The only math that matters
Expected graded value minus (raw + fee + shipping + insurance). If that number is not at least 20% of your all-in cost and $25, sell raw. Feelings are not a grader.
Plug the card into the grading ROI calculator. Use sold PSA 10s, not asking prices. Asking prices are fiction.
When grading wins
- Raw is liquid and the PSA 10 trades at 1.7× or better.
- You can honestly call the card gem-mint (centering, whitening, print lines).
- The card is a named chase (Umbreon, Gengar, Greninja, Charizard), not a random IR.
- You can wait. Economy tiers are slow on purpose.
Modern SIRs with mean centering (Gengar, Umbreon) look great in photos and come back 9s. If you are not sure, you are not sure.
Fees we use here
PSA Value / economy around $25, PSA Regular around $50, CGC Modern around $20, plus about $15 shipping and ~1.5% insurance. If your declared value is high, insurance is the silent killer.
Need a full decision across sell / grade / hold? Use the buy, hold, or grade call.