PSA grading prices and turnaround
Checked October 21, 2026 against PSA’s current trading-card services, September 9 service announcement, and October 20 backlog update. These are direct PSA submission terms; dealer quotes can differ.
| Service | Per card | Estimated business days | Max insured value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard (open) | $59.99 | 90–100 | $1,000 |
| Priority (formerly Regular) | $79.99 | 70–80 | $1,500 |
| Express | $199 | 20–30 | $2,500 |
| Super Express | $349 | 10–15 | $5,000 |
| Premier (formerly Walk-Through) | $599 | 7–10 | $10,000 |
Value tiers remain paused for new direct submissions. Standard is open at $59.99 and included in live comparisons; it is not a replacement for Value. Existing orders retain their submission terms.
What the backlog means for a new Standard order
PSA reported an active grading backlog of 7.2 million units on October 20, down from 8.2 million on October 6. That is a net reduction of 1 million units; it does not measure gross grading output or predict a return date for an individual order. The October 20 update reaffirms that existing orders take priority over new submissions. PSA’s September 22 queue update specifically places new Standard orders behind pre-pause Value and Bulk orders.
PSA’s 90–100 business-day Standard estimate begins after an order enters its grading system, not when you buy a raw card or ship a package. For a grading flip, compare the likely sale margin with the cash tied up during intake, grading, return shipping and resale. If a deal needs a quick return of capital to work, a falling backlog alone does not establish that timing. Check the latest PSA estimate again before submitting.
Should you wait for Value tiers to reopen?
PSA’s October 20 update plans phased service reopenings and pricing that balances demand with grading capacity. It does not announce a reopening date or new Value price. The current service page still lists Value and Value Bulk as unavailable. A lower future grading fee is therefore a scenario, not a cost you can book today.
If you already own a card, compare selling raw now, submitting through an available tier and holding it for a possible reopening. Holding avoids today’s submission fee but leaves your cash exposed to raw-price changes and delays the next trade. A plan that only works at a paused fee needs both a fee sensitivity check and a resale-price sensitivity check; a smaller backlog does not establish either future number.
What changes in your analysis
Our available PSA default is Priority at $79.99. Paused services appear on card pages only as hold scenarios using previous fees and current card prices. They are excluded from live rankings and recommendations. Future fees, reopening dates and resale prices are unknown; holding costs are not included. Previously saved tier names and dated article examples remain as history. Review the current service and your full costs before acting.
Turnaround estimates are not guaranteed delivery dates. Shipping, insurance, taxes, supplies and possible value-based upcharges are additional. Maximum insured value is not the raw purchase price; confirm eligibility for the card’s expected graded value with PSA. Higher-value services exist beyond those shown.
Priority costs $20 more per card than Standard. At an assumed 13% selling fee, that difference requires about $22.99 in additional gross resale proceeds to break even if all other costs and outcomes are equal ($20 ÷ 0.87). Faster access to capital may matter too, but a shorter estimate does not guarantee a higher sale price.
Compare your grading assumptions