PSA update (Sept 19): Standard is open at $59.99 (estimated 90–100 business days). Value tiers remain paused and can be selected on card pages as hold scenarios using their previous fees. PSA Priority is $79.99 (70–80 business days). Historical article examples retain their dated fees. Pricing, limits and details
Should You Grade?Should You Grade?
Card ExplorerSaved ResearchSetsTop CardsPop ScannerMarket ToolsBlogUpgrade
Sign In
Steelix #23 — Pokemon Sandstorm

Steelix #23

Make this your analysis

2. Compare lower-grade outcomes3. Save your assumptions

Confirm edition, language and variant, inspect both sides, and check recent comparable sales. A model result is not a verified buy.

Pokemon Sandstorm · #23 · Base · Sep 2003

Buy Raw on eBayPSA 10 Sold on eBay
Shop on TCGPlayer

Maybe — Proceed with Caution

Should You Grade?

Raw Price
$3.73
Expected net profit
$-1.91
Grade 10 profit
$25.27
Gem Rate
8.2%
Grade 10 ROI
+135%
Sales / Yr
108

Negative expected value ($-1.91) — while a PSA 10 would be profitable, the probability-weighted outcome across all grades means you lose money on average at this grading tier. The gem rate is only 8% — you'll need a very clean copy to hit PSA 10.

Grade 10 scenario comparison

TAG Basic$22.00/card · 30+ business days
Net Profit $42.50
Grade 10 ROI 127%
Annualized 2,340%
Unlock with Pro →

Factors in grading cost, turnaround time, and compounding — how fast you can reinvest profits into the next flip.

Profitability by Grading Company

CompanyBest TierGem RatePop10sCostEVGrade 10 profitGrade 10 ROI
PSAPSA Standard52.3%8,4201,250$20.00$85.40$32.50127%
BGSBGS Standard52.3%8,4201,250$20.00$85.40$32.50127%
CGCCGC Standard52.3%8,4201,250$20.00$85.40$32.50127%
SGCSGC Standard52.3%8,4201,250$20.00$85.40$32.50127%
TAGTAG Standard52.3%8,4201,250$20.00$85.40$32.50127%
Compare All Companies with Pro →

Shows the best-value tier from each grading company based on EV, cost, and turnaround. Pop = total graded population; 10s = grade 10 count.

Check the downside before you buy

Compare the lower-grade reference prices below with your buy price, grading cost and selling fees. Shipping and tax reduce the result further. Missing prices do not establish a resale floor; a population gem rate is not your card's personal probability.

Price by Grade

Raw
$3.73
BGS 10
$179.00
PSA 10
$137.61
SGC 10
$83.00
CGC 10
$44.00
9
$24.78
BGS 9.5
$20.00
8
$15.26
7
$3.28
View Sold PSA 10 Prices on PriceCharting →View Grading Data on GemRate →

Keep this decision for your next review

Save your buy price, grading tier and selling fee. Reopen later against the latest reference data, then save again after reviewing. This does not reserve a card or place an order.

Create a free account to save these assumptions

0%100%
8.2%Gem Rate (PSA 10)

Grade Distribution (146 total graded)

146Total
PSA 10128.2%
PSA 94832.9%
PSA 83725.3%
PSA 72114.4%
Below 72819.2%

Price history

Make the grading decision

Work through the sale alternative, grade risk and cost of tying up your money.

Grade or sell raw?

Compare a submission with the cash you could receive by selling the card today.

How to use a gem rate

Read the sample size and grade distribution before modeling a grading return.

Choosing a submission service? Read the PSA prices and turnaround guide before committing your inventory.

© 2026 Should You Grade? Data from PriceCharting & GemRate.
AboutContactPrivacy PolicyTerms of ServiceAffiliate Disclosure