PSA reopened its Value tier on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at $39.99 per card in the U.S., the grading company announced on October 28. It is the cheapest PSA service since the budget tiers were paused, but new Value orders join the line behind every submission PSA already holds.
PSA Value tier: key facts
- Opened: October 29, 2026, 8 a.m. PT, in every PSA region: the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan
- Price: $39.99 per card in the U.S. (CA$56.99, €39.99, ¥5,980)
- Maximum insured value: $500 per card
- Estimated turnaround: 90–100 business days, or 120 business days in Japan
- Queue position: behind all orders already at PSA
- Still closed: Value Bulk, with no reopening date given
What the Value tier changes, and what it doesn't
Until this week, the cheapest way into PSA was Standard at $59.99. Value cuts that by $20 a card, which adds up fast if you're sending a stack of mid-value cards from a binder.
The catch is time. PSA says the new tier is processed after every order already in its facilities, and that opening it doesn't change delivery estimates for anyone already waiting. PSA put its backlog at 7.2 million items on October 28. In May it set a target of 5 million before fully reopening, so this is a partial step. Value Bulk, the lower-priced bulk option, is still paused.
PSA also explained why so many existing orders are late: it says April and May submissions were 2.5 times the volume of the same months in 2025.
Faster estimates for Standard and Priority
PSA cut 20 days from the estimates for its two middle tiers. They apply to orders placed from October 28 at 8 a.m. PT; orders already in progress keep the terms they were submitted under.
Tier | Price per card | Max insured value | New estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
Value | $39.99 | $500 | 90–100 business days |
Standard | $59.99 | $1,000 | 70–80 business days |
Priority | $79.99 | $1,500 | 50–60 business days |
Source: PSA announcement, Oct 28, 2026, and the PSA trading card grading page, checked Oct 29, 2026. PSA says turnaround times are estimates, not guarantees.
What it means for collectors
If a card is worth under $500 and you aren't in a hurry, Value is now the cheapest PSA option on the menu. Before you fill a submission, check each card's centering, corners and surface at home; our pre-grading guide walks through it. A card that comes back a PSA 8 instead of a 10 can cost more to grade than it's worth.
PSA isn't the only budget option this month. CGC and TAG both have lower-priced tiers with their own minimums and wait times, and our PSA vs CGC vs TAG vs BGS comparison lines them up side by side.
What's next
- Value Bulk: PSA says it plans to reopen more lower-priced service levels, including Value Bulk, in phases. No date yet.
- Capacity limits: PSA describes the reopening as phased so it can adjust to demand, so watch its services page if you plan a larger order.
Alec Nguyen
Founder, CollectorDream
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