A CGC 9 to PSA 10 crossover is a jump of two rungs, and for most vintage Pokemon cards the population reports say it almost never lines up: on all four 1999 English holos we checked, the CGC 9 slice sits entirely below PSA 10 territory. On modern cards with very high PSA 10 rates the picture flips, and on Evolving Skies Umbreon VMAX 215 about 46.4% of the CGC 9 slice falls where PSA 10s sit. Those are Pokemon Pricing estimates from a population-percentile comparison, not pass rates. Neither PSA nor CGC publishes crossover success rates.
As of October 23, 2026: PSA’s crossover page says the full grading fee is charged whether or not the card crosses, and the lowest-priced PSA tier still accepting cards is Standard, $59.99 each, because PSA stopped taking Value-tier orders in June 2026. A card that misses your minimum grade comes back in its CGC holder.
Why CGC 9 to PSA 10 skips two grades
On CGC’s current scale a Mint 9 sits under three better labels: Mint+ 9.5, Gem Mint 10 and Pristine 10. PSA’s top two numeric grades are simply 9 and 10, and PSA has no 9.5 at all. So a CGC 9 that crosses to a PSA 10 is not getting a small bump: it has to clear two grades CGC declined to give it, Mint+ 9.5 and Gem Mint 10.
The written standards show how far apart the two grades are. CGC describes a Mint 9 trading card this way: “For TCG cards, cards will have only a few minor manufacturing or handling defects.” PSA’s 10 leaves far less room: “A PSA Gem Mint 10 card must be free of staining of any kind, but an allowance may be made for a slight printing imperfection, if it doesn’t impair the overall appeal of the card.” A few handling defects and an allowance for one slight print flaw are not the same card.
Centering is the one place a CGC 9 could be hiding a PSA 10. For a 10, PSA allows the printed image to sit about 55/45 side to side on the face of the card, and 75/25 on the reverse. CGC prints a 60/40 front limit for its Mint 9, but only for sports and non-sports cards; for Pokemon and other TCG cards it publishes no centering number below Gem Mint 10. So a CGC 9 on a Pokemon card is not automatically an off-center card. If yours measures inside 55/45 and still got a 9, CGC saw something else, usually on the surface, edges or corners, and PSA’s graders will be looking at the same flaw. Our centering risk guide covers how to measure it.
What the population reports say about CGC 9 to PSA 10, card by card
Here is the method in plain terms. For each card we pulled two counts: CGC’s population report as it stood on October 23, 2026, and PSA’s figures from an archived copy of its price-and-population page (the snapshot month is in the table). Only numerically graded slabs count. We then asked where the CGC 9s rank: on Base Set Unlimited Charizard, for example, 3.0% of CGC’s 14,779 numeric slabs are graded above 9, and 9.9% are 9 or better, so the CGC 9s are the copies ranked between those two marks. The last column is the share of that same slice that falls inside PSA’s 10 share for the card. If the PSA 10 share is smaller than the share CGC grades above 9, the answer is none.
| Card | CGC 9 slice (share above 9, to share at 9 or better) | PSA 10 share of numeric slabs | Part of the CGC 9 slice inside the PSA 10 share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charizard 4/102, Base Set Unlimited (1999) | 3.0% to 9.9% | 0.5% (PSA, March 2026) | none |
| Mewtwo 10/102, Base Set Unlimited (1999) | 3.6% to 15.5% | 2.6% (PSA, June 2025) | none |
| Blastoise 2/102, 1st Edition (1999) | 7.2% to 15.6% | 2.8% (PSA, October 2025) | none |
| Venusaur 15/102, 1st Edition (1999) | 7.9% to 17.9% | 4.4% (PSA, July 2025) | none |
| Charizard, Japanese Base Set (1996) | 5.4% to 11.5% | 6.0% (PSA, June 2025) | 10.2% |
| Charizard ex 199/165, 151 (2023) | 48.5% to 79.3% | 32.9% (PSA, April 2025) | none |
| Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat #085, Van Gogh promo (2023) | 68.3% to 87.5% | 44.9% (PSA, January 2026) | none |
| Umbreon VMAX 215/203, Evolving Skies (2021) | 60.0% to 86.9% | 72.5% (PSA, June 2025) | 46.4% |
| Umbreon VMAX 095/069, Japanese Eevee Heroes (2021) | 74.4% to 93.4% | 87.0% (PSA, July 2025) | 66.3% |
Read the vintage rows first. On Unlimited Charizard only 487 of PSA’s 93,488 numeric slabs in the March 2026 snapshot are 10s, a far thinner top than CGC’s. The CGC 9 band starts well below that line, so by this measure a CGC 9 Charizard lines up with PSA 9s. The same is true of Unlimited Mewtwo and both 1st Edition holos.
