Key Takeaways

PSA's temporary pause of its value grading tiers highlights several major shifts within the card grading industry that every collector should understand:

• PSA paused its four most affordable grading tiers (Value Bulk through Value Max) beginning June 2, 2026, due to a backlog approaching 10 million cards.
  
  
• A $200 million infrastructure investment announcement triggered a 20% spike in submissions, adding approximately 1.6 million cards to PSA's grading queue within two weeks.
  
  
• Value-tier submissions will not reopen until PSA reduces its backlog from 10 million cards to 5 million cards, a process estimated to take up to four months.
  
  
• Collectors now face minimum grading costs of $79.99 per card, representing a 142% increase from the previous $32.99 Value tier.
  
  
• International collectors face additional challenges as PSA grading tariffs have paused direct submissions from most countries outside the United States, with exceptions for Japan and Canada.

This pause represents PSA's strategic decision to prioritize service quality and operational efficiency over short-term revenue. Meanwhile, competitors such as SGC and Beckett are preparing to absorb increased submission volume from collectors seeking alternatives. PSA's newly announced monthly backlog tracker also introduces a level of transparency rarely seen in the grading industry.

Introduction

Collectors researching PSA grading services and the latest PSA tariff developments are facing one of the biggest changes in the hobby this year. The industry's largest grading company has temporarily suspended its most popular value-tier submission options as it works through a backlog approaching 10 million cards.

Effective June 2, PSA paused Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus, and Value Max submissions. The decision comes after PSA graded more than 19 million cards in 2025 and experienced a 20% surge in submissions that added approximately 1.6 million additional cards to its queue. As a result, PSA turnaround times in 2026 continue to increase across several service levels.

Questions surrounding PSA grading tariffs, turnaround times, and future submission availability remain top concerns for collectors. In this article, we'll examine what caused the backlog, when value-tier services may return, how tariffs are affecting international collectors, and what this means for the broader card market.

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PSA Announces Pause of Value Grading Tiers Starting June 2

Which Service Tiers Are Temporarily Closed?

PSA's announcement took effect on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 3:00 PM PT.

The company temporarily suspended the following grading services:

• Value Bulk — $24.99 per card
  
  
• Value — $32.99 per card
  
  
• Value Plus — $49.99 per card
  
  
• Value Max — $64.99 per card

These tiers have historically served as PSA's most affordable grading options and are especially popular among collectors submitting cards in larger quantities.

Submissions created before June 2 will continue moving through the grading process under their original turnaround estimates. The pause applies only to new submissions entered after the deadline.

It's also important to note that Value Bulk remains exclusive to Collectors Club members and will continue to require membership access once the service returns.

Which Grading Services Remain Open?

Although the value tiers have been paused, PSA continues accepting submissions through its premium grading services.

The lowest-priced option currently available is Regular service at $79.99 per card.

The following premium services remain open:

Service	Cost	Estimated Turnaround
Regular	$79.99	40–50 business days
Express	$149	20–30 business days
Super Express	$349	7–10 business days
Walk-Through	$599	5–7 business days

These options provide alternatives for collectors who require faster processing or cannot wait for value-tier submissions to return.

How PSA Turnaround Times in 2026 Are Changing

Regular service turnaround estimates have increased from the previous 30–40 business day range to 40–50 business days.

Dual-service authentication submissions now carry estimated turnaround times of 50–60 business days.

These adjustments reflect the growing operational pressure caused by PSA's rapidly expanding backlog.

Collectors should also be aware that PSA modified how turnaround times are calculated beginning on November 20, 2025. Estimates now begin when orders arrive at PSA facilities rather than when they are unboxed and entered into the grading system.

While this change results in longer posted estimates, it provides a more accurate picture of the total grading timeline.

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What Caused PSA's 10 Million Card Backlog?

How the $200 Million Infrastructure Investment Backfired

On May 14, PSA's parent company, Collectors, announced a $200 million investment initiative designed to expand grading capacity.

The plan includes:

• Doubling PSA's physical footprint
  
  
• Hiring more than 1,000 additional employees
  
  
• Expanding operations over the next 18 months

Alongside the announcement, PSA updated several turnaround estimates.

Value Bulk turnaround times increased from approximately 95 business days to 140–160 business days.

Value service estimates expanded from roughly 75 business days to 100–120 business days.

Rather than waiting for future capacity improvements, collectors rushed to submit cards before turnaround times increased further.

PSA President Ryan Hoge explained the situation, stating:

"Following a May 14 announcement about infrastructure investment, PSA experienced a 20 percent spike in submissions."

What was intended as a positive long-term investment announcement ultimately accelerated short-term demand.

The 20% Submission Spike That Added 1.6 Million Cards

The surge translated into approximately 1.6 million additional cards entering PSA's grading queue in just two weeks.

This pushed PSA's active backlog to nearly 10 million cards.

Trading card games played a major role in the increase. During 2025 alone, PSA graded more than 11.5 million TCG cards, representing an 85% year-over-year increase.

PSA's market dominance further magnified the effect.

The company graded more than 19 million cards in 2025, while second-place CGC Cards processed approximately 4.92 million cards during the same period.

Why Daily Grading Output Couldn't Keep Pace

PSA has dramatically expanded grading capacity over the last several years.

Daily grading output increased from roughly 15,000 cards per day in 2021 to approximately 90,000 cards per day today.

Annual grading volume has also grown significantly:

• 2022: 11 million cards
  
  
• 2023: 13.5 million cards
  
  
• 2024: 15.3 million cards

Despite these gains, demand continues to outpace operational growth.

From January through April 2026, submissions increased 39% year-over-year.

