The Short Answer
- Effective June 2, 2026, PSA paused all four Value tiers: Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus, and Value Max.
- The cheapest open tier is now Regular at $79.99 per card, more than triple the old Value entry point.
- The pause is a response to a backlog approaching 10 million cards after a 20% submission spike added 1.6 million cards.
- PSA expects to reopen paused tiers once the queue falls to ~5 million cards, an estimated up to four months.
What Exactly Changed on June 2, 2026
PSA announced in its May 2026 Service Level Update that it would temporarily stop accepting new submissions for its four lowest-cost service tiers, effective June 2, 2026:
- Value Bulk
- Value
- Value Plus
- Value Max
Cards already in the system under those tiers will still be processed under their original turnaround estimates. PSA simply stopped taking new orders through these levels until the backlog clears. Regular and all faster tiers remain open.
Why PSA Paused: A 10-Million-Card Backlog
The cause is demand, not weakness. PSA's active backlog is rapidly approaching 10 million cards. A 20% spike in submissions alone added roughly 1.6 million cards to the queue.
PSA now grades around 90,000 cards per day globally, up from roughly 15,000 in 2021, with capacity five times larger than four years ago. Even at all-time-high output, incoming volume outpaced the company's ability to improve turnaround times. Rather than let delays grow, PSA closed the front door on its cheapest services to protect the orders already in-house.
The New Floor: Regular at $79.99 per Card
With Value tiers gone, the cheapest way to submit to PSA is now the Regular tier at $79.99 per card. For collectors used to bulk pricing under $20, that is more than a 3x jump in the cost floor.
PSA also extended Regular turnaround from 30–40 to 40–50 business days due to backlog pressure. The math on grading borderline modern cards changes dramatically: a card needs a meaningfully higher resale ceiling to justify an $80 submission plus shipping and fees.
When Will the Value Tiers Reopen?
PSA committed to a monthly Backlog Tracker and says it will reopen the paused tiers once the queue drops from ~10 million to 5 million cards. The company's own estimate is up to four months.
To get there, PSA is hiring roughly 1,000 additional staff in 2026 and continuing a $200 million capacity investment. Collectors Club members active as of May 14, 2026 receive free membership extensions for the duration of the pause.
What Collectors Should Do Right Now
The pause rewards discipline. The "grade everything" era is over for the moment. Smart moves:
- Pre-screen aggressively. At an $80 floor, only submit cards with a realistic PSA 9–10 ceiling.
- Reserve PSA for high-end cards — key rookies, rare parallels, serial-numbered, and vintage where the PSA premium is largest.
- Route bulk elsewhere. Consider CGC, SGC, or TAG for lower-value cards during the pause.
- Hold borderline modern until Value tiers reopen, if grading is not time-sensitive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which PSA tiers are paused?
What is the cheapest PSA tier now?
How big is the PSA backlog?
When will PSA reopen Value tiers?
Will my in-progress Value order still be graded?
Sources & Further Reading
- PSA — Service Level Update (May 2026)
- PSA — Grading Services Update (February 2026)
- The Athletic — PSA partially halting grading submissions
- Cardlines — PSA Pauses Value Submissions
With submission floors rising, pre-screening is no longer optional. Use our AI Pre-Grade Calculator to score a card's PSA 10 odds before you pay, and the Submission Planner to pick the right tier.