8 min read · 22 April 2026
Is my Charizard worth grading? A specific ROI walk-through
Charizard is the most-graded card in Pokemon history. Whether yours is worth submitting depends on which Charizard, the era, and the realistic grade you can expect.
Modern Charizard ex (Surging Sparks, 2024)
Approximate UK eBay prices in 2026:
- Raw NM: ~$25–$35
- PSA 9: ~$75–$100
- PSA 10: ~$180–$240
At PSA fees of ~$30 + $15 return, your break-even is roughly the PSA 9 price. So:
- If you're reasonably sure of PSA 10: send it. Upside is 3–4× raw.
- If you're uncertain between 9 and 10: marginal. The expected value is close to zero. Pre-grade first.
- If centring or surface looks borderline 8/9: skip. Below break-even.
Vintage Base Set Charizard (1999)
The 1999 Base Set Charizard is a different category. Even raw NM examples sell for $500–$750 in the UK. PSA 9 raw value is ~$1,900; PSA 10 is rare and worth $10,000+.
At those numbers, almost any reasonable-condition Base Set Charizard is worth the $30 PSA fee - even at PSA 7, you're still in profit on a clean copy.
The ROI rule we use
Estimate the probability of each grade outcome (be honest), multiply by the realistic UK sold price, sum, subtract fees and return shipping. If positive, send it.
| Grade | Sold price | Probability | EV |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $250 | 30% | $75 |
| PSA 9 | $70 | 50% | $35 |
| PSA 8 | $50 | 20% | $8 |
| Total | $133 |
Subtract $25 PSA fee + $15 return shipping = net $65. Worth it. The hard part is being honest about your probabilities - which is where pre-grading pays for itself.
What to do next
Run your Charizard through CPG. Five minutes, $3, and you'll know whether your probability assessment matches what the centring and defect data actually says.