PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is the most recognized name in card grading. With over 50 million cards graded, a PSA slab commands premium prices on every major marketplace. But their pricing can be confusing — 9 service tiers, insurance upcharges, and a Collectors Club membership that unlocks the cheapest option. Here's the complete breakdown.
⚠️ Update — July 2026: PSA paused all four Value tiers (Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus, Value Max) effective June 2, 2026, amid a 10-million-card backlog. Until they reopen (PSA's own backlog tracker suggests late 2026 at the earliest), the cheapest tier you can actually buy is Regular at $79.99, and its turnaround has stretched to roughly 50 business days. The paused tiers stay in the table below for reference — marked accordingly. This changes the break-even math on everything under ~$150: picking the right cards to submit matters more than ever.
PSA Service Tiers & Pricing
PSA offers 9 service levels, ranging from $15 (reholder) to $599 (walk-through). The primary differences are turnaround time and insurance coverage. Here's every tier, updated July 2026:
| Service Tier | Cost | Min. Cards | Turnaround | Max Insured | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value Bulk | $24.99 | 20 cards | 95 days | $500 | PAUSED since June 2026 · Collectors Club only |
| Value | $32.99 | 1 card | 75 days | $500 | PAUSED since June 2026 |
| Value Plus | $49.99 | 1 card | 45 days | $500 | PAUSED since June 2026 |
| Value Max | $64.99 | 1 card | 35 days | $1,000 | PAUSED since June 2026 |
| Regular | $79.99 | 1 card | ~50 days | $1,500 | Cheapest open tier |
| Express | $149 | 1 card | 15 days | $2,500 | |
| Super Express | $349 | 1 card | 7 days | $5,000 | |
| Walk-Through | $599 | 1 card | 7 days | $10,000 | Highest value cards |
| Reholder | $15 | 1 card | 80 days | $2,000 | Existing slabs only |
Which Tier Should You Pick?
Right now, for most collectors: Regular ($79.99)
While the Value tiers are paused, Regular is the cheapest way to grade a card at PSA — which means your card needs to clear a much higher bar to be worth submitting. A card that penciled out at a $32.99 fee can be a money-loser at $79.99. Run the math before you ship anything (that's exactly what SlabScore's score does).
When the Value tiers return: Value ($32.99)
Value was PSA's most popular tier for good reason — the cheapest no-minimum option, and the sweet spot for cards worth $50–$500 raw. Keep it in mind for when submissions reopen; PSA's public backlog tracker is the tell.
For high-volume submitters (when it returns): Value Bulk ($24.99)
Value Bulk saves $8 per card vs. Value if you submit 20+ at a time, but requires a PSA Collectors Club membership ($99/year) — and it's paused along with the rest of the Value family.
For valuable cards: Express or higher ($149+)
Cards worth $500+ in raw form should go Express or higher for two reasons: faster turnaround (15 days vs. 75) and higher insurance coverage ($2,500 vs. $500). If your card exceeds the tier's insurance limit, PSA charges an upcharge — often making the next tier up cheaper overall.
Hidden Costs Beyond the Fee
The per-card fee is just the starting point. Your actual cost per card looks like this:
True Cost = Grading Fee + Shipping To PSA + Return Shipping + Insurance Upcharge (if any)
- Shipping to PSA: Budget $8–$15 for insured shipping, split across the number of cards in your submission. Sending 20 cards at $12 shipping = $0.60 per card.
- Return shipping: PSA charges for return shipping based on the declared value and number of cards. Expect $10–$25 per order.
- Insurance upcharge: If your card is worth more than the tier's maximum insured value, PSA charges 2% of the excess value. A $2,000 card on Value tier ($500 limit) incurs a $30 upcharge on the $1,500 excess. At that point, upgrading to Regular ($79.99, $1,500 limit) is often cheaper.
- Collectors Club: $99/year membership required for Value Bulk. Worth it at 13+ cards per year ($8 savings × 13 = $104).
Realistic Per-Card Costs
Here's what most collectors actually pay per card when you include shipping (assuming a 10-card submission with $15 total shipping each way):
- Value Bulk: $24.99 + ~$3 shipping = ~$28/card
- Value: $32.99 + ~$3 shipping = ~$36/card
- Regular: $79.99 + ~$3 shipping = ~$83/card
- Express: $149 + ~$3 shipping = ~$152/card
ROI Breakeven Examples
How much does a card need to increase in value to break even on grading? Assuming Value tier (~$36 all-in) and eBay seller fees (13.25%):
- $20 raw card: Needs to grade to ~$65 graded to break even (3.25x multiplier)
- $50 raw card: Needs to grade to ~$100 graded to break even (2x multiplier)
- $100 raw card: Needs to grade to ~$155 graded to break even (1.55x multiplier)
- $500 raw card: Needs to grade to ~$615 graded to break even (1.23x multiplier)
Notice how higher-value cards need a smaller multiplier to be profitable. That's why experienced collectors focus on mid-to-high-value cards for grading submissions.
Tips for Saving Money
- Submit in bulk. Shipping costs per card drop dramatically when you send 10–20 cards at once.
- Join Collectors Club if you submit 13+ cards/year. The $8/card savings on Value Bulk pays for the $99 membership quickly.
- Watch for insurance upcharges. Compare the upcharge cost vs. just upgrading to the next tier. Sometimes the next tier is cheaper.
- Be patient. The cheapest tiers have the longest turnarounds. If you don't need cards back quickly, save the money.
- Pre-screen your cards. Use a tool like SlabScore to analyze ROI before submitting. One skipped bad submission saves $30+.
Bottom Line
PSA grading costs $25–$600 per card before shipping and upcharges. For most collectors, Value ($32.99) or Value Bulk ($24.99 with membership) is the right choice. Higher tiers make sense for valuable cards or when you need faster turnaround. Always calculate total cost including shipping and seller fees before submitting — not every card is worth the investment.
Calculate the right PSA tier for your card. Open SlabScore → — picks the cheapest tier whose insurance covers your card automatically.