Pokémon TCG Grading Costs More as PSA Reopens Value Service

Collectors seeking a lower-cost way to authenticate and protect Pokémon cards have a new option, but PSA’s returning Value tier is now considerably more expensive than before.

PSA Value grading returns with a higher fee

Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) announced on Wednesday, 28 October, that its Value grading service would reopen worldwide on Thursday, 29 October. Submissions in the United States cost US$39.99 per card, up from the previous US$32.99 price.

That US$7 increase represents a rise of more than 21 per cent. For a ten-card submission, the additional grading cost reaches US$70 before shipping. The higher fee can be particularly difficult to justify for lower-value cards, where even a top grade may not add enough resale value to cover the service charge.

Value submissions open from 8am PT on 29 October. The tier accepts cards with a maximum insured value of US$500 per card and has an estimated turnaround of 90 to 100 business days. Japanese customers face an estimated wait of about 120 business days.

Faster services receive shorter estimates

PSA also revised its Standard and Priority grading estimates for submissions made from 28 October. Both services are expected to be 20 business days faster than their previous estimates.

• Standard: an estimated 70 to 80 business days.
• Priority: an estimated 50 to 60 business days.

Those timeframes remain estimates rather than guarantees, and the company is still dealing with a substantial backlog. PSA reported 7.2 million collectibles awaiting processing.

A large backlog remains

The backlog has fallen by one million items since 6 October, but it is still 2.2 million collectibles above PSA’s original target for fully reopening its services.

Submissions received during April and May 2026 were 2.5 times higher than during the same period the previous year. PSA says it increased the number of graded items it processed by nearly 50 per cent in 2026, yet many overdue submissions are still being worked through.

“Feedback from collectors is heard and directly informs how we are reopening our value services,” said PSA President Ryan Hoge.

For Australian collectors, international shipping, insurance, currency conversion and possible import costs would sit alongside the quoted US pricing. Anyone comparing grading options should account for the complete cost and the lengthy wait, not just the per-card fee.

Collectors interested in the wider hobby can also explore RETROCADE’s arcade news and gaming coverage, browse the arcade machine range, or use the arcade machine buying guide when planning a dedicated games room.

Why the reopening matters to Pokémon collectors

The reopening arrives during an extraordinary year for high-end graded Pokémon cards. Recent auction results include a PSA 10 Art Academy Pikachu selling for $8.4 million, the second-highest total ever recorded for a Pokémon TCG card; a PSA 10 Lily-Chan Pikachu selling for $660,000; and a PSA 10 Aquapolis Lugia reaching $360,000 amid excitement surrounding 30th Celebration.

Most cards sent to PSA will not approach those prices. The returning Value tier may still suit collectors with more modest cards who would rather accept a slower service than pay for faster processing, despite the increased charge.

PSA says new Value submissions will be handled behind existing orders. A lower-priced Value Bulk service is also planned to return at a later date, although no further details are provided here.

For now, anyone sending in a treasured Classic Collection Charizard should plan around the queue rather than expecting it to return before Christmas. Collectors can also browse RETROCADE’s compact bartop arcades or virtual pinball machines for other ways to build a games-room collection.