To submit comics to CGC, the sequence is straightforward: create a free CGC account, choose the correct grading tier and add-on services, complete the online submission form, pack your comics carefully, and ship with insured FedEx service. Follow those steps in order and you will avoid the most common and costly mistakes.
Three facts matter before you do anything else. First, turnaround times are estimates measured in business days and are never guaranteed, so plan your timeline with buffer room. Second, you are responsible for packing your comics safely. CGC provides guidance and sells kits, but if a book arrives damaged, that is on you. Third, Fair Market Value (FMV) drives your tier selection and your fees. Declare it accurately or CGC will upgrade your submission and charge you the difference.
The single most expensive mistake collectors make is undervaluing their comics on the submission form. Declaring a $400 book at $150 to save on tier fees will cost you more when CGC catches it and upgrades the submission automatically.
Your immediate next step: head to cgccomics.com to create your account, and gather your poly bags, acid-free boards, and FMV research before you start the form.
Table of Contents
- How do you create a CGC account and choose a membership tier?
- Choosing the right CGC grading tier and services for your comics
- How to fill out the CGC online submission form correctly
- Packing and shipping your CGC submission the right way
- How to track your submission and understand turnaround times and fees
- Should you press or clean your comics before sending them to CGC?
- Using an authorized dealer or full-service submission handler
- Key Takeaways
- What experienced submitters know that first-timers often miss
- Pressing Issues takes care of the entire CGC process for you
- Useful sources for your CGC submission
How do you create a CGC account and choose a membership tier?
Registration lives at cgccomics.com. You will need a valid email address, a shipping address, and a payment method. The process takes under five minutes. What takes longer is deciding whether a paid membership makes financial sense for your submission volume.
CGC offers four membership levels: free, Associate, Premium, and Elite. Free accounts can submit but receive no grading discounts. Paid tiers unlock percentage discounts on grading fees, submission credits, and other perks. The math is simple: if your grading fees for the year exceed the cost of the membership, the paid tier pays for itself. A collector sending in a single high-value book once a year may not need it. Someone submitting 20 or more books annually almost certainly will need it.
Key membership considerations:
- Free account: No discount on grading fees; full access to the submission form and My Submissions dashboard.
- Associate/Premium/Elite: Grading discounts of 10–20% depending on tier; some levels include submission credits toward grading fees.
- Authorized dealer route: CGC accepts submissions through a national network of authorized dealers who submit on your behalf. You may not need your own account at all if you go this route.
Pro Tip: Before you open the submission form, have your FMV research ready. Pull recent sold listings from eBay or a price guide for each book. Having those numbers in front of you prevents rushed declarations and tier mistakes.
Choosing the right CGC grading tier and services for your comics
CGC's tier system is built around three variables: the publication date of the comic (modern vs. vintage), your declared FMV, and how fast you want your books back. Get any one of these wrong and you either overpay or trigger an automatic upgrade.
Modern comics (generally post-1975) with lower FMVs qualify for economy tiers with longer turnarounds. Vintage books, high-grade keys, and anything with a declared FMV above a certain threshold move into higher tiers with higher per-item fees. If CGC determines your declared FMV is too low, they will upgrade your submission to the appropriate tier and bill you the difference. There is no appeal on that charge.
| Submission Type | Best For | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Economy / Modern | Low-FMV modern books, bulk lots | Longest turnaround; no rush option |
| Standard / Vintage | Mid-range FMV books, pre-1975 | Balanced cost and speed |
| Express | High-value singles, time-sensitive books | Requires "EX" box marking |
| WalkThrough | Highest-value or convention books | Requires "WK" box marking; fastest turnaround |
| Unlimited Value (UV) | Books with very high or uncertain FMV | Fee calculated as % of FMV; requires "UV" box marking |
Common add-on services worth knowing:
- CGC Pressing: — CGC offers its own pressing service as an add-on. More on the pressing decision below.
A practical rule of thumb: for bulk, low-value modern books, use the economy tier and skip add-ons. For a single key issue worth $300 or more, the cost of accurate tier selection and optional pressing almost always pays for itself in the final grade.
How to fill out the CGC online submission form correctly
The online form lives at cgccomics.com under My CGC → My Submissions → New Submission. Work through it in this order:
- Sign in to your CGC account and navigate to the online submission form.
- Select collectible type (Comics) and open a new order. Only one order can be open at a time.
- Choose your service tier from the dropdown. This sets the per-item fee and turnaround estimate.
- Add items one by one. For each comic, enter: title, issue number, publisher, year, variant (if applicable), declared FMV, and any notes for the grader.
- Select add-on services per item: pressing, imaging, Signature Series, or ReHolder.
- Group items into lots if you are submitting multiple copies of the same issue. Use the Bulk PreScreen option for books you want screened before committing to full grading.
- Flag special handling. If you are using Express or WalkThrough, confirm the tier selection here. The form will remind you to mark your shipping box accordingly.
