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PSA paused Value submissions in 2026: what collectors should know

PSA did not shut down all card grading.

What PSA did was pause new submissions for four lower-cost Value service tiers starting June 2, 2026: Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus, and Value Max.

That is still a big deal. PSA says a 20% spike in submissions added another 1.6 million cards to its active backlog, which was already approaching 10 million cards. PSA’s stated target is to bring that backlog down to 5 million units before reopening the paused tiers in a more controlled way.

For collectors, shops, and sellers, the change matters right away. The cheapest PSA lanes are closed for now. Regular service remains open, but turnaround estimates moved out. The grading math for lower-dollar cards changed overnight.

This guide covers what paused, what stayed open, the numbers behind the move, and how collectors should think about raw cards, slabs, Pokemon, sports cards, and submissions while the pause is in place.

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Quick answer

  • PSA temporarily paused new submissions for Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus, and Value Max.
  • The pause started Tuesday, June 2, 2026.
  • Active submissions already in PSA’s system are still being processed.
  • Regular, Express, Super Express, Walk-Through, and higher tiers remain open.
  • Regular service turnaround estimates moved to 40 to 50 days.
  • Regular dual-service authentication moved to 50 to 60 days.
  • PSA says its active backlog is approaching 10 million cards.
  • PSA says it wants to reduce the backlog to 5 million units.
  • PSA projected that could take up to four months.
  • PSA says daily grading output is at an all-time high and capacity is up 5x since 2021.

The key PSA numbers

Number What PSA said Why it matters
20% Collectors responded to May turnaround updates with a 20% submission spike. Demand accelerated even after turnaround times moved out.
1.6 million That spike added another 1.6 million cards to the active backlog. One demand wave added a huge number of cards to the queue.
Nearly 10 million PSA said its active backlog was rapidly approaching 10 million cards. This is not a small delay. It is an operational bottleneck.
5 million PSA’s target backlog before reopening paused tiers responsibly. PSA wants to cut the queue roughly in half.
Up to 4 months PSA’s projection for reaching the 5 million target. Collectors should not treat this as a one-week pause.
40 to 50 days New estimated Regular service turnaround. Even open tiers are affected by the broader pipeline.
50 to 60 days New estimated Regular dual-service authentication turnaround. Dual-service orders need more patience.
$200 million PSA’s recently announced operations commitment over the next 18 months. PSA is framing this as a capacity buildout, not a retreat.
More than 19 million PSA says it graded more than 19 million cards in 2025. Demand is far above 2020 levels.
2 million PSA says it graded 2 million cards in 2020. PSA’s 2025 volume was about 9.5x its 2020 volume.

What changed on June 2, 2026?

PSA paused four Value service tiers for new submissions:

  • Value Bulk
  • Value
  • Value Plus
  • Value Max

Those were the lanes many collectors used for lower-dollar cards, bulk Pokemon submissions, mid-range sports cards, and slower-turnaround orders where the grading fee needed to stay low.

PSA kept higher tiers open:

  • Regular
  • Express
  • Super Express
  • Walk-Through and higher service levels

That distinction matters. If someone says PSA paused grading, that is too broad. PSA paused four Value tiers. Higher-priced service levels remain open.

Why PSA paused the Value tiers

PSA’s official explanation is that the submission pace was putting pressure on the entire grading pipeline.

The company says daily grading output is at an all-time high and capacity is up 5x since 2021. Even with that added capacity, PSA says the newest demand wave added 1.6 million cards to an active backlog approaching 10 million.

The pause is tied to an operational target: reduce the active backlog from nearly 10 million cards to 5 million units.

That means PSA has not given collectors a fixed reopening date. It is tying the pause to the queue.

The math behind the pause

If PSA needs to move from roughly 10 million cards to 5 million cards, that is a net reduction of about 5 million cards.

