Methods, systems, and devices for multi-state purgatory for garbage collection are described. A processing device can determine a valid data count for a block of data of a memory sub-system. In some case, the valid data count can indicate that the block of data contains invalid data. The processing device can assign the block of data to a first purgatory state based on the valid data count and verify that one or more read operations for the block of data in the first purgatory state are complete based on the first purgatory state. In some examples, the processing device can assign the block of data to a second purgatory state based on the verifying.