How much does PSA grading cost in Australia, and how do you send cards?
PSA charges in US dollars, has no Australian price list we could find, and has rules about who can submit cards for other people. This guide sets out PSA's current prices with the date we checked them, shows how to turn them into a realistic Australian dollar figure, and explains how Australians actually get cards to PSA and back.
In short
From 29 October 2026 PSA lists Value at US$39.99, Standard at US$59.99 and Priority at US$79.99 per card, which is roughly A$59 to A$118 at the 13 November 2026 exchange rate. Your real cost is higher once you add a dealer's fee, shipping both ways, insurance and any charges on return. Direct submissions from outside the US have been paused since April 2025, so most Australians go through a PSA-appointed dealer.
Prices
PSA service levels and prices (US dollars)
These are PSA's published US prices per card for trading cards, effective 29 October 2026 and checked on 15 November 2026. The AUD column is an approximate conversion only, using the Reserve Bank of Australia rate of US$0.6804 per A$1 for 13 November 2026.
| Service level | PSA price | Approx. AUD | PSA turnaround estimate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value | US$39.99 | about A$58.77 | 90-100 business days | Maximum insured value US$500 per card. Reopened 29 Oct 2026. |
| Standard | US$59.99 | about A$88.17 | 70-80 business days | Check PSA for the maximum declared value. |
| Priority | US$79.99 | about A$117.56 | 50-60 business days | Check PSA for the maximum declared value. |
| Value Bulk | Still paused when we checked on 15 November 2026. | |||
How to work out the AUD figure yourself: divide the US price by the current AUD/USD rate. US$39.99 divided by 0.6804 is A$58.77. If your bank or card charges a foreign transaction fee, multiply by 1 plus that fee (for example 1.03 for 3%). Rates move every day, so redo the sum on the day you pay. When you pay an Australian dealer in AUD, the dealer has done this conversion for you and added their own costs.
Higher-value cards need a higher tier, because each tier has a maximum declared value. PSA can also move a card up a tier (an "upcharge") if it values the card above the limit you chose. psacard.com blocked our automated checks on some pages, so confirm the current figures on PSA's site before you pay.
Routes
Direct, PSA dealer or group submission?
| Route | How it works | Status for Australians |
|---|---|---|
| Direct to PSA | You open your own PSA order and post the cards to PSA in the US. | PSA paused direct submissions from customers outside the US on 2 April 2025, citing US tariffs. We found no PSA notice lifting it. Check psacard.com. |
| PSA-appointed dealer | An Australian business that PSA has appointed adds your cards to its own PSA order, ships them and returns your slabs. | The usual route. Verify the business on PSA's dealer search before you send anything. |
| Group submission | A person or shop collects cards from several collectors and sends them in one order. | PSA's terms (updated 22 April 2026) say only appointed PSA dealers may submit cards on behalf of others. A group organiser who is not a PSA dealer is outside PSA's rules, and your cards may have no protection if something goes wrong. |
Before you hand over cards, ask the dealer
- Are you listed on PSA's dealer search, and under what name?
- Is your price per card in AUD, and does it include PSA's fee, GST, return shipping and return insurance?
- How often do you send batches, and when is the next one?
- Who pays if PSA upcharges a card, and how will you tell me?
- Are cards insured while they are with you, in transit and on the way back?
Step by step
Preparing and sending cards from Australia
- 1
Pick the cards
Check each card's value first (raw and graded sold prices on eBay Australia) and look closely at corners, edges, surface and centring under good light.
- 2
Choose a verified dealer
Confirm the business on PSA's dealer search, read their submission form and note the tier, declared value and deadline.
- 3
Photograph everything
Take clear front and back photos of every card before it leaves your hands. They help with any insurance claim or dispute.
- 4
Sleeve and protect
Most dealers ask for a soft penny sleeve inside a semi-rigid card holder. Follow your dealer's exact instructions, because PSA handles holders in a set way.
- 5
Pack firmly
Sandwich the holders between stiff card or in a small box so nothing can bend or slide. Do not use loose envelopes.