The Japanese 1996 Charizard is the first exception. PSA’s 10 share on that card (923 of 15,412) is larger than the share CGC grades above 9, so the top tenth or so of the CGC 9 slice (10.2%) overlaps PSA 10s.
The modern rows show why no single conversion holds. On the 151 Charizard ex and the Van Gogh Pikachu, CGC hands out so many 10s and 9.5s that the CGC 9 slice starts below PSA’s 10 line. On Evolving Skies Umbreon VMAX 215, PSA 10s were 17,185 of 23,709 numeric slabs in the June 2025 snapshot, while CGC’s grades above 9 cover 60.0% of its 3,120 numeric slabs. That leaves 46.4% of the CGC 9 slice inside PSA’s 10 share. The Japanese Eevee Heroes Umbreon 095 goes further, at 66.3%, on a CGC base of only 242 numeric slabs.
Our CGC 9 to PSA 10 estimate, and why the real odds differ
Our estimate, labelled as one: for 1999-era English holos, the chance that a CGC 9 crosses at a PSA 10 minimum is close to zero; for the Japanese Base Charizard, about 1 in 10 by the population comparison; for modern alt arts where PSA 10 is the normal outcome, anywhere from close to half (Umbreon 215) to about 2 in 3 (Eevee Heroes Umbreon 095). Those figures come straight from the table; nothing has been added to them.
Real-world odds will not match them, for reasons that pull in both directions:
- A percentile is not a grade. The comparison says which PSA grade sits at the same rank in PSA’s population. It does not say what a PSA grader would give your copy.
- The pools differ. Collectors tend to send cards they expect to gem to PSA, where 10s sell for more. CGC’s pool on a given card can hold a different mix. Neither mix is measured anywhere.
- Crossover submitters pre-screen. Nobody pays to cross a CGC 9 they think is a 9. The cards that reach PSA’s crossover desk are the best-looking CGC 9s, which lifts the real rate above a blind average.
- The dates differ. CGC counts are from October 2026; the PSA snapshots run from April 2025 to March 2026. Modern populations grow fast.
- Centering is a known; the rest is not. CGC Gem Mint 10 and PSA 10 share the same 55/45 front limit, but CGC publishes no TCG centering for its 9s, so the table cannot separate a centering 9 from a surface 9.
One more reason the vintage figure is so low: PSA allows half grades between 2 and 9, and its Pokemon 10s are rare on 1999 cards. A CGC 9 that PSA likes still most often lands as a PSA 9.
What a failed CGC 9 to PSA 10 attempt costs
PSA’s rules make the downside simple. You must write a minimum grade on the form; set it to 10 and anything less sends the card back. In PSA’s words: “If your item doesn’t meet the minimum grade, it is returned to you in the original holder.” And the money: “Full grading fee is charged even if item does not meet minimum grade.” A failed attempt costs the fee plus shipping and time, not the card or its CGC grade.
