PSA Grading Cost in 2026: What You'll Actually Pay Per Card
Short answer: as of Oct 29, 2026, PSA's cheapest tier is Value at $39.99 per card for cards worth up to $500, back for new submissions that day. Standard is $59.99 (up to $1,000), Priority $79.99 (up to $1,500), Express $199, Super Express $349 and Premier $599 (up to $10,000); PSA's Premium tiers for cards worth more than that start at $999. PSA prices each card by what it is worth after grading, and upcharges you if it comes back worth more than your tier covers.
PSA prices, max insured values and turnaround estimates as of Oct 29, 2026, for new US trading card submissions, read on psacard.com that day. Not affiliated with PSA. PSA changed its prices several times in 2026, so check its site before you submit.
PSA grading prices by tier (October 2026)
| Tier | Price per card | Max insured value | Estimated turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value (reopened Oct 29) | $39.99 | $500 | 90–100 business days |
| Standard | $59.99 | $1,000 | 70–80 business days |
| Priority | $79.99 | $1,500 | 50–60 business days |
| Express | $199 | $2,500 | 20–30 business days |
| Super Express | $349 | $5,000 | 10–15 business days |
| Premier | $599 | $10,000 | 7–10 business days |
| Premium 1 | $999 | $25,000 | 5–7 business days |
| Premium 2 | $1,999 | $50,000 | 5–7 business days |
| Premium 3 | $2,999 | $100,000 | 5–7 business days |
| Premium 5 | $4,999 | $250,000 | 5–7 business days |
| Premium 10 | $9,999+ | $350,000, then +$399 per $10,000 (or part) over | 5–7 business days |
| Value Bulk | Paused | — | — |
Source: PSA's trading card grading pricing page and PSA's Oct 28, 2026 announcement (Value: $39.99, $500 maximum insured value, 90–100 business days). Standard includes Standard Imaging, Priority and up add a fitted sleeve, Express and up add Grader Notes, and Super Express and up add Premium Imaging. Premium 1, 2, 3, 5 and 10 (there's no Premium 4), for cards worth more than $10,000, are from psacard.com/pricing, checked Nov 3, 2026. Premium 10 is $9,999 for cards up to $350,000, plus $399 for each $10,000 (or part of it) above that, so a $365,000 card costs $10,797. If a card comes back worth more than its tier's cap, PSA bumps that card up to the right tier and charges the difference. Value Bulk, a Collectors Club service, is still paused.
What changed on Oct 29, 2026
- Value is back at $39.99. PSA paused its Value tiers on June 2, 2026 to work through its backlog. The reopened Value tier opened at 8 a.m. PT on Oct 29 with a $500 maximum insured value and an estimated 90–100 business days. PSA says new Value orders are processed after the orders it already has.
- Standard and Priority got faster, not cheaper. Standard stays $59.99 but its estimate drops from 90–100 to 70–80 business days. Priority stays $79.99 and drops from 70–80 to 50–60.
- Express and up didn't change, and Value Bulk is still paused. Orders already at PSA keep the terms they were submitted under.
PSA price history in 2026
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| Feb 10, 2026 | Increases: Value Bulk $21.99 → $24.99, Value $27.99 → $32.99, Value Plus $44.99 → $49.99, Value Max $59.99 → $64.99, Regular $74.99 → $79.99 |
| June 2, 2026 | Value tiers paused while PSA worked through its backlog |
| Sept 2026 | Standard launched at $59.99 (Sept 14); Regular renamed Priority ($79.99); Walk-Through renamed Premier ($599); Express $199 |
| Oct 29, 2026 | Value reopens at $39.99; Standard and Priority estimates cut by 20 business days |
From PSA's February 2026 grading services update, backlog tracker, Sept 9, 2026 Standard announcement and Oct 28, 2026 announcement. So the new Value tier costs $7 more than the $32.99 Value tier did before the pause.
