PSA is raising grading prices once again, and for collectors, the frustration is starting to pile up. After increasing costs as recently as September of 2025, PSA is back with another round of higher prices and longer turnaround times, making it harder to justify submitting anything that is not a clear hit.
None of the individual increases are shocking on their own, but taken together, the message is getting louder. Grading with PSA in 2026 costs more, takes longer, and offers less margin for error, especially for collectors who rely on bulk and mid tier submissions to make the math work.
Below is a full breakdown of the latest PSA grading price and turnaround time changes, along with what this means for collectors moving forward.
PSA Grading Price and Turnaround Time Changes for 2026
Along with higher submission costs, PSA is also extending estimated turnaround times for several service levels. These changes apply to new submissions and further impact overall grading timelines in 2026.
PSA Value and Regular Service Updates
- Value Bulk
$21.99 → $24.99
Turnaround time unchanged - Value
$27.99 → $32.99
Turnaround time unchanged - Value Plus
$44.99 → $49.99
40 → 45 business days - Value Max
$59.99 → $64.99
30 → 35 business days - Regular
$74.99 → $79.99
20 → 25 business days
The most notable impact comes at the Value Plus and above tiers, where collectors are now paying more and waiting longer for their cards to be returned.
PSA’s Explanation, Again
PSA says the latest price increase comes down to managing submission volume and grading capacity, with the goal of keeping turnaround times “consistent and predictable” across service levels. According to the company, consolidating Bulk services helps better align demand with capacity while giving Collectors Club members a clearer submission option.
If that sounds familiar, it should. Capacity management and demand alignment have been the go to explanations for nearly every PSA price hike over the last few years, and once again, the fix is higher prices and longer waits. The message is clear enough. Fewer submissions, better margins for PSA, and collectors left to decide if the math still works at all.
Operationally, the explanation makes sense. Practically, it just means grading with PSA in 2026 costs more and delivers less flexibility than it did not that long ago.
What Happened with PSA’s September 2025 Price Hike
PSA’s most recent pricing adjustment before this 2026 update came in September of 2025, when the company raised submission fees and extended turnaround times across several service tiers. It marked another increase in grading costs following earlier adjustments earlier in the year, which we covered in detail in our full breakdown of PSA’s September 2025 grading price increase.
At the time, PSA raised prices for its most commonly used submission levels, including:
- Value Bulk from $19.99 to $21.99
- Value from $24.99 to $27.99
- Value Plus from $39.99 to $44.99
Turnaround times were also pushed further out as submission volume remained high. Several mid tier and faster services saw longer grading windows, including increases to Value Plus, Value Max, Regular, and Express tiers.
What This Means for Collectors Moving Forward
With PSA raising prices again in 2026 after its September 2025 increase, the direction is clear. Grading with PSA is becoming more expensive and more selective by necessity, especially for collectors submitting lower value cards or bulk orders. What once made sense to slab automatically now requires a closer look at potential resale value and long term hold expectations.
For high end cards and premium modern pulls, PSA’s market dominance still carries weight. But for mid tier and lower end submissions, the rising costs and extended turnaround times make alternative grading companies increasingly difficult to ignore. Collectors who adapt by being more selective with submissions or diversifying grading options will be better positioned as the landscape continues to shift.
PSA remains the industry standard, but in 2026, that standard comes at a higher price.
