Getting the Most Out of Your Comic Book Submission to CGC

Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) has excellent services and options for comic book grading. It’s important to know which ones will help you get the most out of your submission, for the best price and ideal turnaround. Here are a few helpful tips!

Preparing your books for submission

When you’re preparing your comics to submit to CGC for professional grading, there are several options you can choose from. Knowing the differences between them can help you navigate the submission process.

To get the full submission privileges and other great benefits, such as online tracking, free grader notes for your submissions and more, you’ll need to join as a paid member. Paid memberships start at just $25 per year!

On the submission page, you’ll find the forms you need to place your order.

Select the appropriate services for your collectibles. In most cases, you will select a CGC grading tier. There are several tier options to choose from, depending on the type of submission, your budget and how soon you want your submission returned to you.

When selecting a tier, it’s important to choose the option that best matches the expected value of your book after it has been graded. You can do this by estimating the grade you believe your book will receive, and then finding recent sales online that match your expected grade on sites like eBay, Heritage Auction, ComicLink or Comic Connect. Be aware, however, that your estimated grade and value may not always match the final grade and value determined by graders.

Choosing the right tier

MODERN (1975‑Present) Books submitted under the Modern tier must have been released 1975 or later and be valued at $400 or less. Turnaround times and prices change from time to time, but this is generally the most affordable option if you’re willing to wait a little longer. This is the option you’ll use for most of the Bronze, Copper and Modern Age books.

ECONOMY (Pre‑1975) Books submitted under the Economy tier must have been released before 1975 and (just like Modern) be valued at $400 or less. Because of the age of these books, this option is slightly more expensive than Modern and typically takes longer. A lot of Silver Age books will go through this tier.

STANDARD Regardless of when the book was released, if its value is between $401 and $1,000, you will need to submit it through the Standard tier (or higher). The Standard Tier costs more than Modern or Economy but has a significantly faster turnaround.

EXPRESS Books submitted under the Express tier must be valued at $3,000 or less. If you’d just like your order back more quickly, the Express option costs a little bit more but may be best for you. If you use this tier, mark each side of your shipping box with EX in large, bold letters.

WALKTHROUGH This is the quickest turnaround option, and there is no limit on the age or value of the book you can submit. The cost is based 3% of the books Fair Market Value (FMV), with a $150 minimum fee. If you use this tier, mark each side of your shipping box with WK in large, bold letters.

The Modern and Economy tiers also offer a Fast Track option that reduces the turnaround time for an additional fee.

Pro Tip: While the Modern or Economy tiers will typically have the longest wait, you can get a book back nearly as quickly as the Standard tier and for about half the price of Standard by adding Fast Track to your Modern or Economy order! To qualify for this option, your book will still need to be valued at $400 or less.

Additional services to improve the look of your books

With your order, you can also choose to add CGC custom labels, imaging, and more. Orders cannot be changed or cancelled once in transit to CGC. So it is important to understand how adding additional services will affect the cost and time to complete your order. Turnaround times reflect the estimated number of working days to complete a submission delivered to our facility today. Turnaround times are estimates only and are NOT guaranteed.

It's time to submit your order

Once you know the services you’d like, it’s time to prepare your order and ship it to CGC.

Shipping kits and supplies are available in the Certified Collectibles Group® (CCG®) store. The kits are perfect for all kinds of collectors, whether you’re a new submitter who is nervous about shipping your collectibles, or a pro who appreciates convenience. They include all of the protective materials you need, including poly bags, boards, bubble bags, bubble wrap, a return box and more. Step-by-step videos help guide you through the packing process.

You can find detailed, step-by-step instruction tips (including helpful videos) on how to safely pack your comics to send to CGC by clicking here. Please note, however, that you are responsible for safely and securely packaging the collectibles. Any instructions from CGC on how to package collectibles are only suggestions.

Once your order is received and entered into the CGC tracking system, you will be notified by e-mail and will find it in your CGC account under My Submissions. On this dashboard, you can track the progress of your submission, see its final grade and read graders’ notes.

After your order is complete, your books will be returned to you using the shipping method you selected for the order.