CardHunt

CardHunt

Pokémon cards worth grading under $30

Short answer: at least 15 English cards from 2021 onwards, priced under $30, show a positive expected profit after grading right now. Best is Jirachi V #170 (Astral Radiance), about $193.80 per card on average, with a 58% chance of a PSA 10.

Cheap cards where the grading fee is a large part of the cost, so only a high chance of a PSA 10 pays off.

  1. 1Jirachi V · #170Astral Radiance$25.24 raw · PSA 10 $511.09 · 58% odds+$193.80
  2. 2Giratina V · #185Lost Origin$17.34 raw · PSA 10 $434.99 · 54% odds+$136.32
  3. 3Celebi V · #160Chilling Reign$17.92 raw · PSA 10 $372.31 · 60% odds+$119.76
  4. 4Tandemaus · #209Paldean Fates$28.25 raw · PSA 10 $472.41 · 46% odds+$108.60
  5. 5Mudkip · #57Mega Evolution Black Star Promos$11.11 raw · PSA 10 $233.88 · 87% odds+$99.93
  6. 6Jolteon V · #177Evolving Skies$18.33 raw · PSA 10 $352.69 · 51% odds+$82.99
  7. 7Lugia V · #185Silver Tempest$16.20 raw · PSA 10 $311.92 · 53% odds+$80.98
  8. 8Snorlax · #TG10Lost Origin Trainer Gallery$24.35 raw · PSA 10 $648.44 · 23% odds+$77.78
  9. 9Maushold · #210Paldean Fates$29.42 raw · PSA 10 $376.38 · 44% odds+$67.24
  10. 10Snorlax · #122Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos$11.41 raw · PSA 10 $293.27 · 50% odds+$63.25
  11. 11Vaporeon · #TG02Brilliant Stars Trainer Gallery$23.75 raw · PSA 10 $611.45 · 24% odds+$62.23
  12. 12Shinx · #135Paldean Fates$14.61 raw · PSA 10 $314.37 · 49% odds+$61.87
  13. 13Ditto · #GG22Crown Zenith Galarian Gallery$15.34 raw · PSA 10 $551.57 · 24% odds+$60.09
  14. 14Deoxys · #GG12Crown Zenith Galarian Gallery$17.29 raw · PSA 10 $452.27 · 30% odds+$56.73
  15. 15Espeon V · #179Evolving Skies$26.68 raw · PSA 10 $256.59 · 59% odds+$49.96

How this is calculated

For every card the chance of each PSA grade comes from the PSA population report. Each grade is multiplied by its price, lower grades count at 90% of the raw price, and the raw card, grading fee, shipping both ways and selling fees are subtracted. That gives an average result per card, not a promise: population reports lean towards the best copies, so a random raw card has lower odds. Cards worth under $10 and cards with low-confidence data are left out.

Looking at a different budget? $30 to $60, $60 to $120 or $120 and up. For a single set, open it on the sets page, and for the full monthly ranking see the grading report. You can also check one card with the PSA grading calculator, or browse live eBay finds for these cards.