How long does comic book grading take?
Typical Turnaround Times by Tier
Most grading companies offer multiple service levels with different prices and speeds. Economy or bulk submissions are the slowest, often taking 3 to 6 months or more. Standard tiers usually run 1 to 3 months. Express and walk-through options can be as fast as 2 to 4 weeks, but cost significantly more.
These times are estimates and can fluctuate based on submission volume, staffing, and seasonal demand. For example, after a major convention or a hot new release, delays are common. Always check the grading company's website for current turnaround estimates before submitting.
- Economy: 3-6 months (cheapest)
- Standard: 1-3 months
- Express: 2-4 weeks
- Walk-through: often under 2 weeks
- Times vary by company and current backlog
Factors That Affect Grading Speed
The grading company you choose matters. The two largest, CGC and CBCS, have different turnaround times that change frequently. CGC tends to have longer queues for economy tiers, while CBCS may be faster but with fewer service options. Other companies like PGX also exist but are less widely accepted.
The declared value of your comic also affects speed. Higher-value books often require more careful handling and may be placed in faster tiers automatically. Additionally, if you submit at a comic convention, you might get faster turnaround because the company processes on-site, but this is not always available.
- CGC vs. CBCS: times differ
- Higher declared value may speed up
- Convention submissions can be faster
- Seasonal demand (e.g., holidays) causes delays
Common mistakes
- Assuming all tiers take the same time; economy is much slower than express.
- Believing the estimated turnaround includes shipping time; it usually starts when the package is checked in.
- Forgetting that grading companies often have backlogs, so quoted times are not guaranteed.
