PSA's new Value service level opens Thursday, October 29, 2026 at 8 a.m. PT, according to PSA's announcement. It's the first lower-priced tier since PSA paused its Value services on June 2 after a surge in submissions. Here's the pricing, the wait times and who it makes sense for.
The new numbers
| Service | Price (US) | Max insured value | Estimated turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value (opens Oct 29) | $39.99 | $500 | 90 to 100 business days (120 in Japan) |
| Standard | $59.99 (launched Sept 14) | not covered in PSA's announcement | 70 to 80 business days (was 20 days longer) |
| Priority | not covered in PSA's announcement | not covered in PSA's announcement | 50 to 60 business days (was 20 days longer) |
Some details from PSA:
- Value is global. It opens in the US, Canada, Europe and Japan at the same time. Other prices listed are CA$56.99, €39.99 and ¥5,980.
- The shorter Standard and Priority estimates apply to orders submitted starting October 28 at 8 a.m. PT. Orders already in progress are graded under the terms they were submitted with, but may speed up.
- Turnaround times are estimates, not guarantees. PSA says they can change with submission volume.
- New Value orders go behind every existing order. PSA says opening Value doesn't change the estimates for submissions already at PSA.
The $59.99 Standard price comes from Heavy's report on the September launch, not from this announcement.
Why this matters for resellers
Waiting 90 to 100 business days is about four to five months of calendar time. That's a long time to have cards tied up, so Value only works for cards where timing doesn't matter.
Think about it this way:
- Cards worth well above the fee. If a card is likely to sell for far more graded than raw, a $20 saving over Standard can matter. But you're still carrying that card for months and taking market risk while you wait.
- Cards you'd hold anyway. Long-term holds and collection pieces are the best fit for the slow, cheap tier.
- Hot releases you want to flip. The long wait probably isn't worth it. Prices on new releases tend to fall as supply arrives, and Priority or Standard get you graded sooner.
The $500 maximum insured value also matters. Anything you expect to be worth more than that needs a higher tier.
Why the backlog is still a problem
PSA says submissions in April and May were 2.5 times the same months in 2025, and over half of the late orders came from five weeks this spring when it took in 165% more items than a year earlier. It says graded output is up nearly 50% in 2026.
The backlog is 7.2 million cards right now, per PSA. In May, PSA set a target of 5 million units before fully reopening. It says it plans to keep reopening lower-priced grading in phases, including Value Bulk, but gave no date for that.
Flip, hold or pass?
Flip: don't build a flip around Value. A four-to-five-month wait kills the turn time on anything seasonal or hype-driven.
Hold: Value is a fair fit for cards you'd keep or sell later, and it saves $20 per card against Standard. Check the card's expected graded price first, and only submit what clears the fee, shipping and your wait.
Pass: if the card could be worth more than $500, or you need cash back in a few weeks. Use a faster tier, or sell raw.
What we couldn't confirm: when Value Bulk returns, and Priority's current price. PSA's announcement didn't list either. Check PSA's submission page for current pricing before you send anything in.
Related reading
- How to flip sports cards covers when grading pays off.
- Our Pokémon 30th Celebration card prices shows how fast prices move on new releases, which is the risk when you're waiting on grading.
- More guides are in the reselling 101 category.
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