Grading

What happens after you send a card to PSA for grading?

Published · By the Cards from Japan editors

Summary

PSA's cheapest open tier in the U.S. is Standard at $59.99 a card, with an estimated 90 to 100 business days. The card either comes back sealed in a PSA holder with a numeric grade, or it comes back in a card saver sleeve with an N code explaining why it wasn't graded. PSA Japan's Standard costs ¥9,980 including tax and is scheduled at 100 business days.

Price and turnaround (as of Sept. 23, 2026)

TierU.S. priceMax insured valueEstimated turnaround
Value, Value BulkCurrently unavailable$500Paused
Standard$59.99$1,00090 to 100 business days
Priority$79.99$1,50070 to 80 business days
Express$199.00$2,50020 to 30 business days
Super Express$349.00$5,00010 to 15 business days

PSA calls these estimates and does not guarantee them. You can send cards through Assisted Submission, a guided path for cards only, or Classic Submission, which covers all items and gives more control.

PSA Japan changed its menu in September 2026. Standard opened there on September 15 (¥9,980, 100 business days, declared value up to ¥150,000), Express rose from ¥22,980 to ¥29,980 on September 10, and the old Regular tier became Priority with its turnaround stretched from 60 to 80 business days. The Japanese clock starts when PSA sends its arrival-notice email, and insurance and return shipping are charged on top of the grading fee.

When a card gets no number

Cards returned without a numeric grade carry a code from N1 to N9. PSA's standards page lists N1 Evidence of Trimming, N2 Evidence of Restoration, N3 Evidence of Recoloration, N4 Questionable Authenticity, N5 Altered Stock, N6 Minimum Size Requirement, N7 Evidence of Cleaning, N8 Miscut, and N9 Don't Grade. Several of these can still be encapsulated as "Authentic Altered" if "AA" is written on the submission form.

Sources

  1. PSA Services
  2. How to Submit
  3. PSA Grading Standards
  4. PSA Japan services
  5. PSA Japan service level change notice

Details are as published on these pages on the date above and can change. Check the official page before you buy or submit.

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