PSA charges by your card's value after grading (the upcharge)
PSA's fee follows what your card is worth once it's graded, not what you paid for it or what it's worth raw. Every tier has a maximum insured value. PSA's terms tell you to pick a tier whose max is above your estimate of the card's value after grading. If PSA decides, at any point in the process, that a card is worth more than your tier covers, it charges the fee for the tier that does cover it. That's the upcharge.
What "max value" means: the card's value after grading
A tier's max value (PSA calls it the Max Insured Value) is what the card will be worth after grading, not raw. PSA's FAQ calls it "your estimate of the value of the item after it has been assigned a grade by PSA," and its terms (section 2) say to pick a tier "with a Maximum Insured Value greater than your estimate of the post-grading fair market value" of each card.
- Grades higher than your tier allows: PSA can require the higher tier's fee for that card (not your whole order), so you pay the difference. If you refuse, the card comes back ungraded and you're still charged for the tier you picked.
- Grades lower than you hoped: no refund. PSA's fees are non-refundable whatever grade comes back.
- Lost or damaged at PSA: the max value is also the most PSA will pay for the card.
In practice: pick the tier for the card's realistic graded value, not its best-case PSA 10. If it grades better, you pay only the difference for that card.
How to pick the right tier
Estimate what the card will sell for in the grade you realistically expect, using recent sold prices, then pick the cheapest tier whose max covers it. Our PSA grading cost calculator does this for you: enter the graded value and it picks the tier, and warns you if the tier you chose could be upcharged.
What happens if PSA upcharges you
- PSA can charge tier adjustments without asking first, up to $500 in total per submission (or a lower amount shown when you submit).
- If you refuse or can't pay a required upcharge, PSA returns the card ungraded, and you still pay the original tier's fee.
- Grading fees are non-refundable, whatever grade comes back.
Worked examples (hypothetical cards)
| Card | Declared at | Comes back worth | Tier PSA charges | Extra you pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A: $400 raw card, grades a PSA 10 | Value ($39.99, up to $500) | $1,800 | Express ($199, up to $2,500) | $159.01 |
| B: $150 raw card, grades a PSA 10 | Value ($39.99, up to $500) | $700 | Standard ($59.99, up to $1,000) | $20 |
Made-up card values to show the rule; the tier prices and caps are PSA's, as of Oct 29, 2026. Both extra charges are under $500, so PSA could bill them without asking first. Card A would have been better declared at Express from the start, if a 10 was realistic.
Why declared value matters: the FedEx theft
On Oct 13, 2026, PSA customer orders were stolen from a FedEx truck after it picked them up at PSA's Santa Ana, California, facility. PSA says 6,451 items were taken. It deactivated their cert numbers, published the full list, and the Santa Ana Police Department and the FBI are investigating. The Verge reported more than 200 packages, which PSA told police had an approximate value of over $963,000, a figure that could rise.
PSA is paying for the stolen cards at their market value, up to the insured value each customer declared, and it refunded the grading fees on those orders, separately from that compensation. For orders shipped on PSA's return label, PSA's insurance applies and payments are already going out. PSA says it is working directly with customers who used their own return label, and customers who submitted through a dealer should contact the dealer.
The lesson for your next order: the tier you pick also sets the most PSA will pay if a card is lost or damaged while PSA is responsible for it. PSA's terms cap that at the lower of the card's market value or the tier's maximum insured value. Declaring a $1,500 card at a $1,000 tier to save $20 risks an upcharge and caps any payout at $1,000.
PSA says it safely processed and return-shipped more than 99.9% of the items sent to it over the past year.
The other costs: shipping, membership and fees you pay anyway
Shipping to PSA
You pay to ship your cards to PSA, and they are your risk until PSA logs the order in at its "Order Prep" step, so insure the package. Our guide to shipping cards to PSA covers packing and addresses.
Return shipping
PSA charges return shipping per order, based on how many items are in it and their total insured value. PSA ships with its own insurance and requires a signature. If you use your own FedEx account instead, you have to insure the shipment yourself. See PSA's postage rates for the current table.
