Should you grade Dragapult ex #165?
Prismatic Evolutions · grading ROI analysis
Expected value is positive but modest. Worth grading if you have a clean copy in mint condition or are submitting in bulk; otherwise the marginal upside may not beat the holding period.
Ungraded
$122.05
PSA 10
$245.96
Gem rate
40.7%
PSA pop
4,036
The math
Breakeven sale price (raw price + PSA fee)
$122.05 + $25 = $147.05
You need to sell the slabbed card for at least this much to break even.
Projected PSA 10 uplift
($245.96 − $122.05 − $25) ÷ $122.05 × 100 = +81%
If you grade this card AND it returns PSA 10, this is your gross return on grading.
Expected value (uplift × gem rate)
81% × 40.7% = +33.0%
The real number. Adjusts for the fact that not every submission grades PSA 10.
Net PSA 10 proceeds after marketplace fees
eBay: $205.57 · TCGplayer: $217.45
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.
For collectors
Got more cards? See ROI on your whole collection.
Paste your CSV from Collectr, Dragon Shield, or TCGplayer. Get a GRADE / CONSIDER / HOLD-RAW verdict for every card — free, no signup to preview.
Import my collection in 30s →Want the full picture — pop report, price ladder, 30-day trend, and related cards?
Full Dragapult ex #165 page →See methodology for how we source data and calculate ROI.