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Should I Grade My Comic With CGC or PSA?
The short answer
CGC, for most books you plan to sell. On the matched sales behind the 2026 Guide's Grader Comparison Chart, a PSA 9.8 sold for about 91–95% of the same book in a CGC 9.8.
CGC's resale market is also far deeper: more than seven million comics graded, against PSA's 12,000-plus as of January 2026. PSA only began grading comics on July 14, 2025, so that gap may narrow. It hasn't yet.
How much less does a PSA comic slab sell for?
The Grader Comparison Chart compared sold prices for the same book in the same grade across slabs, using 130point.com sales (eBay including accepted Best Offers, plus Heritage and other auction venues) over roughly 14 months to September 3, 2026.
| Slab | Status in 2026 | Price vs the same book in CGC | What it rests on |
|---|---|---|---|
| CGC | Open. The market leader | Benchmark (100%) | The CGC side of every pair |
| PSA | Open. Began grading comics July 14, 2025 | About 91–95% of CGC, at 9.8 | 10 sales across 3 books. A direction, not a rate |
| CBCS | Closed to new submissions since April 17, 2026 | 80–97% of CGC | 14 sales across 2 books and 4 grades. Thin |
Read the right-hand column before the middle one. Ten PSA sales is enough to show which way the price leans, not enough to set a rate. The books compared were modern keys published 1991–1993, and the chart doesn't claim the same spread for Golden, Silver or Bronze Age books.
Why does CGC still carry the premium?
Depth. CGC was founded in 2000, has graded more than seven million comics and holds roughly 85% of the market. Its census, which is free to search, shows how many copies exist at each grade. Buyers price off that census, and most of the hobby's sales history is in CGC slabs.
PSA is a serious company with a huge card business, and it's now the only meaningful second service for comics. But a GoCollect review of PSA's population report in January 2026 counted a little over 12,000 comics graded. Fewer slabs means fewer comparable sales, and buyers pay a little less when they have less to compare against.
For signed books, CGC is the only live route right now: a yellow-label Signature Series for a witnessed signing, or CGC×JSA verification.
What does each service cost in 2026?
CGC restructured its fees in January 2026. For a free account:
- Modern Bulk (1975 on): $27 a book, 25-book minimum, books worth up to $400.
- Modern: $30 a book, up to $400.
- Vintage (before 1975): $45 a book, up to $400.
- High Value: $105 a book, up to $1,000.
- Unlimited: 4% of fair market value, $135 minimum.
Paid memberships cut those by 10–20%. Posted turnaround on the standard tiers is 45 days.
PSA's comic tiers start around $25, with a separate Modern lane for books from 1975 on. Check PSA's current schedule before you submit.
Either way, the realistic all-in cost of grading a modern book is $50–75 once you add pressing and shipping both ways. That's why grading only pays on books likely worth $100 or more in the grade you expect.
What about CBCS slabs now that CBCS has closed?
Beckett shut down CBCS comic grading, and April 17, 2026 was the last day for new submissions. Existing CBCS slabs are unaffected and the certification lookup stays online.
On the matched sales, CBCS books traded at 80–97% of the same book in CGC. That reading rests on 14 sales, so treat it as a range, not a settled discount. With no new CBCS slabs coming, the pool of buyers who specifically want them is thinner than it used to be.
If you own a CBCS book and plan to sell it, price it off recent CBCS sales, not CGC sales. Some owners cross it to CGC. That costs a full grading fee and carries the risk of a different grade, so it only makes sense on books where the CGC premium is worth more than the fee.
When could PSA make sense?
If you're grading books to keep rather than sell, the resale gap matters less. The same goes for collectors who already submit cards to PSA and want one account.
If resale is the point, the numbers still favor CGC today. Check back as PSA's slab count grows. A deeper pool of PSA sales is exactly what would close the gap.
Questions people also ask
Do PSA comics sell for less than CGC?
On the sales behind the 2026 Guide's Grader Comparison Chart, a PSA 9.8 sold for about 91–95% of the same book in CGC 9.8. That rests on 10 sales across 3 modern books, so treat it as a direction rather than a rate.
When did PSA start grading comics?
PSA began grading comic books and magazines on July 14, 2025.
Is CBCS still grading comics?
No. Beckett shut down CBCS comic grading, and the last date for new submissions was April 17, 2026. Existing CBCS slabs still trade and the cert lookup stays online.
How much does CGC charge to grade a comic?
In 2026, CGC charges $30 for a modern book and $45 for a vintage book worth up to $400, with a $27 Modern Bulk tier at a 25-book minimum. Members get 10–20% off.