The fee depends on the card’s value, because each tier carries a Max Insured Value. When a slabbed card comes out above that ceiling, PSA’s FAQ says “PSA will upgrade the service level for that item (not your entire order).” We therefore price each attempt below at the tier that covers the card’s value as a PSA 10.
| If the card is worth this much as a PSA 10 | Tier it belongs in | Charge per card |
|---|---|---|
| up to $1,000 | Standard | $59.99 |
| up to $1,500 | Priority | $79.99 |
| up to $2,500 | Express | $199.00 |
| up to $5,000 | Super Express | $349.00 |
| up to $10,000 | Premier | $599.00 |
| up to $250,000 (Premium 1 to 3 sit in between) | Premium 5 | $4,999.00 |
Turnaround estimates on the same page run from 90 – 100 business days for Standard down to 7 – 10 for Premier, all read October 23, 2026.
Value Bulk and Value are not on that list: PSA paused all four Value tiers from June 2, 2026. Our PSA grading cost guide has the full fee history, and the failed crossover explainer covers the return trip step by step.
Break-even: how often does CGC 9 to PSA 10 have to work?
With a minimum of 10, the attempt has two outcomes: the card becomes a PSA 10, or it comes back as the same CGC 9 and you are out the fee. So the break-even chance is the fee divided by the price gap between the CGC 9 and the PSA 10. Below are our worked examples using real Goldin results. Goldin adds a 22% buyer’s premium ($19 minimum) to the hammer, every price here includes it, and each is one sale, not a market rate. They leave out shipping, selling fees and taxes.
| Card | CGC 9 sale | PSA 10 sale | Gap | PSA tier and fee | Break-even chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Gogh Pikachu #085 | $275 (auction ending 3/06/25) | $1,244 (7/10/25) | $969 | Priority, $79.99 | 8.3% |
| 1st Edition Charizard 4/102 | $10,980 (12/20/23) | $195,200 (2/17/24) | $184,220 | Premium 5, $4,999.00 | 2.7% |
The two cases point opposite ways. The Pikachu needs the crossover to work about once in twelve tries to pay for itself, but our population comparison puts its CGC 9 slice entirely below PSA’s 10 line, so on the numbers it is a fee spent on hope. The 1st Edition Charizard needs only a 2.7% hit rate because the gap is enormous; we have no population counts for that exact card, but on the two 1st Edition holos we do have (Blastoise and Venusaur) the CGC 9 slice also sits wholly in PSA 9 territory. Pre-screening by eye is what moves a single card above or below those lines, and that is your judgement, not a statistic.
A wider look at fees against price gaps, grade by grade, is in our break-even guide to CGC-to-PSA crossover.
When a CGC 9 is a better candidate
None of this says a CGC 9 never becomes a PSA 10. It says the attempt only makes sense on a card that looks better than its grade. Things that point that way:
- Front centering that measures inside 55/45 and back centering inside 75/25, with no visible print line, scratch or whitening. If nothing explains the 9, PSA may not find one either.
- A card where PSA’s 10 share is high, such as the modern alt arts in the table. A PSA 10 there is common, which also means it is worth less of a premium.
- A value high enough that the fee is small next to the gap, as in the Charizard example.
Things that point the other way: a 1999 holo with any visible whitening on the back edges, a known print defect on the card, or a gap so small that the fee eats it.
Setting the minimum: PSA 10 or PSA 9?
The minimum grade is the only lever PSA gives you. Set it to 10 and the card stays in its CGC slab unless PSA agrees it is a 10. Set it to 9 and you accept PSA 9 as the floor, which on most cards in the table is where a CGC 9 already ranks. That route is a different bet, covered in CGC 9 to PSA 9 crossover odds. If you are holding a 9.5 rather than a 9, read CGC 9.5 to PSA 10 first; the 2023 change to CGC’s scale matters there. All the grade pairs are collected in our crossover grading hub.
CGC’s own crossover, which takes slabs from SGC, Beckett and PSA in the other direction, is worded more cautiously: CGC says it only breaks the old holder when it expects to match or beat the other company’s grade. PSA’s page makes no such promise; it grades the card and checks it against your minimum.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a CGC 9 cross over to a PSA 10?
Yes, PSA will grade it and crack it out if it meets a minimum of 10. How often that happens is not published by PSA or CGC. Our population comparison says it is rare on 1999 English holos and common on some modern alt arts.