Collectors Club
PSA's Collectors Club costs $149 a year (standard) or $199 (premium). Value Bulk, the members-only bulk tier, is still paused, so check what the membership includes right now before you join just to save on grading.
Fees you pay even if it goes badly
You pay the tier's fee whatever grade comes back, including a low grade or a card PSA won't grade. Plan for the grade you'd realistically get, not the 10 you're hoping for.
Is PSA worth the cost compared with CGC?
CGC's official fee page lists Bulk at $17 (25-card minimum, cards up to $500), Economy at $20 (up to $1,000) and Standard at $55 (up to $3,000). PSA's $39.99 Value tier is about $20 more than CGC Economy for cards up to $500. What usually decides it is the resale gap: in Pokémon, a regular CGC 10 tends to sell for well under a PSA 10. Our cheapest grading company guide compares PSA, CGC, SGC and Beckett fees by card value, and PSA vs BGS vs CGC vs SGC covers grading scales and labels.
Is it worth grading your card at these prices?
A cheaper tier lowers the bar, but a card still has to sell for enough as a slab to cover the fee, shipping and selling fees. The Pokémon calculator and sports card calculator now include PSA's $39.99 Value tier and show your break-even price. For real examples, see our popular card answers, the 30th Celebration chase cards and the weekly market report, or read is it worth grading Pokémon cards? How long each tier takes is in our PSA turnaround times guide.
More guides
- Card Centering Checker: Free online photo tool that measures front centering on Pokémon and sports cards and shows the best PSA grade it allows.
- How PSA Grading Works: Step-by-Step Submission Guide: How a PSA submission works start to finish, what PSA looks for at every grade, centering limits and a pre-submission checklist.
- Is It Worth Grading Pokémon Cards?: When grading pays off, worked examples with real fee math, and when to sell raw instead.
- PSA vs BGS vs CGC vs SGC: Grading scales, top labels, current standard-tier pricing and which grader fits Pokémon or sports.
- Cheapest Card Grading Company: PSA vs CGC vs SGC vs BGS: 2026 fees, value caps and turnaround side by side, plus what each slab resells for in Pokémon.
- How to Send and Ship Cards to PSA: Step-by-step: online submission, packing, PSA's shipping address, labels, USPS vs UPS vs FedEx and declared value.
- PSA Turnaround Times by Tier: PSA's current estimates by tier, when the clock starts, the backlog and what each day saved costs.
- PSA Vault Explained: Fees and Is It Worth It?: How the PSA Vault works, from free storage to withdrawal and eBay selling fees, what "insured" means, and Vault vs keeping slabs at home.
Ready to run your own numbers? Use the Pokémon grading calculator or the sports card calculator.
FAQ
How much does PSA grading cost per card in 2026?
As of Oct 29, 2026, PSA charges $39.99 at Value (cards worth up to $500), $59.99 at Standard (up to $1,000), $79.99 at Priority (up to $1,500), $199 at Express (up to $2,500), $349 at Super Express (up to $5,000) and $599 at Premier (up to $10,000). Above $10,000, the Premium tiers run from $999 (up to $25,000) to $9,999 at Premium 10 (up to $350,000, plus $399 per $10,000 over that), as of Nov 3, 2026. Shipping is extra.
What is the cheapest PSA grading tier right now?
Value, at $39.99 per card for cards worth up to $500 after grading, with an estimated 90–100 business days. Value Bulk, which was cheaper, is still paused.
Is the PSA Value tier back, and how much is it?
Yes. PSA reopened Value for new submissions on Oct 29, 2026 at $39.99 per card in the US, with a $500 maximum insured value and an estimated 90–100 business days. PSA says new Value orders are processed after the orders it already has.
Does PSA charge based on the card's raw value or graded value?
Graded value. PSA's terms say to pick a tier whose maximum insured value is above your estimate of the card's value after grading. If the card comes back worth more than your tier covers, PSA charges the higher tier's fee.
Do I get a refund if my card grades lower than expected?