- Review your shipping address and select your return carrier preference. CGC defaults to FedEx for domestic returns.
- Choose insurance level for the return shipment. Base your selection on the total declared FMV of the submission.
- Finalize and pay. Review every line item, confirm declared values match your research, and submit the order. Print or save the confirmation and packing slip.
Before you click submit, run this checklist: declared FMV matches your research for every book, shipping address is current, return carrier is confirmed, and any special-tier books are noted so you remember to mark the box.
Packing and shipping your CGC submission the right way
CGC is clear that you are responsible for safely packaging your comics. A book that arrives bent, water-damaged, or loose inside a box can receive a lower grade than it deserves, and CGC will not absorb that cost.
| Packing Layer | Material | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Individual wrap | Poly bag + acid-free backing board | Prevents surface contact and flexing |
| Bundle wrap | Bubble wrap around each bagged comic | Cushions against impact |
| Inner box | Snug-fit cardboard or rigid mailer | Prevents shifting inside outer box |
| Outer shipping box | Double-walled corrugated box | Structural protection in transit |
| Fill material | Packing peanuts or foam sheets | Eliminates any remaining movement |
Pack comics spine-to-spine in small stacks, never loose. Seal the outer box with reinforced tape on all seams. Include your printed CGC packing slip inside the box.
For return shipping, CGC defaults to FedEx with domestic insurance up to $100,000 per package. International returns are insured up to $50,000 per package. If you want to use your own carrier account or private insurance, contact CGC Customer Service before you ship so they can note it on your account. Skipping that step means CGC cannot process the alternate arrangement.
For special-tier submissions, write the required code in large, bold letters on at least two sides of the outer box:
- Express: EX
- WalkThrough: WK
- Unlimited Value: UV
Failing to mark the box can delay routing when your package arrives at CGC's facility.
Pro Tip: CGC's packing video series shows the exact layering method their team recommends. Watch it once before your first submission. If you prefer to hand off the packing entirely, Pressing Issues handles insured shipping as part of its full-service CGC submission handling.
How to track your submission and understand turnaround times and fees
Once CGC receives and logs your package, status updates and final grades appear in the My Submissions dashboard on your CGC account. This is the authoritative place to monitor your order. Grader notes, which explain any grade-affecting defects, also appear there after processing.
Typical status checkpoints you will see:
- Received: CGC has your package and has entered the order.
- In Grading: Books are being evaluated.
- In Encapsulation: Graded books are being slabbed.
- Shipped: Your return package is on its way via FedEx.
CGC also sends email notifications at key status changes, but the dashboard gives you the most detail.
On fees, the total cost of a submission has several components: a per-item grading fee (varies by tier), a handling fee per invoice, any add-on service fees (imaging, pressing, Signature Series), and the return shipping and insurance charge. Paid memberships reduce the per-item grading fee by 10–20%. Shipping costs depend on the weight of your return package and the insurance level you selected.
Turnaround times are estimates based on business days and are not guaranteed. Volume spikes around major conventions and holidays regularly push actual turnaround beyond the posted estimate. Build at least two to four weeks of buffer into any deadline.
Should you press or clean your comics before sending them to CGC?
Pressing and cleaning are non-restorative treatments that can improve a comic's appearance and, in many cases, its grade. Pressing uses controlled heat and pressure to remove non-color-breaking creases, spine rolls, and corner bends. Cleaning removes surface dirt, fingerprints, and light oxidation. Neither process adds material to the book or alters its color, which is why CGC does not flag them as restoration.
| Situation | Press/Clean First? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Spine roll, corner bends, light creases | Yes | High probability of grade improvement |
| Surface dirt, fingerprints | Yes (cleaning) | Graders note surface defects; cleaning can help |
| Color-breaking creases | Evaluate carefully | Pressing will not fix a crease that has broken the ink |
| Fragile newsprint, brittle pages | Caution | Risk of further damage outweighs potential gain |
| Already high-grade (9.0+) | Often unnecessary | Marginal improvement unlikely to justify cost |
| Signed copy | No pressing | Heat and pressure can damage ink signatures |
The cost-benefit is real. A book that grades at 7.0 without pressing might reach 8.0 or 8.5 after a professional press, and on a key issue, that grade jump can represent a significant increase in market value. For a $50 modern book, the math rarely works. For a $500 key, it almost always does. Our guide on choosing which comics to send for pressing walks through the decision in detail.
On the CGC submission form, you do not need to disclose that a book was pressed or cleaned before submission. These are accepted pre-submission practices. What you must never do is describe a pressed book as unrestored if it has also received color touch or material addition, which would be restoration and must be disclosed.
Pro Tip: Photograph the front and back of every comic before pressing and again after, with a timestamp. Those images protect you if a grading dispute arises and speed any insurance claim if a book is damaged in transit.
