Should you grade Lilligant #5?
Noble Victories · grading ROI analysis
Expected value is near zero or negative. The PSA fee + the realistic gem rate mean most submissions of this card will not recoup the cost. Sell raw or hold.
Ungraded
$2.00
PSA 10
$54.13
Gem rate
0.0%
PSA pop
1
The math
Breakeven sale price (raw price + PSA fee)
$2.00 + $25 = $27.00
You need to sell the slabbed card for at least this much to break even.
Projected PSA 10 uplift
($54.13 − $2.00 − $25) ÷ $2.00 × 100 = +1357%
If you grade this card AND it returns PSA 10, this is your gross return on grading.
Expected value (uplift × gem rate)
1357% × 0.0% = +0.0%
The real number. Adjusts for the fact that not every submission grades PSA 10.
Net PSA 10 proceeds after marketplace fees
eBay: $39.16 · TCGplayer: $45.28
After 13.25% eBay (or 10.25% TCGplayer) fee + per-order fee + ship. Subtract PSA grading fee ($25) + any PSA shipping for true profit. See methodology.
What this calculator doesn't show
- Shipping costs. PSA shipping (in + out) typically adds $5–$15 per submission.
- Selling fees. eBay takes ~13% of gross; TCGplayer ~10%. Subtract from PSA 10 price for net proceeds.
- Holding cost. 30–60 day PSA turnaround means your capital is tied up.
- Sub-grade outcomes. A PSA 9 might still beat ungraded price, but a PSA 8 often doesn't. We model only the binary PSA-10-or-bust outcome — be more conservative for borderline cards.
- Market volatility. PSA 10 prices can swing 20%+ on news cycles. Today's calculated uplift is a snapshot.
Want the full picture — pop report, price ladder, 30-day trend, and related cards?
Full Lilligant #5 page →See methodology for full details on how we source data and calculate ROI.