September grading volume rises 9% as CGC sets a record
GemRate counted 3.52 million cards graded in September 2026, with Beckett left out. PSA rebounded, CGC hit another high and TAG slipped.
By Jamie Budesky · Published October 1, 2026
In short
GemRate’s October 1 recap counts 3.52 million cards graded in September 2026, up 9% from August and 62% year over year, excluding Beckett. PSA rose 12% to 2.46 million and CGC set a record at 962,000. Because Beckett is missing, do not compare the total with August’s 3.40 million headline.
The September numbers
GemRate’s September 2026 Grading Recap, published October 1, 2026, counts 3.52 million cards graded in September, up 9% from August and 62% from September 2025. Beckett was not included in September results, so this total covers PSA, CGC, TAG and SGC only.
| Grader | September 2026 | vs August | vs Sept 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 2.46M | +12% | +58% |
| CGC | 962k (record) | +3% | +90% |
| TAG | 50k | −13% | −4% |
| SGC | 46k | +8% | −24% |
| Total (ex-Beckett) | 3.52M | +9% | +62% |
September 2026, August 2026 and September 2025 each had 21 business days, per GemRate, so the monthly changes need no calendar adjustment.
Do not compare 3.52M with August’s 3.40M
GemRate’s August total of 3.40 million, which we covered in our August recap, included about 159,000 Beckett grades. Without Beckett, August was roughly 3.24 million, which is consistent with GemRate’s 9% increase. Rule: compare like with like; when a grader drops out of a series, strip it from the earlier month too.
What stands out
- PSA bounced back. After a 12% drop in August, PSA’s output rose 12% to 2.46 million. PSA said its backlog was about 9 million on September 22; see our September 22 backlog note.
- CGC set another record, with an asterisk. GemRate says CGC’s 962,000 includes about 60,000 semi-rigid AUTH cards.
- TAG fell 13% to 50,000. TAG had been pausing tiers since May and did not reopen all five until September 30.
- Smaller graders grew. GemRate lists AGS at 63,000 (+15%) and PCG at 34,000 (+13%).
What it means if you are submitting now
Higher output is good news for the queue, but GemRate counts finished grades, not waiting cards. Earlier record months, like the one in our June volume breakdown, did not translate into short waits.
Pre-screen before you join the queue
Output is up, but queues are still long. CardGrade gives you a photo-based pre-screen of visible condition so you can decide which cards are worth the fee. It is not an official grade, authentication or appraisal, and CardGrade is not affiliated with PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC or TAG. Try a pre-screen
What we could not confirm
- Why Beckett was left out. Beckett’s site has been offline since September 9; GemRate’s recap simply says Beckett was not included.
- How much of CGC’s record is slabbed card grading versus semi-rigid AUTH cards beyond GemRate’s estimate of about 60,000.
- The exact ex-Beckett August base GemRate used for its 9% change. Our 3.24 million figure is our own subtraction.
Sources
- GemRate: September 2026 Grading Recap (published October 1, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How many cards were graded in September 2026?
GemRate counted 3.52 million cards graded by PSA, CGC, TAG and SGC in September 2026, up 9% from August and 62% from September 2025. Beckett was not included.
Did CGC set a grading record in September 2026?
Yes. GemRate lists CGC at a record 962,000 cards, up 3% from August, including about 60,000 semi-rigid AUTH cards.
How many cards did PSA grade in September 2026?
GemRate counted 2.46 million PSA grades in September, up 12% from August and 58% year over year.
Why is Beckett missing from the September 2026 GemRate numbers?
GemRate’s recap says Beckett was not included in September results. It does not give a reason in the passage we read.
How many cards did TAG grade in September 2026?
GemRate counted 50,000 TAG grades in September, down 13% from August’s record and 4% year over year.