PSA, or Professional Sports Authenticator, is one of the leading third-party grading services for collectibles like sports cards and memorabilia. They authenticate and assign grades to items to assess their condition and increase their value. For baseball cards, PSA has several different membership and submission tier options that determine the cost of having cards graded.
One of the most affordable options is PSA’s value tier program, which has a flat fee structure and offers the cheapest per card rates. For submissions of 25 cards or less, the cost is $10 per card for regular service taking around 75 business days. For bulk submissions with 26 or more cards, the value tier rate drops to $8 per card. Major league cards from the modern era can be submitted under this tier.
For collectors wanting faster turnaround times or to submit higher value vintage cards, PSA offers several premium membership and submission plans. The standard tier, targeted at the mainstream collector market, charges $15 per card for regular 45 business day service, or $22.50 per card for a 20 business day express option. Submissions in the standard tier are limited to 500 cards.
Above the standard tier is the premium membership, which removes restrictions on submission quantities and lowers rates. Premium members pay $13 per card for regular service or $19 per card for express 20 days. This tier is beneficial for dealers or larger collectors submitting hundreds of cards on a regular basis. The elite tier charges $11 per card for regular service or $16 per card for express, and also provides concierge support from PSA representatives.
In addition to membership fees, there are also optional value-added services collectors can choose to utilize. For example, there is a $5 listing fee to have a card and its grade reported online in the PSA authentication database, providing resale value. An authentication sticker service adds $2 more to ensure the authenticity of vintage cards. And insurance coverage ranging from $0.25 to $1 can be purchased per card to protect against damage or loss during the grading process.
For high-value vintage cards, PSA also has special submission programs that cater to the needs of major leagueauthenticated cards dating back to the 1800s. The vintage tier for pre-1980 cards charges $30 per card for regular service or $45 for a 10 business day priority, with higher bulk rates available. Similarly, the ultra-modern tier for 1980 to 1999 graded cards charges $20 regularly or $35 for priority service.
In addition to the per card fees, PSA also collects a one-time non-refundable submission registration fee for each order processed, ranging from $15 to $50 depending on membership tier. And for international submissions, extra shipping fees usually need to be factored in as well. The combined cost of membership dues, tiered card rates, and optional add-on services means that submitting a large collection to PSA for authentication and grading can easily add up to hundreds or thousands of dollars. For many collectors and investors, it is seen as a worthy investment to greatly enhance the value and liquidity of their vintage sports card assets.
In summary, PSA offers a full spectrum of membership and submission tiers to fit various collecting and budget levels, with per card rates starting at $8 for bulk value submissions and topping out around $30-$45 each for highest priority service on pre-1980 vintage cards. While requiring a substantial initial outlay, the added legitimacy and easy resell potential that professional grading provides to collections usually enables collectors to earn back their costs once cards are re-marketed with their new certified PSA grades attached. That additional value is what drives many serious sports card traders and investors to utilize PSA’s authentication services despite their added expense.
