CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) is a third-party grading company that inspects collectibles, assigns a numeric grade from 0.5 to 10, and seals the item in a protective holder, or "slab"1. It started with comic books in 2000 and now also grades trading cards, with its own card submission channel at CGCcards.com2. Whether it suits your cards depends on how its scale, process and cost fit what you plan to do with them.
What CGC is and where it came from
CGC is based in Sarasota, Florida, and is an independent member of the Certified Collectibles Group1. It was founded on January 4, 2000, in Parsippany, New Jersey, and serves customers worldwide. Its specialties are comic books and trading cards.
The company's reach in comics is large. As of 2021 it had graded over 7 million comic books, plus some of the most expensive collectible card game (CCG) cards1. The wider group runs separate submission sites for cards, video games and home video, so card collectors submit through the card-specific channel rather than the comics site2.
For a card collector, this matters because the grading habits and label system were built over decades on comics. Much of what is publicly documented about CGC's process comes from that comics side, so treat the details below as a description of how CGC works generally, and check the card site for card-specific rules.
How the grading process works
You can send items directly through CGC's website or through an authorized dealer1. CGC also accepts in-person submissions at several conventions, where it sends representatives.
Once an item arrives, the documented comics workflow runs like this1:
- A pre-grader checks for obvious defects, such as missing pages.
- Three graders examine the item in a temperature- and humidity-controlled room.
- The head grader sets the final grade. Grades are not averaged.
That last point is easy to miss. If two graders say 7.0 and the head grader says 7.5, the 7.5 stands1. Graders look for damage and for signs of restoration.
Labels tell you more than the number
CGC uses color-coded labels alongside the grade1. Blue (Universal) is the standard label. Green (Qualified) flags a significant defect or an unauthenticated signature. Purple marks restoration, and yellow (Signature Series) means a CGC employee witnessed the signing and certified it. A blue/purple Conserved label covers repairs done for preservation. Before you buy a slabbed item, read the label color, not only the number.
The CGC grading scale, from 10 down
CGC's standard scale runs from 0.5 to 10, and each number maps to a descriptive term such as Near Mint or Very Fine1. The top end is where card values move most:
| Grade | Name | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Gem Mint | No evidence of manufacturing or handling defects |
| 9.9 | Mint | Nearly indistinguishable from 10, with a very minor manufacturing defect and no handling defects |
| 9.8 | NM/M | Nearly perfect, negligible defects |
| 9.6 | NM+ | Several minor manufacturing or handling defects |
| 9.4 | NM | Minor wear and small defects |
| 9.0 | VF/NM | Good eye appeal, a number of minor defects |
| 8.0 | VF | A moderate defect or an accumulation of small ones |
The scale continues down through Fine (6.0) and Very Good (4.0)1. Grades matter a lot at the high end: a single original Action Comics #1 graded 9.0 sold for more than $3 million.
CGC vs PSA, and whether a CGC 10 equals a PSA 10
The short answer: the supplied evidence does not show that the two are equal, and you should not assume a CGC 10 and a PSA 10 trade at the same price. Each company uses its own standards and its own market following.
What the evidence does show is how strict CGC's 10 is. CGC's Gem Mint 10 requires no evidence of any manufacturing or handling defects, and it sits above a separate Mint 9.9 tier1. So a card with one very minor printing flaw and no handling wear lands at 9.9, not 10. When you compare slabs across companies, compare the written definition of each grade, not just the digit.
In practice, check recent sold listings for the exact card in each company's holder before you choose where to submit. Prices for the same card and grade can differ between graders, and that gap, not the number itself, decides which slab is worth more to you. An AI grader app can give you an estimate of condition first, but only the grading company issues an official grade.
How much CGC grading costs
CGC prices by tier. On the comics side, tiers depend on the item's publication date, its fair market value (FMV) and how fast you want it back2. Higher-value items and faster turnaround cost more. Add-ons such as JSA autograph authentication, pressing or a custom label are extra.
You can open a free account to submit. Paid memberships start at $39 per year and include discounts on grading and autograph authentication2. CGC has also offered a 10% discount to people who submit through its "Internet Partners" links1. Current per-card fees are listed on CGCcards.com, so check there for exact numbers.
Submitting step by step
The process has four steps2:
- Create an account.
- Choose your tier and any add-on services.
- Fill in the online submission form listing each item.
- Pack securely and ship, or drop off at a show or through an authorized dealer.
To keep costs down, run a quick fake check and condition estimate yourself before paying grading fees on a card that is unlikely to grade high.
Is CGC grading trusted?
CGC has a long track record. It has operated since 2000 and has become a significant part of the comic book collecting community, with over 7 million comics graded as of 20211. It has also graded some of the most expensive CCG cards.
Several parts of its process support consistency. Three graders review each item in a controlled environment, and a head grader makes the final call1. Graders specifically check for restoration, and the purple and green labels disclose restoration or significant defects to the next buyer. Signature Series labels apply only when a CGC employee witnessed the signing.
CGC describes itself as an industry leader2, but that is the company's own framing. Trust in any grader ultimately shows up in resale prices for your specific cards. If you want help, CGC lists customer service at Service@CGCcomics.com and (+1) 855-472-3310 by call, text or WhatsApp.