No. PSA's grading fees are non-refundable whatever grade comes back. Pick the tier for the card's realistic value after grading, not its best-case PSA 10. If it grades better than your tier covers, PSA charges the difference for that card.
What is a PSA upcharge and how much can PSA charge without asking?
An upcharge is the extra fee PSA charges when it decides a card is worth more than your tier's maximum insured value. Its terms let it charge up to $500 in total in these adjustments without asking first. If you refuse a required upcharge, the card comes back ungraded and you still pay the original fee.
What declared value should I put on a PSA submission?
What you realistically expect the card to sell for after grading, based on recent sold prices in that grade, and then a tier whose max covers it. Declaring too low risks an upcharge and caps what PSA pays if the card is lost or damaged.
What happens if my card is lost or stolen after PSA grades it?
PSA's terms cap compensation at the lower of the card's market value or the tier's maximum insured value. After the Oct 13, 2026 FedEx theft, PSA said it is paying stolen cards at market value up to the insured value each customer declared, and it refunded the grading fees on those orders.
Does PSA Collectors Club membership lower grading costs right now?
PSA's Collectors Club costs $149 a year (standard) or $199 (premium). Value Bulk, the members-only bulk tier, is still paused as of Oct 29, 2026, so check what the membership currently includes before joining to save on grading.
How much is PSA return shipping?
PSA charges return shipping per order, based on the number of items and their total insured value, and ships with its own insurance and a signature. Check PSA's postage rates page for the current table before you submit.
Is PSA more expensive than CGC, SGC, TAG or Beckett?
Usually, for cheap cards. CGC lists Economy at $20 and Bulk at $17 (25-card minimum), against $39.99 for PSA Value. But PSA 10s tend to resell for more, especially in Pokémon. Our cheapest grading company guide compares PSA, CGC, SGC and Beckett fees by card value.
Sources
- PSA, Trading card grading pricing (Standard $59.99 / $1,000 / 70–80 business days; Priority $79.99 / $1,500 / 50–60; Express $199 / $2,500 / 20–30; Super Express $349 / $5,000 / 10–15; Premier $599 / $10,000 / 7–10; Premium tiers 5–7 business days; Premium 10 formula; included extras). Accessed Oct 29, 2026.
- PSA, PSA Reopens Value Service and Reduces Estimated Turnaround Times for Standard and Priority (Oct 28, 2026: Value $39.99, $500 maximum insured value, 90–100 business days, opens Oct 29 at 8 a.m. PT, processed after orders already at PSA). Accessed Oct 29, 2026.
- PSA, Submission updates (Value Bulk remains paused; existing orders keep their terms). Accessed Oct 29, 2026.
- PSA, Submission Services Terms and Conditions (last updated Apr 22, 2026: §2 maximum insured value and adjusted fees; §5 responsibility starts at Order Prep; §10 compensation up to the lesser of fair market value or maximum insured value; §15 fees non-refundable; §16 up to $500 of adjustments without notice). Accessed Oct 29, 2026.
- PSA, Stolen PSA Orders: What We're Doing and How You Can Help (Oct 23, 2026). Accessed Oct 29, 2026.
- The Verge, report on the PSA FedEx theft (Oct 20, 2026: over 200 packages, approximate value over $963,000). Accessed Oct 29, 2026.
- PSA, Grading Services Update, February 2026, PSA's new Standard service level (Sept 9, 2026) and Backlog tracker (June 2, 2026 Value pause). Accessed Oct 29, 2026.
- PSA, Postage rates (last updated Aug 29, 2025) and Support FAQ (Collectors Club $149 / $199 a year). Accessed Oct 29, 2026.
- PSA, Support FAQ: Max Insured Value ("your estimate of the value of the item after it has been assigned a grade by PSA"; an understated item is upgraded "for that item (not your entire order)") and Submission Services Terms and Conditions §2, §10 and §15. Accessed Nov 2, 2026.
- CGC Cards, Services & Fees (Bulk $17, Economy $20, Standard $55). Accessed Oct 29, 2026.