PSA Paused Bulk Grading — What's Still Worth Submitting
PSA has paused every grading tier under $80 — four tiers gone, a 14-million-card backlog, and a reopening window somewhere between November 2026 and January 2027. The question isn't whether to grade; it's what to grade, at what price, and where.
Which PSA tiers are still open?
The pause took effect at 3:00 p.m. PT on 2 June 2026. Value Bulk ($24.99), Value ($32.99), Value Plus ($49.99), and Value Max ($64.99) are all closed indefinitely. Five tiers remain open — none cheaper than $79.99 per card.
PSA Collectors Club memberships are being extended free for the duration. Track progress at PSA's bi-weekly Backlog Tracker (psacard.com/info/backlog-tracker).
- Regular — $79.99, 40–50 business days
- Express — $149, 20–30 business days
- Super Express — $349, 7–10 business days
- Walk-Through — $599, 5–7 business days
- Premium+ — $999+, 5–7 business days
What are my alternatives right now?
TAG also paused its Basic, Standard, and Express tiers — only Priority ($149) and Walkthrough ($299) remain open on a limited basis. CGC didn't pause, which makes it the default alternative. Note: Collectors Holdings now owns PSA, SGC, and Beckett (~80% of the market); CGC is the only major independent left.
- CGC Standard — $55, ~30 working days — best alternative for mid-range cards right now
- CGC Economy — ~$20, ~65 working days — open but slow
- CGC Bulk — ~$17, ~120 working days — barely faster than waiting for PSA
- Beckett Base — ~$14.95, 75+ days — useful if you specifically want a BGS grade
Which cards are worth the fee at current prices?
At $79.99 minimum per card, the maths is stricter than it was six weeks ago. Before committing, snap a photo in CardLoft — the condition assessment gives you a read on likely grade before you've spent a cent on postage.
- Card worth $1,500+: PSA Super Express ($349) or Walk-Through ($599) — fee is proportionate
- Card worth $300–$1,500: PSA Regular ($79.99) or Express ($149)
- Card worth $100–$300: CGC Standard ($55, ~30 days) — best value option whilst PSA bulk is closed
- Card worth under $100: Wait for PSA bulk to reopen — grading fees will eat your margin
- Mass-market base cards: Don't grade at any tier; high pop reports kill the slab premium
When does bulk actually reopen?
PSA's original 'up to four months' estimate is gone. The revised target is five to six months to work the backlog down to five million cards — putting reopening at November 2026 at the earliest, January 2027 more realistically.
For context: the 2021 COVID backlog hit ~12 million cards and PSA paused cheap tiers for roughly a year. At 14 million, the current backlog is larger. If bulk isn't opening until next year, CardLoft's private networks let you trade ungraded cards with collectors you actually trust in the meantime.
Frequently asked questions
Is PSA still accepting any submissions?
Yes — Regular ($79.99) and above remain open. Only the four Value tiers are paused.
Is CGC a good alternative whilst PSA bulk is paused?
CGC Standard ($55, ~30 working days) is the standout option for mid-value cards. CGC Bulk (~$17) sounds tempting but runs ~120 working days — barely faster than waiting for PSA.
Why did PSA pause in the first place?
PSA's $200M infrastructure announcement on 14 May triggered a last-call surge — roughly four million extra cards arrived between 28 May and 2 June, pushing the backlog from ~10 million to 14 million cards.
Are cards already in the PSA queue affected?
No. Submissions already accepted will be graded as normal — the pause only blocks new submissions to the four paused tiers.
How do I know when bulk reopens?
PSA updates its Backlog Tracker bi-weekly at psacard.com/info/backlog-tracker. That's the most reliable signal.