How Much Does PSA Card Grading Cost?

Last Updated on September 12, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) is the leading third-party grading service for trading cards, comics, and other collectibles. But having your prized possessions evaluated and encapsulated by PSA comes with various fees. In this guide, we’ll break down exactly what contributes to PSA grading costs and help you determine if it’s worth the investment.

PSA grading provides an impartial assessment of an item’s condition and authenticity by experts. This increases collectability and value, especially for rare or high-end pieces. PSA encases the graded item in a sonically sealed holder designed for long-term preservation and displays the grade.

While PSA offers the most respected opinion in the hobby, its services come at a price. Grading costs vary based on the declared value, turnaround time, and type of item.

How Much Does PSA Grading Cost?

The cost for PSA grading starts from as low as $10 per card but soaring over $300 for premium service on ultra-rare collectibles. Collectors must carefully weigh card value, turnaround needs, and membership discounts when deciding if grading provides a worthwhile return on investment.

PSA Economy Tier

The Economy tier starts at $10 per card and $20 for autographs. It focuses on modern, lower-value cards up to a $499 declared value and takes around 12 weeks turnaround. Economy is best for large bulk submissions where tight cost control is important.

PSA Regular Tier

This is PSA’s standard tier at $50 per card and $100 for autographs, with a $2,500 declared value limit per card. Regular service is ideal for mid-range cards and takes about 6-8 weeks in normal conditions. It offers the best balance of turnaround speed and affordable cost for most hobbyists.

PSA Express Tier

Express is for card owners who need fast grading turnaround. At $150 per card ($300 for autographs), it caps at a $9,999 declared value. You’ll get your cards back in 3-5 weeks typically. The premium for speed makes Express logical only for very urgent submissions.

PSA Premium Tier

This high-end tier costs $300 per card and $600 for autographs, with no declared value limit. It offers the quickest turnaround at just 1-3 weeks on average. The premium pricing suits vintage rarities and ultra-high-value modern cards where cost is less important than securing cards ASAP.

PSA Grading Tiers At-a-Glance

Tier	Price Per Card	Max Declared Value	Turnaround Time
Economy	$10	$499	12 weeks
Regular	$50	$2,500	6-8 weeks
Express	$150	$9,999	3-5 weeks
Premium	$300+	No limit	1-3 weeks

According to Draftsim, PSA grading prices range from $25 to $10,000 per card. The breakdown of costs is as follows:

Value service (for cards older than 1980 or from 1980-present): $25 for cards valued up to $499.
Value Plus: $40 for cards valued up to $499.
Regular service: $75 for cards valued up to $1,499.
Express service: $150 for cards valued up to $2,499.
Super Express: $300 for cards valued up to $4,999.
Walk-Through: $600 for cards valued up to $9,999.
Premium services range from $1,000 for cards valued up to $24,999 to $10,000 for cards valued at $250,000 or more.

Additionally, Whatnot states that the cost of grading ranges from $25 to $150, depending on the selected service level, with an additional $19 shipping fee for each order. They provide a breakdown of grading costs as follows:

Value service: $25 (approximately 65 days turnaround).
Economy service: $40 (approximately 20 days).
Regular service: $75 (approximately 10 days).
Express service: $150 (approximately 5 days).

Furthermore, Reddit users discuss the overall costs, indicating that for a single card submission, the total might be around $50 when including shipping. They note that shipping for 1-4 cards is typically $19.99, and some users suggest using local card shops for bulk submissions, which can reduce costs to around $20-25 per card.

Third-Party Grading for Trading Cards

PSA brought the concept of impartial, professional-grade grading and encapsulation to the collecting world in 1991. Since then, PSA has graded over 40 million cards and items. Along with rivals like Beckett Grading Services (BGS), PSA grading provides collectors with:

Authentication of signatures, patches, relics, and other memorabilia
Assessment of condition, defects, centering, edges, and surface quality
Encapsulation in sonically-sealed, tamper-evident holders for protection and display
Increased liquidity, marketability, and valuations for rare and high-end collectibles

For vintage cards in particular, PSA grading can mean the difference between a five-figure valuation and one stretching into six or even seven figures for elite rarities. The cost is well worth it to preserve condition and secure maximum value.

