew ex#41	Mirage Forest	-
11	Lugia#90	Wind from the Sea	-
12	Latias (Delta Species)#8	Delta Species	-
13	Shining Magikarp#129	Awakening Legends	-
14	Houndoom#71	The Town on No Map	-
15	Deoxys (Normal Forme)#16	Deoxys	-

Recent High-Value PSA Sales

Recently sold PSA graded Pokemon cards from eBay, Goldin, and other marketplaces.

Card	Grade	Sale Price
2004 Team Rocket Returns Torchic #108 Gold Star	PSA 10	$2,700,000
1996 Japanese Promo Illustrator Pikachu #PROMO	PSA Authentic	$1,079,700
2000 Base Set 2 Raichu #16	PSA 6	$640,500
1996 Japanese Promo Illustrator Pikachu #PROMO	PSA Authentic	$585,600
1999 Base Set Charizard #4 1st Edition	PSA 10	$462,500
2006 Dragon Frontiers Charizard #100 Gold Star	PSA 10	$393,000
2011 Call of Legends Lugia #15	PSA 10	$367,220
2015 Double Crisis Team Aqua's Kyogre EX #6	PSA 10	$348,000
2002 Legendary Collection Gengar #11 Reverse Holofoil	PSA 10	$340,000
2006 Dragon Frontiers Charizard #100 Gold Star	PSA 10	$384,000

Why PSA Grading Matters

Authentication

PSA verifies that your card is genuine, not a counterfeit or altered card. The tamper-evident case and unique certification number provide buyers with confidence in their purchase.

Standardized Condition

The 1-10 grading scale removes subjectivity from condition assessment. Buyers and sellers can agree on a card's condition without seeing it in person, which makes online trading safer and more transparent.

Price Premium

PSA graded cards consistently sell for more than raw cards. The premium increases with higher grades. Use CardIndex to check your card's value across different grades and decide if grading is worth the cost.

Explore more: Pokemon Card Prices | Graded Card Prices | Card Value Checker | Trending Cards | Market Data