What does PSA grading actually cost in 2026?
PSA raised its fees on 18 May 2026, and stretched its turnaround times four days earlier. If you have last year's numbers in your head, they are wrong. Here is what grading actually costs today, all in.
PSA pricing after May 2026
| Service | Per card | Stated turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Value Bulk | $24.99 (was $19.99) | 140-160 business days |
| Value (single) | $30-40 | several weeks |
| Regular | $75-100 | mid-range |
| Express | $200-300 | short |
| Super Express | $500+ | very short |
| Walk-Through | $1,000+ | 5-7 business days |
The change that hurts most is not the unit price: it is the Value Bulk minimum, up from 20 to 50 cards. In practice the entry tier now demands $1,250 minimum before shipping. That is not an entry point any more, it is a commitment.
And the wait: 140-160 business days is roughly six months. A card sent today comes back in spring. PSA announced a $200 million investment and 700 hires by end of 2026 to clear the backlog, but in the meantime your maths has to carry a long tie-up.
The real cost from Europe
- Outbound shipping, insured, to the US or to a European intermediary: €15-40 depending on card count and declared value.
- The return leg, plus possible customs and import VAT depending on routing.
- Resale commission: roughly 13% on eBay, off the final price.
- The tie-up: six months during which the card is worth nothing to you, in a market that can fall.
The break-even
The question is never "what does a PSA 10 sell for" but "what is left for me". Take a €40 raw card that sells for €200 in PSA 10:
- PSA 10 resale: €200
- Less eBay commission (≈13%): −€26
- Less grading and shipping (≈€45): −€45
- Less the card itself: −€40
- Gain if you get the 10: about €89
Except you do not get the 10 every time. At a 30% chance, with a PSA 9 selling for €70, real expected value drops to €20-25 — for six months of waiting and the risk of damage in transit. That calculation decides, not the sticker price of a PSA 10.
Simple rule: only grade when the raw → PSA 10 gap exceeds four times the total cost, and the card has a real shot at the 10. Below €30-40 raw, grading is for your collection, not your wallet.
Have it calculated, not estimated
Kardz runs the whole calculation for your card: it pulls raw, PSA 9 and PSA 10 prices across eight eBay markets, applies your grading fee, your shipping, the resale commission and your own probability of a 10, and tells you what is left. Try it free, no credit card.
See also: PSA or CGC, grading a sports card, and Pokémon card prices.
Check it on your own cards
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