You might also like our articles about the cost of framing a jersey T-shirt, a stamp collection, or jewelry appraisal.

Factors Affecting PSA Grading Costs

Several variables beyond just the tier level influence the fees PSA charges:

Card Value and Declared Pricing

Higher declared values automatically trigger higher grading fees to cover PSA’s increased insurance costs. For modern cards above $500, Regular tier is required, adding $40+ over Economy tier. For cards above $2,500, Express or Premium tiers apply at over $100 more per card. High-end vintage cards easily justify the premium cost to securely encapsulate and preserve value long-term.

Desired Turnaround Time

Faster service increases costs proportionally. PSA Express adds about $100+ per card over its Regular tier. For the quickest 1–3-week Premium tier turnaround, you’ll pay a premium of around $250 more per card versus Regular service. Unless you urgently need your cards back faster than 6-8 weeks, Express and Premium speeds make little sense for all but ultra-high-value cards where time is absolutely critical.

Authentication and Additional Services

Autograph authentication requires expert verification from PSA’s/DNA division, adding $50+ over grading a standard card. Specialty labels, image review, oversized encapsulation, and other addons also increase costs marginally. Re-holders to replace existing holders run $20 per card – an essential but mandatory fee when switching companies. These extra services all provide value but contribute to overall grading expenses.

Membership Discounts

Joining PSA’s Collector Club provides access to discounts of around 5-10% off grading costs. With frequent submissions across a year, these membership savings can add up substantially. Bonus perks like free shipping and card re-holders add even more value for active graders. We’ll analyze memberships and discounts in more detail shortly.

Volume Discounts

Submitting cards in bulk quantities reduces per-card fees by around 10% starting at orders of 30+ cards, with bigger discounts kicking in at 100+ card orders. For a shipment of 100 modern cards at Regular tier, you would save $10 per card off the individual rate. For very large submissions, significant cost reductions are possible, making bulk submissions highly economical.

Cost Breakdown by Submission Type

Grading a single premium card is a very different value proposition compared to submitting a bulk order of 500 lower-end modern cards. Here is an overview of pricing across the main submission types:

Individual Cards

For individual cards, grading fees span from $10 for Economy up to $300+ for Premium service, depending on the card’s value tier. Most regular collectors use the $50 Regular tier for individual modern cards worth less than $2,500, while vintage specialists utilize Express for fastest encapsulation of high-value rarities. Individual express grading lets you cherry pick your best cards from a collection.

Small Batch and Bulk Submissions

Collectors submitting batches of cards from 30 up to hundreds at once qualify for reduced per-card fees. A 100-card order saves about $10 per card off individual rates. With PSA’s volume discounts, larger bulk submissions of 500+ cards can drop as low as $7 per card for Economy, saving collectors huge amounts. Ideal for those with large collections of lower-end cards.

Special Event Grading

PSA offers on-site grading at major conventions like the National Sports Collectors Convention, starting around $50-$100 per card depending on tier. While highly limited in capacity, on-site event grading provides collectors a convenient way to submit cards in person for fast encapsulation shortly after the show. The exclusivity comes at a premium price, but may justify very urgent turnaround.

Pack and Case Submittals

Full sealed wax packs, boxes, and cases can be submitted to PSA for grading and authentication as a unit. Generally, less expensive than grading all pack-opened cards individually, pack submittals allow collectors to accurately preserve and grade pull rates and collation. However, costs add up quickly at several hundred dollars per pack or case. Grading sealed items requires advanced planning and budget.

PSA Membership Discounts and Benefits

Joining PSA’s Collector Club provides access to discounts and tools that can reduce overall grading expenses.

PSA Membership Pricing – A one-year PSA membership costs $79. Higher tiers with more benefits are available at $149 (Vintage) and $249 (Premium) annually. Multi-year discounts are offered.

Grading Discounts – Members receive discounts around 5-10% on grading costs. With frequent submissions, savings add up. Other perks include free shipping and free card reholders.