- 6
Post tracked and insured
Use a tracked service and add Extra Cover and Signature on Delivery. Keep your receipt as proof of lodgement.
Insurance, turnaround and charges on return
Insurance
Australia Post Extra Cover for parcels within Australia is free for the first $100 of cover, then $2.50 for each extra $100, up to $5,000 per item. Signature on Delivery costs $2.95. For international parcels Extra Cover is $4 per extra $100, up to $5,000 on most services (checked 15 November 2026). Not every item is eligible, so check Australia Post's eligibility list for collectables before relying on it, and ask your dealer how cards are covered at their end and on the return trip.
Turnaround
PSA's estimates are business days at PSA, not door to door. Add the wait for your dealer's next batch, transit to the US, return transit and customs. A Value submission at 90 to 100 business days is about four to five months at PSA alone.
GST and import charges on return
Since 2018, GST on low value goods (A$1,000 or less) sold to Australian consumers is normally collected by the overseas seller at checkout. A graded card coming back is your own property, not a sale, so it does not fit that model neatly. Consignments over A$1,000 generally need an import declaration, where GST and other charges can apply. The Australian Border Force pages we needed would not load for our checker on 15 November 2026, so we cannot give you a firm rule. One Australian grading guide reports return charges of about A$3 to A$12 per card, which we could not confirm. Ask your dealer whether their price includes these costs, or ask a licensed customs broker for a large submission.
Worked example
What one card and 20 cards might cost
The formula per card is: PSA fee in USD divided by the exchange rate, times (1 + FX fee), plus dealer handling fee, plus your share of shipping and insurance, plus return charges.
Assumptions (illustrative only, not quotes): PSA Value at US$39.99 (PSA, 29 Oct 2026). Rate 0.6804 (RBA, 13 Nov 2026). FX fee 3% (assumed, check your card). Dealer handling fee A$10 per card (assumed, dealers vary). Postage to the dealer A$15 and back A$15 (assumed). Domestic Extra Cover both ways at Australia Post's published rates. Return charges A$5 per card (assumed, inside the range one guide reports).
| Cost line | 1 card worth A$300 | 20 cards worth A$150 each (A$3,000) |
|---|---|---|
| PSA fee in AUD incl. 3% FX | A$60.54 | A$1,210.75 |
| Dealer handling | A$10.00 | A$200.00 |
| Postage both ways | A$30.00 | A$30.00 |
| Extra Cover both ways | A$10.00 (A$5 each way) | A$145.00 (A$72.50 each way) |
| Return charges | A$5.00 | A$100.00 |
| Total | A$115.54 | A$1,685.75 |
| Per card | A$115.54 | A$84.29 |
The lesson is the shape, not the exact number: fixed costs like postage hit a single card hard, while PSA's fee is the same per card whatever the size of the order. Swap in your dealer's real quote and today's rate.
Alternatives
PSA vs CGC vs BGS vs TAG vs ACE for Australian senders
Only facts we could source from each company's own pages on 15 November 2026. Where we could not confirm something, the table says so.
| Grader | Published prices | Route from Australia | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA (US) | Value US$39.99, Standard US$59.99, Priority US$79.99 (from 29 Oct 2026) | Through a PSA-appointed dealer. Direct paused since April 2025. | Only dealers may submit for others (terms updated 22 Apr 2026). |
| CGC (US) | Bulk US$15, Economy US$18, Standard US$55, Express US$100 (US prices effective 6 Jan 2026; may have changed) | Not confirmed from CGC's pages. | Check CGC's current card price list before submitting. |
| BGS / Beckett (US) | Not confirmed: Beckett's site blocked our check. | Not confirmed. | Third-party reports of 2026 prices conflict, so we leave them out. |
| TAG (US) | Not listed on TAG's pricing page. | Australian orders only through TAG's partner PGCG.AU (TAG help centre, 9 Jun 2026). | Grades 1 to 10 plus a 1,000-point TAG Score. TAG Pristine (990-1000) sits above Gem Mint 10. |
| ACE (UK) | In GBP: Basic £18 (30 business days), Standard £22 (15), Premier £28 (10), Ultra £50 (5), Luxury £100 (2) | Direct, using ACE's DHL Express label. Minimum 30 cards from Australia. | ACE says it covers import fees and taxes into the UK. Return to Australia is a fixed €57.50 for a 30-card minimum. |
When grading is not worth it
Grading pays when the graded sale price at the grade you will probably get, minus selling fees, beats the raw price plus every cost above. It usually does not pay when:
- The card sells raw for less than your all-in grading cost. If it costs about A$85 to A$115 to grade and the slab sells for A$90, you have lost money and months.