If that takes four months, the implied net reduction pace is about:

  • 1.25 million cards per month
  • About 41,700 cards per day over 120 days

That is a net reduction, not just total grading output. PSA still has active submissions already in the system, operational steps from receiving to shipping, and higher service tiers that remain open.

The 1.6 million-card spike also matters. That one wave equals about 16% of a 10 million-card backlog and about 32% of the 5 million-card reduction target.

Plain version: this is not a normal delay. PSA is trying to get a giant volume problem under control without closing the whole grading operation.

How big has grading demand become?

PSA’s May infrastructure announcement gives the broader context.

According to PSA:

  • PSA graded 2 million cards in 2020.
  • PSA graded more than 19 million cards in 2025.
  • That is about 9.5x growth from 2020 to 2025.
  • From January through April 2026, PSA’s grading output grew by nearly 2.3 million items year over year.
  • PSA described that as a 39% year-over-year jump.
  • PSA announced a $200 million operations commitment over 18 months.
  • PSA said it had already invested more than $100 million since 2021.
  • PSA said it opened new grading facilities in New Jersey, Tokyo, Florida, and Texas.
  • PSA said it tripled staff since 2021.
  • PSA said the new commitment is expected to add 1,000 team members.

That is the actual story. The pause is not happening because collectors stopped caring. It is happening because demand, especially at lower service levels, is outpacing even a much larger grading operation.

Who is most affected?

Bulk submitters

Bulk submitters feel this first. Value Bulk was the obvious lane for large stacks where each card needed a low grading fee to make sense.

If that lane is closed, bulk submitters have to wait, use higher-priced tiers, or become much more selective.

Pokemon collectors

Pokemon collectors are heavily affected because modern Pokemon creates a lot of grading candidates. Every popular set can produce stacks of raw cards that collectors want to grade if the fee is low enough.

When Value tiers close, the line between “worth grading” and “keep raw” moves up.

Sports card sellers

Sports card sellers who depend on raw-to-slab turnover may need to slow down. If a card only works at a low grading fee, the paused tiers can break the math.

Casual collectors

Casual collectors are affected because PSA’s cheapest lanes were often the easiest way to test grading without committing to a higher service tier.

This does not mean casual collectors should stop grading. It means they should be more selective.

What cards still make sense to grade?

The answer depends on card value, condition, fee, timeline, and why you want the card graded.

During the pause, the best candidates are usually cards that can justify a higher service tier:

  • Clean, high-demand Pokemon hits
  • Vintage cards with real authentication value
  • Sports rookies with strong demand
  • Scarce parallels, short prints, autographs, and serial-numbered cards
  • Cards where a PSA grade helps buyers trust the condition
  • Cards you want protected for your collection, even if you are not selling now

The weaker candidates are cards that only made sense because Value Bulk existed:

  • Low-dollar modern cards
  • Cards with obvious whitening, print lines, dents, or surface issues
  • Cards where a PSA 9 would not justify the total grading cost
  • Cards with too many existing graded copies and soft demand
  • Cards you are grading only because everyone else is grading them

What should collectors do right now?

1. Do not panic-submit through a higher tier

A higher service tier can make sense for the right card. It does not make sense for every card.

Before you submit, ask the basic question: if this comes back a PSA 9, am I still comfortable with the total cost and wait?

If the answer is no, wait or keep it raw.

2. Reprice your grading candidates

Take your grading stack and split it into three piles:

  • Grade now, even at a higher tier
  • Hold until Value tiers reopen
  • Do not grade unless the market changes

That middle pile is probably bigger than it was a month ago.

3. Check current comps for PSA 9 and PSA 10

Do not only look at PSA 10 prices. Most cards do not gem.

Check raw price, PSA 9 price, PSA 10 price, grading cost, shipping cost, and time. The PSA pause makes that math more important.

4. Consider already-graded inventory

If you need a slab now, it may be simpler to buy one that already exists instead of waiting for a new submission.

That is especially true for popular Pokemon cards, sports rookies, and cards where PSA population reports already give buyers enough comparison data.