Voucher Program – Higher membership levels earn vouchers for free Economy or Regular grading. Each voucher saves $10 to $50. Active members can offset a significant portion of their total grading costs over time.

PSA Turnaround Times and Prices – Grading speed is a major factor affecting service pricing. Here are the current PSA turnaround estimates:

Standard Processing – Regular service takes 6-8 weeks at PSA’s lowest standard price of $50 per card. This fits most needs at moderate cost. Expect delays during peak periods.

Express and Expedited – For $150 Express fee, your card is complete in 3-5 weeks. Expedited further speeds this to 2-3 weeks for $250, but costs add up quickly. Use sparingly when time is absolutely critical.

PSA Backlogs – Surges in submissions can cause backlogs exceeding 12 weeks, even for Express. Prioritizing value over turnaround avoids overpaying. Monitor backlog reports and adjust expectations.

Other Grading Costs to Consider

Beyond basic grading, extras like autograph authentication and reholders add to the total expenses:

Autograph Authentication – Autographed cards require an additional $50+ fee to verify authenticity. This is only done by request but is essential to prove provenance.

Card Reholders – Re-encapsulating an already graded card in a new holder runs $20 per card. This safeguards the condition and provides a fresh, clean case.

Crossover Grading – Cards graded by competitors can be submitted to PSA for re-grading, which incurs additional fees. This may boost the grade, but not always.

Comparing PSA to Alternatives Like BGS

PSA is the gold standard in grading, but alternatives exist at various price points:

BGS Grading Costs

Beckett (BGS) is PSA’s main competitor, with similar tier options. BGS charges slightly less for lower-value cards but is broadly comparable for high-end card fees.

SGC and GMA Affordable Options

SGC and GMA offer budget grading starting under $30 per card. But market confidence in value is lower. You get what you pay for in grading.

How PSA Grading Impacts Card Values

Beyond protecting condition, PSA grades directly correlate to market value:

PSA 10 Gem Mint Commands Huge Premium

The coveted PSA 10 grade indicates a card in perfect mint condition. PSA 10 examples routinely sell for massive premiums compared to lower grades of the same card.

Graded Cards Beat Raw Cards in Value

PSA graded cards consistently sell for significantly more than raw, ungraded specimens of comparable condition. Collectors pay up for third-party authority.

Population Reports Drive Up Rarity

Scarce PSA 10 cards can sell for astronomical multiples of PSA 9s. Population reports let buyers determine true rarity.

Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these tips when preparing and sending your cards to PSA for grading:

Organizing and Protecting Your Cards

Inspect each card carefully and sort by value and priority.
Double sleeve and top load high-value cards for protection.
Verify authenticity to avoid upfront costs on counterfeits.

Filling Out Submission Forms

List each card’s description, desired services, declared value.
Calculate totals for each grading tier across all cards.
Double check details to match every card submitted.

Packaging Cards Securely

Wrap top loaded cards between cardboard to prevent shifting.
Cushion cards in bubble wrap and packing peanuts.
Seal box securely and affix shipping forms. Insure package.

Shipping Off Your Submission

Use trackable shipping like FedEx or UPS.
Insure for full declared value.
Include pre-paid return shipping label to return your cards.

Monitoring Grading Status

Track submission progress on PSA’s website.
Note backlogs or delays before committing to faster tiers.
Contact PSA customer service with any questions.

Careful preparation streamlines the submission process and ensures your cards arrive safely at PSA for accurate grading and encapsulation.

Answers to Common Questions

Is PSA Worth it for Top Cards?

For rare, high-value cards, most collectors agree PSA’s reputation validates the higher costs compared to competitors. But for bulk modern submissions, lower-cost alternatives merit consideration depending on your goals.

Does PSA charge before grading?

No, PSA charges grading fees upon completion, not upfront. You are only billed once grading is finished and do not pay if cards are rejected or lost.

How does PSA declare value work?

Declared value is the amount you state your card is worth for insurance purposes. PSA verifies it matches their internal valuation guides. Higher declared value cards incur higher grading fees.

What happens if PSA loses your card?

In the rare event a card is damaged or lost by PSA, they will compensate you the declared value after a claims process. So, declaring full fair market value is essential.