PSA Reopens Value Grading Service for Pokémon Cards Amid Price Hike and Backlog
Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) has reinstated its Value grading service for Pokémon cards, providing collectors with a more budget-friendly option for appraisal, albeit with a notable price increase. This decision comes as the company continues to grapple with a massive backlog of items, influencing turnaround times for submissions.
Details of the Service Reopening
On Wednesday, October 28, PSA announced the global resumption of its Value grading service, effective October 29. The cost for submissions within the United States is now set at $39.99 per card. This marks a 21% increase from the previous price of $32.99, making the term “value” somewhat relative, especially for collectors submitting multiple cards, as the additional cost can quickly accumulate. This revised pricing is particularly impactful for lower-value cards, where the grading fee might diminish the potential resale premium from a high grade.
The reactivated Value tier accommodates cards with a maximum insured value of $500. Collectors utilizing this service should anticipate a processing period of 90 to 100 business days, while those in Japan face an extended wait of approximately 120 business days. In parallel, PSA has optimized its Standard and Priority grading services, reducing their estimated turnaround times by 20 business days each. Standard submissions are now projected to take 70 to 80 business days, and Priority orders 50 to 60 business days, with these improved estimates applicable to submissions initiated from October 28.
A significant challenge for PSA remains its considerable backlog, which currently stands at 7.2 million collectibles. Although this represents a reduction of one million items since early October, it still exceeds the company's target for a full service reopening by 2.2 million. PSA attributes this overwhelming volume to a surge in submissions during April and May 2026, which were 2.5 times higher than the previous year. Despite a nearly 50% increase in grading output in 2026, the company continues to diligently process overdue submissions. Ryan Hoge, President of PSA, acknowledged the feedback from collectors and affirmed that it directly informs their approach to reopening services, recognizing the substantial work ahead to alleviate the backlog.
The reopening of the Value tier is particularly significant given the current boom in the high-end graded Pokémon card market. Recent auctions have seen remarkable sales, including a PSA 10 Art Academy Pikachu fetching $8.4 million, a PSA 10 Lily-Chan Pikachu attracting $660,000, and a PSA 10 Aquapolis Lugia realizing $360,000. While most cards submitted will not reach such astronomical figures, the renewed Value service offers an accessible option for collectors with more modest collections who prefer not to pay a premium for expedited services, despite the increased fee. PSA has indicated that new Value submissions will be processed after existing orders, with a lower-priced Value Bulk service expected to return in the future. For collectors, this represents a positive step, though patience will be key, as cards like a newly graded Classic Collection Charizard are unlikely to be returned before the holiday season.
The reintroduction of PSA's Value grading service, even with an increased price and extended wait times, highlights the sustained and growing demand within the Pokémon card collecting community. It underscores the passion collectors have for authenticating and preserving their cherished cards, transforming hobbies into tangible investments. This development could inspire more collectors to engage with professional grading, potentially further stimulating the market for graded cards, regardless of their monetary value. It also serves as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of service providers in navigating unprecedented surges in demand while striving to maintain quality and accessibility for their clientele.