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5. Use a real shop for condition screening

A second set of eyes helps. If you are near Oregon City or Portland, bring cards into ORB and ask the team to help you think through condition, product fit, and whether a card is worth deeper research.

ORB can help you make a collector decision. ORB cannot promise a grade, guarantee a result, or give financial advice.

How this could affect the card market

Raw cards still exist. New cards still get pulled. Existing slabs still trade.

The pressure point is conversion.

Grading converts a raw card into a standardized slab with a cert number, label, and grade. When the cheapest conversion lanes close, fewer lower-dollar raw cards can move into PSA slabs in the near term.

That can create a few market effects:

  • More collectors may buy already-graded PSA slabs instead of submitting raw cards.
  • Some raw cards may carry less premium if the grading path is harder or more expensive.
  • Higher-end cards may still flow through Regular or faster tiers.
  • Bulk modern cards may sit raw longer.
  • Collectors may compare SGC, CGC, BGS, and PSA more closely.
  • Shops may become more selective about what they recommend for grading.

None of this means every slab price goes up or every raw card goes down. The market is too specific for that. A clean vintage card, a modern Pokemon chase card, and a random bulk modern insert are different situations.

PSA vs CGC, SGC, and BGS during the pause

The pause will push more collectors to compare grading companies.

That does not mean one company is automatically better for every card. It means the decision now has more variables:

  • Which label do buyers prefer for this exact card?
  • Which company has the right service level open?
  • What is the current turnaround estimate?
  • How much does the grading fee change the card’s math?
  • Are you grading for resale, protection, authentication, or your personal collection?

For many high-end sports cards and Pokemon grails, PSA demand may still be strong. For other cards, CGC, SGC, or BGS may be worth comparing.

If you are comparing labels, start here: PSA vs BGS vs SGC vs CGC grading comparison.

What this means for ORB customers

If you are shopping with ORB, the practical takeaways are simple:

  • If you want a slab now, browse already-graded inventory.
  • If you are buying raw cards, be realistic about grading timelines.
  • If you are opening sealed product, do not assume every hit should go to PSA right away.
  • If you are unsure, ask ORB before spending money on grading.
  • If you are local, bring cards by the Oregon City shop for a conversation.

ORB Trading Cards is located at 1900 McLoughlin Blvd, Suite 127, Oregon City, OR 97045. The shop is open 11am-7pm, 7 days a week.

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FAQ

Did PSA stop accepting all card submissions?

No. PSA temporarily paused new submissions for four Value service tiers: Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus, and Value Max. Higher tiers including Regular, Express, Super Express, Walk-Through, and above remain open.

When did the PSA Value tier pause start?

PSA said the temporary pause began Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

Why did PSA pause Value submissions?

PSA said a 20% spike in submissions added 1.6 million cards to an active backlog approaching 10 million cards. PSA said it paused Value tiers to reduce pressure on operations and protect turnaround times for existing orders.

When will PSA Value tiers reopen?

PSA did not give a fixed reopening date. PSA said the target is to reduce the backlog to 5 million units and projected that could take up to four months.

Are existing PSA submissions still being processed?

Yes. PSA said all active submissions will continue to be processed under the submitted turnaround times.

Should I still grade Pokemon cards right now?

Maybe, but be selective. Clean, high-demand cards may still make sense. Lower-dollar modern cards that only worked at Value Bulk pricing may be better to hold until the Value tiers reopen.

Should I buy graded cards instead of submitting raw cards?

If you need a slab now, buying an already-graded card may be simpler than waiting. That depends on the exact card, grade, price, and your reason for buying.

Can ORB guarantee a PSA grade?

No. No shop can guarantee a PSA grade. ORB can help you look at condition and talk through whether a card is worth researching for grading.

Sources

Collector note

This article is collector education only. ORB sells trading cards and collectibles. Nothing here is financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Grading companies can change service levels, pricing, and turnaround estimates. Check PSA directly before submitting cards.