Pokémon Guide

How PSA’s New Turnaround Times Could Change the Pokémon Card Market in 2026

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Several graded trading cards in clear PSA plastic slabs are stacked and fanned out against a blue background. The front card is a 1999 Pokémon Game Charizard holographic 1st Edition card graded PSA 4, featuring classic Charizard artwork with a yellow border and holographic foil background. Other graded cards are partially visible behind it, including additional Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh! cards with red-and-white PSA labels at the top.

PSA has officially raised grading prices and extended turnaround times for several submission tiers in 2026, and the impact on the Pokémon card market could be massive. For collectors, investors, and flippers, these changes may reshape how cards are graded, sold, and valued moving forward.

The biggest updates include higher prices for PSA Value, Value Plus, Value Max, and Regular services. PSA also increased turnaround times for multiple tiers, with some bulk submissions now estimated at 140–160 business days.

For Pokémon collectors, this creates a major shift in grading strategy.

Fewer Low-End Pokémon Cards Will Be Sent to PSA

Over the past few years, collectors were grading almost everything — modern holos, promo cards, and even low-value hits — because PSA bulk pricing made it profitable. That era may be ending.

With PSA Value Bulk now around $24.99 per card and long wait times attached, many modern Pokémon cards simply no longer make financial sense to grade unless they have strong PSA 10 potential.

This could reduce the flood of newly graded modern Pokémon cards entering the market. In turn, population growth may slow down for cards from sets like Scarlet & Violet, Sword & Shield, and modern promos.

PSA 10 Pokémon Cards Could Become More Valuable

One likely outcome is stronger prices for existing PSA 10 Pokémon cards.

If fewer collectors submit low-to-mid value cards due to rising costs and longer waits, supply naturally tightens. Collectors may begin paying premiums for already graded cards rather than waiting months for submissions to return

This is especially important for:

  • Pikachu promos
  • Charizard chase cards
  • Japanese exclusive Pokémon cards
  • Vintage WOTC holos
  • Trophy and limited-print cards

Scarcity has always driven Pokémon card prices, and slower PSA turnaround times may unintentionally create even more scarcity in high grades.

What the Future of PSA Grading Might Look Like

PSA says demand is still growing rapidly, with the company grading roughly 90,000 cards daily compared to 15,000 per day in 2021. PSA also announced a $200 million infrastructure investment to expand grading capacity globally.

However, the future of grading may become more selective.

Collectors will likely focus on:

  • High-end Pokémon cards only
  • Cleaner raw copies with strong gem-mint potential
  • Faster service tiers for market timing
  • Alternative grading companies for cheaper submissions

This could ultimately strengthen PSA’s brand even further. While grading becomes more expensive, PSA slabs may hold stronger long-term value because fewer cards will justify submission costs.

For Pokémon investors, the message is clear: grading decisions now matter more than ever. Sending every card to PSA is no longer the winning strategy. Choosing the right cards at the right time could define who profits most in the next phase of the Pokémon card hobby.