PSA Grading in 2026: What Every Collector Needs to Know Right Now
- grandslamidaho
- Jun 4
- 5 min read
If you've been anywhere near the hobby lately, you've heard the news — PSA just made a massive move that's shaking up the entire grading world. Whether you're sitting on a stack of cards you've been meaning to submit or you're brand new to grading, this affects you. Here at Grand Slam Sports Cards in Nampa, we want to break it all down so you're not caught off guard.
What Is PSA Grading?
Before we get into the current state of things, let's make sure everyone's on the same page.
PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is the most recognized card grading company in the hobby. When you send your cards to PSA, their experts authenticate the card, evaluate its condition — corners, edges, surface, and centering — and assign it a grade on a scale of 1 to 10. A PSA 10 (Gem Mint) is considered the gold standard. Once graded, the card is sealed in a hard plastic slab with a unique certification number.
Why does it matter? Simple: graded cards sell for significantly more than raw cards. A PSA 10 of the right card can be worth 5x, 10x, or even more than an ungraded copy. Grading also protects your card from further damage and provides peace of mind around authenticity.
The Current State of PSA Grading (June 2026)
Here's where things get real. The hobby has been absolutely exploding, and PSA is feeling the heat.
The Big Pause
As of June 2, 2026, PSA has temporarily paused new submissions for its four Value-tier service levels:
Value Bulk
Value
Value Plus
Value Max
That's a huge deal for most collectors. These were the most affordable and most commonly used submission tiers. PSA made this move because their active card queue has climbed to nearly 10 million cards — and submission volume has been surging. According to PSA's own statement, they've seen a 39% year-over-year increase in grading numbers from 2025 to 2026.
PSA's stated goal is to reduce the backlog to 5 million cards before reopening those tiers. They're estimating that process will take up to four months, meaning the Value tiers could remain closed well into late 2026 or early 2027.
What's Still Open
Don't panic — PSA is still accepting submissions at the higher service tiers:
Service Level | Price Per Card | Est. Turnaround |
Regular | $79.99 | 50–60 business days |
Express | $149.00 | 20–30 business days |
Super Express | $349.00 | 7–10 business days |
Walk-Through | $599.00 | 5–7 business days |
The math has changed. The cheapest option currently available is $79.99 per card. That means you need to be strategic about what you submit.
The Price Increases Leading Up to This
This pause didn't come out of nowhere. PSA has been raising prices steadily throughout 2025 and into 2026 — twice in roughly six months. Earlier in 2026, they raised prices by $5 flat across five service levels, including Value Bulk (which had also jumped from $18.99 to $24.99 when bulk TCG and sports grading were consolidated). Turnaround times were extended at the same time.
The message was becoming clear: grading with PSA was getting more expensive and taking longer. This pause is the next chapter in that story.
What About BGS and SGC?
PSA isn't the only game in town, but it's worth knowing that the other major graders are feeling the pressure too.
Beckett (BGS) and SGC are both now under the Collectors umbrella alongside PSA. SGC, which had been popular for its faster turnaround times, has extended its grading time from 15–20 days to 40–50 days. BGS has also announced longer turnaround times in 2026. If you're thinking about jumping ship to a competitor right now, expect delays there as well.
What Should You Do?
Here's our honest advice as your local card shop in the Treasure Valley:
Be selective. With the cheapest open PSA tier sitting at $79.99 per card, only submit cards that clearly justify the cost. Key rookies, vintage cards in excellent condition, and high-demand Pokémon cards are your best candidates. That borderline PSA 8/9 bulk modern card? Probably not the move right now.
Watch PSA's Backlog Tracker. PSA has committed to posting monthly updates on their backlog progress. Keep an eye on that as the four-month estimate plays out.
Hold onto your cards. If you were planning to submit Value-tier cards, don't just give up — hold them. When PSA reopens those tiers, there could be a short window before demand floods back in.
Consider buying already-graded cards. Some collectors are looking to unload graded slabs right now. With the market in flux, there may be deals to be found on existing PSA-graded cards.
Consider buying raw. If you like a card, buy it. Condition can matter, but it doesn't have to if you're really into collecting. We know that some are beholden to graded cards, but you might consider this as a fine alternative.
Stop in and talk to us. Seriously. This stuff changes fast, and we stay on top of it. Whether you want to talk strategy, buy some graded singles, or find out what we're seeing in the shop — we're here Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM.
The Big Picture
PSA grading 90,000 cards per day globally — up from 15,000 per day back in 2021 — and still can't keep up with demand. That tells you everything you need to know about where the hobby is right now. Collecting is not slowing down. If anything, this moment is proof that cards — sports cards, Pokémon, all of it — have become a serious, mainstream market.
The hobby has matured. The "grade everything" era that kicked off during COVID is giving way to something more strategic. Smart collectors are being more selective, more patient, and more intentional about what they put in a slab and why.
That's not a bad thing. That's the hobby growing up.
Come See Us at Grand Slam
We're your local resource for all things cards here in Nampa, serving collectors across Boise, Meridian, Caldwell, Eagle, and the entire Treasure Valley. Whether you're a seasoned submitter trying to navigate the PSA situation or a newer collector who just wants to know what a PSA 10 even means — we love talking cards, and we'll shoot you straight.
Grand Slam Sports Cards 2108 Caldwell Blvd, Ste 113 | Nampa, ID 83651
📞 (208) 546-0075 Mon–Sat | 10 AM – 6 PM
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @grand_slam_idaho for the latest pulls, events, and hobby news.
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