Using an authorized dealer or full-service submission handler
Submitting directly to CGC is the right move for experienced collectors who know their books' values and are comfortable with the paperwork. For everyone else, or for anyone sending in a large volume at once, an authorized dealer or full-service handler is worth considering.
Authorized dealers can accept and submit books on your behalf as an official alternative to direct submission. Dealers consolidate shipments, handle the submission form, and often have established relationships with CGC that smooth the process. The trade-off is that you are adding a middleman, so vetting matters.
When evaluating any dealer or handler, check for:
- Verified CGC authorization (ask for their dealer number or confirm on CGC's site)
- Transparent, itemized fees with no hidden charges
- Insurance on return shipments that covers your declared FMV
- Clear turnaround expectations in writing before you hand over your books
Full-service submission handling is not just about convenience. A knowledgeable handler performs a condition assessment before submission, catches FMV mismatches that would trigger automatic upgrades, and documents the pre-submission state of every book. That documentation protects you if a dispute arises later.
Pressing Issues offers exactly this kind of full-service CGC submission handling: condition assessment, optional pressing and cleaning, accurate FMV review, submission creation, and insured shipping to CGC. For collectors who want an expert managing every step, it removes the guesswork entirely.
Key Takeaways
A successful CGC submission comes down to accurate FMV declarations, careful packing, and using the My Submissions dashboard to track every status change from receipt through return shipping.
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Declare FMV accurately | Undervaluing triggers an automatic tier upgrade and additional charges from CGC. |
| Mark special-tier boxes | Write "EX," "WK," or "UV" in bold on two sides of the outer box or risk routing delays. |
| You own the packing | CGC is not responsible for damage from inadequate packaging; use poly bags, boards, bubble wrap, and a rigid double-walled box. |
| Turnaround times are estimates | Business-day estimates are not guaranteed; allow extra buffer around conventions and holidays. |
| Pressing Issues handles it all | For pressing, cleaning, and complete CGC submission management, Pressing Issues offers transparent rates and full-service handling. |
What experienced submitters know that first-timers often miss
The CGC submission process looks simple on paper. In practice, the details that trip people up are almost never the big steps. They are the small ones: a FMV declared from memory instead of a current sold listing, a box that shifts during transit because the inner pack had half an inch of play, a WalkThrough submission that sat in the general queue for three days because "WK" was written in pencil on one side of the box.
Timing matters more than most guides acknowledge. Submitting in the weeks immediately following San Diego Comic-Con, New York Comic Con, or the holiday shopping window means your package arrives when CGC's intake volume is at its peak. Turnaround estimates posted during those periods are often optimistic. If your submission is not time-sensitive, shipping in January, March, or September tends to move faster.
Keep a physical folder for every submission: a printed copy of the submission form, timestamped photos of each book front and back, the FedEx tracking number, and the insurance certificate. If a book comes back with a grade that surprises you, that documentation is your starting point for any conversation with CGC. Without it, you are working from memory against a professional grader's written notes.
Pressing Issues takes care of the entire CGC process for you
Submitting to CGC yourself is absolutely doable, and this guide gives you everything you need to do it well. But if you would rather hand your books to someone who does this every day, Pressing Issues is built for exactly that.
We are a professional comic book pressing, cleaning, and CGC submission handling service based in Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. Every submission we handle starts with a condition assessment and FMV review, so the tier is right before the form is ever opened. From there, we handle non-restorative cleaning and pressing, photograph every book before and after, create the CGC submission, pack with insured materials, and ship directly to CGC. You get status updates throughout and your slabbed books back without having touched a packing slip.
Our rates and turnaround times are listed transparently at pressing-issues.com/services. To get started, reach out through our site with a list of your books and we will send you an estimate.
Useful sources for your CGC submission
Official CGC pages:
- CGC How to Submit — step-by-step instructions, packing videos, and the online submission form link
- CGC Services & Fees — current tier pricing, turnaround estimates, and add-on service fees
- Submitting to CGC FAQs — authorized dealer information and general submission questions
- Shipping Collectibles to CGC FAQs — carrier options, insurance limits, and alternate carrier notification requirements
- CGC Packing Video Series — official instructional videos on layering and box preparation
- CGC Online Submission Form — start or check on a current submission
Pressing Issues resources:
- How to Pack Comics for Shipping — collector-focused packing checklist and supplies guide
- CGC Submission Do's and Don'ts — common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Full-Service CGC Submission Handling — what Pressing Issues includes in its submission service
- Services, Rates and Turnaround Time — transparent pricing for pressing, cleaning, and submission handling
Recommended
- The 9.8 Gambit: How to Use the CGC Prescreen to Optimize Your Collection — Pressing Issues
- CGC Grading Made Easy: Full-Service CGC Submission Handling — Pressing Issues
- CGC Submission Do's and Don'ts: How to Save Money and Avoid Shipping Headaches — Pressing Issues
- The Results Speak: Professional Pressing vs. The YouTube Rabbit Hole — Pressing Issues