PSA Backlog Falls to 9 Million Cards: When Could Value Grading Reopen?

PSA's Backlog Keeps Shrinking

PSA reported an active global backlog of about 9 million cards on September 22, 2026, down from 9.9 million on September 8. That is a drop of roughly 900,000 cards in two weeks, and about 3.4 million cards (27 percent) below the late-July peak of 12.4 million.

The Backlog Timeline

• Late July: 12.4 million cards (peak)
• August 25: 10.9 million
• September 8: 9.9 million
• September 22: about 9 million

Which Services Are Open

PSA paused its Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus and Value Max tiers on June 2 after a submission spike of around 20 percent. Regular, Express, Super Express and Walk-Through services remain open, along with a Standard tier at $59.99 per card with an estimated 90 to 100 business day turnaround and a maximum insured value of $1,000.

Priority is listed at $79.99 with an estimated 70 to 80 business days, and the faster tiers run from $199 to $599.

When Could Value Tiers Return?

PSA has said it will reopen the Value tiers once the backlog falls below 5 million cards. At 9 million, there is still a long way to go, so the cheap lanes are not back yet. New Standard orders also queue behind existing Value and Bulk submissions, so the estimate is not a guaranteed date.

New Capacity

PSA says it has increased grading capacity nearly five-fold since 2021, with new facilities in Plano, Texas, which opened in July 2026, and Frankfurt, Germany, backed by a reported $200 million investment.

What Collectors Should Do

Before submitting, add up grading fees, shipping, insurance and marketplace fees, and think about how long your money is tied up. If a card is not worth the Standard fee after all costs, keep it raw or consider another grader. Rules and prices change often, so check PSA's site before you send anything.

Local shops often help with grading submissions. Find a card shop near you in The Card Shop Finder directory.