- The card has visible wear. Whitened edges, soft corners, scratches or off-centre printing mean a lower grade, and low grades often sell for little more than raw.
- There is no graded market. If eBay Australia shows few or no sold slabs of that card, you are guessing.
- You want a quick sale. Four to six months of waiting is a real cost if prices for a new set are falling.
- You only want to protect it. A good sleeve, top loader and binder cost a few dollars.
Grading tends to make more sense for cards already valuable raw, in excellent condition, from sets with a strong graded market, or for cards you want authenticated before selling.
FAQ
Questions Australians ask
How much is PSA grading in Australia?
PSA prices its service levels in US dollars. From 29 October 2026 PSA lists Value at US$39.99, Standard at US$59.99 and Priority at US$79.99 per card. At the RBA rate for 13 November 2026 that is roughly A$59, A$88 and A$118 before shipping, insurance, any dealer fee and any charges on the way back. Australian dealers set their own AUD prices, so compare what each one includes.
Can I send cards to PSA directly from Australia?
Probably not at the moment. On 2 April 2025 PSA paused direct submissions to its US facilities from customers outside the United States, citing tariffs. We could not find a PSA notice lifting that pause, and psacard.com blocked our automated check, so confirm on PSA's site before you plan a direct order. Most Australians use a PSA dealer.
Who are the authorised PSA dealers in Australia?
Use PSA's own dealer search at psacard.com/dealers/search and filter by country. That list is the only reliable way to tell an appointed dealer from someone who is simply collecting cards from a group. We do not publish a dealer list because it changes and we cannot vouch for any one business.
How long does PSA grading take from Australia?
PSA's own estimates from 29 October 2026 are 90 to 100 business days for Value, 70 to 80 for Standard and 50 to 60 for Priority. Those are estimates for time at PSA only. Add the time a dealer waits to fill a batch, transit to the US and back, and any customs clearance.
Is PSA or CGC better for Pokémon cards?
Neither is better for every card. What matters for you is the price of the tier you need, how you can submit from Australia, and what slabs from each company sell for on eBay Australia for your exact card. Check sold listings for both before you choose.
Is it worth grading McDonald's Pokémon cards?
Usually only if the graded sold price for that exact card, at the grade you realistically expect, is clearly above the raw price plus the full cost of grading. Check eBay Australia sold listings for graded copies first. For most promo cards the grading fee alone is a large share of any likely sale price.
Do I pay GST when my graded cards come back?
It depends and the rules are not simple. GST on low value imports (A$1,000 or less) is normally collected by the overseas seller at the point of sale, but a graded return is your own property, not a sale. Consignments over A$1,000 generally need an import declaration. Ask your dealer whether their price covers return charges.
Sources
- PSA reopens Value service level, PSA (checked 2026-11-15)
- PSA's Value tier is back in business, ICv2 (29 Oct 2026) (checked 2026-11-15)
- PSA terms and conditions (dealer-only rule for submitting for others), PSA (checked 2026-11-15)
- PSA grading limits due to US tariffs, ComicBook.com (3 Apr 2025) (checked 2026-11-15)
- CGC announces revised services and fees, CGC (checked 2026-11-15)
- Can I use TAG internationally?, TAG Grading (checked 2026-11-15)
- Pricing and international customers, Ace Grading (checked 2026-11-15)
- Exchange rates, Reserve Bank of Australia (checked 2026-11-15)
- Optional extras for parcels within Australia, Australia Post (checked 2026-11-15)
- Optional extras for parcels overseas, Australia Post (checked 2026-11-15)