PSA is currently on pace to exceed 20 million graded cards in 2026.

The company acknowledged that continuing submissions at the current pace would place even greater strain on operations and negatively impact turnaround times for existing customers.

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When Will PSA Reopen Value Tier Submissions?

PSA's Goal: Reduce the Backlog to 5 Million Cards

PSA has intentionally avoided setting a specific reopening date.

Instead, the company has tied the return of value-tier services directly to operational performance.

The goal is to reduce the backlog from approximately 10 million cards to 5 million cards.

Current projections estimate that reaching this target may take up to four months.

This approach differs from PSA's 2021 grading pause, when services reopened according to predetermined dates rather than workload milestones.

PSA believes this strategy will help prevent another submission surge immediately upon reopening.

According to the company, the pause serves as:

"A deliberate, structural defense of the future we are building, not a retreat from it."

Monthly Backlog Tracker Adds Transparency

To help collectors monitor progress, PSA will publish monthly updates through a new Backlog Tracker.

Collectors will be able to view the same backlog metrics used internally by PSA management.

This level of transparency is uncommon within the grading industry and gives collectors a clearer understanding of when value services may return.

The tracker also allows bulk submitters and resellers to better plan future grading strategies.

Free Collectors Club Membership Extensions

PSA also announced compensation for Collectors Club members impacted by the pause.

Every membership active on May 14, 2026, will receive a free extension equal to the full duration of the Value Bulk service suspension.

Members must maintain active status to qualify.

Because Value Bulk access is one of the primary benefits of Collectors Club membership, PSA views the extension as a way to offset the disruption caused by the temporary closure.

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How the Pause Impacts Collectors and the Card Market

Effects on Bulk Submitters and Resellers

The immediate impact is financial.

Collectors who previously used the $32.99 Value tier now face a minimum PSA grading cost of $79.99 per card.

This represents a 142% increase in submission costs.

For many resellers and bulk submitters, the change significantly alters profitability calculations.

Cards that might receive PSA 8 or PSA 9 grades may no longer generate enough value to justify grading fees.

As a result, many collectors will likely become more selective about what they submit during the pause.

Will Other Grading Companies Benefit?

Several competitors are already preparing for increased demand.

Ryan Hoge confirmed that both SGC and Beckett are preparing to accommodate submission volume displaced by PSA's pause.

Meanwhile:

• CGC Cards increased Bulk turnaround estimates from 90 to 120 business days.
  
  
• CGC Economy turnaround times increased from 45 to 65 business days.
  
  
• TAG Grading temporarily paused its Express service due to capacity limitations.

These developments suggest that demand is growing across the grading industry, not just at PSA.

Potential Changes in Graded and Raw Card Values

The pause may create shifts in both graded and raw card markets.

Mid-range and high-end raw cards could experience increased demand as collectors focus on cards that justify higher grading fees.

At the same time, PSA-graded cards entering the market may command premiums due to reduced supply.

Fewer newly graded cards reaching the marketplace could temporarily strengthen values for existing PSA slabs.

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How Tariffs Affect PSA Submissions for International Customers

International collectors face additional challenges beyond the grading pause.

PSA grading tariffs have forced the company to suspend direct submissions from most countries outside the United States.

The primary exceptions are:

• Japan (through PSA's Tokyo facility)
  
  
• Canada (through PSA's Halifax, Nova Scotia facility)

Unlike grading fees, these tariffs are assessed against a card's declared value.

For example, a card valued at $5,000 would incur a $500 tariff under a 10% tariff structure.

As a result, international collectors may face significantly higher costs when submitting high-value cards.

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Conclusion

PSA's value-tier suspension represents a calculated response to unprecedented demand rather than an operational failure.

The company's commitment to reducing its backlog to 5 million cards before reopening submissions demonstrates a long-term focus on service quality and customer experience.

While the temporary pause creates challenges for collectors, resellers, and international submitters, PSA's investment in infrastructure and increased transparency through monthly backlog reporting suggest the company is positioning itself for continued growth.

The coming months will determine whether PSA can successfully reduce its backlog while maintaining its dominant position in the grading industry.

For collectors, the key question remains simple: wait for Value tiers to return, pay higher grading fees now, or explore alternative grading companies.

Only time—and PSA's monthly backlog updates—will provide the answer.

FAQs

Q1. Why did PSA pause its value grading services?

PSA paused its Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus, and Value Max grading tiers because its backlog approached 10 million cards. Following a $200 million infrastructure investment announcement, the company experienced a 20% spike in submissions, adding approximately 1.6 million additional cards to its queue. The pause allows PSA to reduce the backlog while protecting turnaround times and service quality.

Q2. When will PSA reopen the paused value-tier submissions?

PSA has not provided a specific reopening date. Instead, the company plans to reopen value-tier services after reducing its backlog from 10 million cards to 5 million cards. Current estimates suggest this process could take up to four months.

Q3. Which PSA grading services are still available?

Regular service remains available at $79.99 per card with an estimated turnaround time of 40–50 business days. Premium services, including Express, Super Express, and Walk-Through, also remain operational.

Q4. How will this pause affect the trading card market?

The pause could impact both raw and graded card markets. Mid-range and high-end raw cards may increase in value as collectors focus on cards that justify premium grading fees. PSA-graded cards could also command stronger premiums due to reduced supply entering the marketplace.

Q5. Will PSA's competitors benefit from the pause?

Companies such as SGC, Beckett, CGC Cards, and TAG Grading may experience increased submission volume as collectors seek alternatives. However, PSA's strong resale premiums and market leadership may encourage many collectors to wait until value-tier services return.