PSA Grading Costs – 2024 Update
This guide to PSA Grading prices will remain constantly updated. Check back frequently for up to date grading costs.
All Vintage Cards content is free. When you purchase through referral links on our site, we earn a commission. Learn more
PSA’s card grading prices have been quite volatile thoughout the past several years.
The acquisition of Collector’s Universe (PSA’s parent company) brought about many operational changes to improve PSA’s grading service. PSA’s recent acquisition of top competitor SGC should hopefully bring more consistency, but some also worry about a mini-monopoly forming in the industry.
Some collectors view PSA (aka Professional Sports Authenticator) as the devil of the industry, controlling the hobby’s fortunes and squeezing every last dime from grading fees.
In fact, in one recent blog comment, I was accused of being a ‘shill’ for the major grading companies. I found this quite laughable, as I’ve consistently offered an unbiased review and perspective of them.
But in terms of PSA’s card grading prices, things have been a lot more normal for a while now.
In a past update, PSA announced that it was instituting $19 Bulk Card grading for members of its PSA Collector’s Club (annual $99 fee).
Note that for these PSA bulk submissions, you must send in a minimum of 20 cards. The declared maximum value is $500 (recently upped from $199). The expected turnaround time on your PSA slab is 45 business days, a big improvement, as PSA has improved turnaround times.
What Is Declared Value?
The ‘declared value’ is what you estimate your card will be worth after PSA grades it. This is not an exact science and is mostly used by PSA for insurance purposes. Assuming that you don’t abuse the system, PSA won’t upcharge you if you are slightly off on value expectations, but if there is a major difference in value post-grading, expect PSA to adjust your grading charge.
Is PSA’s $19 Bulk Grading Service Fee Worth It?
Some newer collectors might see a $19 grading fee as a bargain, given most of the big three have been at $30 and above on standard grading prices for the last few years.
However, PSA’s bulk grading was at $8 pre-pandemic, a price we may never see again.
PSA used to only allow a max declared value of $199 on the Bulk Service; however, this was recently raised to $500. Thus, the $19 grading fee could be worth the investment for higher-value cards closer to the $500 max.
Check Out Our Derek Jeter Rookie Card Guide, Gallery, and Investment Ideas
PSA estimates a turnaround of 45 Business days on Bulk Value submissions, and most collectors I’ve spoken with say this is fairly accurate. This is a big difference from the pandemic days when the estimated turnaround times were grossly inaccurate.
What’s Your Experience Been With PSA Turnaround Times? Let Us Know In Our Collectors Forum!
What Are The Other PSA Grading Service Levels?
For non-bulk grading submissions, non-PSA Collectors Club Members can submit individual cards at the ‘Value Service’ level for $25 per card.
This grading level allows for up to a $500 declared value. PSA claims the ‘Value’ service level will be returned in 45 Business days.
Collectors looking for a quicker turnaround time can opt for the ‘Value Plus’ grading level. Submissions are $40, and although PSA retains the declared value of $500, the turnaround time is estimated at only 20 business days.
Collectors can grade higher value cards at the ‘Regular’ grading service, which costs $75, has a declared value of $1500 or less, and a much a quicker turnaround time of 10 business days.
Collectors with baseball cards valued at $2500 or less can use PSA’s Express service. For even higher-valued cards, look to Super Express ($5000 declared value max, $249 cost) or Walk Through ($10,000 declared value max, $499 cost) services.
For more information on card grading services, please see our comprehensive guide: Sports Card Grading 101: The Definitive Tutorial
So, ultimately, it’s a good sign that grading prices are normalizing. This has led to an improvement in demand for grading, which had been declining throughout 2022-2023. PSA retains its dominant position.
Now that the grading backlogs are clearing, if we see more softness in pricing, we could start to see more competitiveness in terms of pricing.
A very welcome goal would be $10 bulk submissions with high declared values and quick (month or less) turnaround times.
Have experience with PSA’s grading services? Feel free to comment below or post to our forum.
I would like information as to the proceedure of getting standard size starting line-ups graded. Is shipping them to you in a "Pro tech" case, or the like, encouraged?
Hi Eric, we don’t actually grade cards or figures that is handled by other companies. I do not believe PSA grades action figures but there is a company called AFA that does grade toys. https://cgagrading.com/pricing-and-tier-codes/ Again, I’ve never used them so cannot personally vouch for them. Good luck.
In your experience, are you more likely to get a higher grade through PSA if you declare a higher value? I have a couple of SI kids card where the value of a 10 could be 6 figures while the value of a 7 would likely be around $600. Thus my confusion, Thanks
Hi Glenn, your declared value will have no bearing on the ending grade. The grading companies do have the right to upcharge you if the declared value/grading level is too low…for example in this case, if you submitted with a $600 estimate and it came back a PSA 10, they might upcharge you.
Hello I am new to collecting and I am deciding on what grading company to send my cards to but I wanted to know do you need to be a member to send cards in to PSA for grading. I was told you had to have a membership to get cards graded by PSA but you don’t have to for BGS, or SGC. Thanks for the help.
Hi Lee, none of the grading companies require a membership, however some might offer better deals for members. For example PSA’s Collectors Club offers periodic grading specials and other perks.
I’m so new to this world. Try to catch a break.
Grading is a scam like all big businesses and i wish all collectors would stop, but they won’t..
Hello. I've recently been thinking about grading my cards to get them graded and after researching I think PSA is the one I should go for. But I am on the spectrum a bit so I read things wrong I think
*If I go for the Value tier for say one of my pokemon rumble, let's say Ninetails and its graded at a 10 (which considering how i kept it might be the case) with a worth of $750 I would assume the $60 fee comes on top of that since its over $499. But how this list is put out it also sound like they do not want you to use the service for cards over $499 in general.
*I heard about the $60 fee and I am okay with paying like $85+ shipping for each card I ship in, but I just need to ask to be sure. If the cards are like really rare like one of my mint 2010 HG/SS shiny Gyarados cards which graded 10 would be $1,234.57 do any more fees get added on top of the $60 as well? because if that's the case it feels like they would be forcing you to pay for higher tier stuff without the benefits of faster shipping.
*You might also add that with the initial costs of the tiers, the return paid shipping is also paid by the customer, which is normal, but insurance and import fees are also piled on top of that, which is why I asked about the Gyarados thing, an example would be the Ninetails for my first try $25+$19.50 shipping + $60 value fee + ? shipping back + $34 insurance costs + ? import costs. That racks up at least to $135.
I mean I'm cool with doing it since I am sending in one card to then sell it to fund sending in the others but this just makes me look at the tiers like there is a real chance of scamming myself.