What happens if my CGC 9 does not get a PSA 10?
If the grade is below your minimum, PSA returns the card in its original CGC holder and still charges the full grading fee for the tier you used.
What does PSA charge to cross a CGC 9?
The normal grading price for whichever tier covers the card. On October 23, 2026 that started at $59.99 (Standard, insured to $1,000), since the Value tiers were on pause.
Is a CGC 9 the same as a PSA 9?
Not by definition. The written standards differ and CGC publishes no centering number for its Pokemon 9s. On most cards we checked, though, CGC 9s rank in the same population band as PSA 9s.
Why do some CGC 9 Umbreons line up with PSA 10?
PSA 10 is the most common PSA grade on Evolving Skies Umbreon VMAX 215 and Eevee Heroes Umbreon 095, so the PSA 10 share reaches down into the band CGC grades 9. That is a population effect, not proof any one card will cross.
Do I lose my CGC grade if the crossover fails?
No. The card is only removed from the CGC holder if it meets your minimum PSA grade; otherwise it comes back in the same slab.
Sources
- Crossover Service — PSA, read October 23, 2026
- Trading Card Grading: service levels and prices — PSA, read October 23, 2026
- PSA Grading Standards — PSA, read October 23, 2026
- PSA FAQ — PSA, read October 23, 2026
- Service Level Update: May 2026 — PSA, May 28, 2026, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Grading Scale — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards grading services and fees — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Base Set Unlimited — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Base Set 1st Edition — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Evolving Skies — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Scarlet & Violet 151 — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Scarlet & Violet Black Star Promos — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Japanese Base Set — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- CGC Cards Population Report: Eevee Heroes — CGC Cards, read October 23, 2026
- 1999 Pokemon Game Charizard-Holo #4 (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of March 2, 2026
- 1999 Nintendo Pokemon Game Mewtwo-Holo #10 (CardFacts) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of June 9, 2025
- 1999 Pokemon Game 1st Edition Blastoise-Holo (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of October 21, 2025
- 1999 Nintendo Pokemon Game Venusaur-Holo 1st Edition (CardFacts) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of July 6, 2025
- 2021 Pokemon Evolving Skies Full Art Umbreon VMAX #215 (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of June 26, 2025
- 2023 Pokemon 151 Charizard ex #199 (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of April 7, 2025
- 2023 Pokemon SVP Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat #085 (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of January 25, 2026
- 1996 Pokemon Japanese Basic Charizard-Holo #6 (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of June 20, 2025
- 2021 Pokemon Japanese Eevee Heroes Full Art Umbreon VMAX #095 (Auction Prices Realized, population columns) — PSA, archived by the Internet Archive, Wayback Machine capture of July 17, 2025
- 2023 Pokemon SVP EN Black Star Promo Pokemon X Van Gogh #085 Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat – CGC MINT 9 (sold lot) — Goldin, auction ending 3/06/25, read October 23, 2026
- 2023 Pokemon SVP EN Pokemon X Van Gogh #085 Pikachu/Grey Felt Hat – PSA GEM MT 10 (sold lot) — Goldin, auction ending 7/10/25, read October 23, 2026
- 1999 Pokemon Base Set 1st Edition Rare Holofoil #4 Charizard – CGC MINT 9 (sold lot) — Goldin, auction ending 12/20/23, read October 23, 2026
- 1999 Pokemon Base Set 1st Edition Rare Holofoil #4 Charizard – PSA GEM MT 10 (sold lot) — Goldin, auction ending 2/17/24, read October 23, 2026
- About Goldin (buyer’s premium table) — Goldin, read October 23, 2026
No grading company publishes crossover pass rates. Any crossover odds on this page are Pokemon Pricing’s estimate, labelled as one, built from the published grading standards and population reports on the dates shown. Fees, populations and sale prices change; check the grading company’s current price list before submitting. This article is collector information, not investment advice. Pokémon and all card names are trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures Inc. and GAME FREAK inc.; Pokemon Pricing is not affiliated with them or with any grading company.