Trading cards are new on our shelves, and the first question almost everyone asks is the same: which sleeves do I need?
It's a fair question. There are thin ones, thick ones, matte ones, inner ones and outer ones, in two different sizes. Here's how to make sense of it, so your cards stay in great condition whether you're playing them every week or keeping them safe.
Step 1: Know Your Card Size
Most trading card games use one of two sizes. Get this right first, because sleeves for one won't fit the other properly.
| Size | Games |
|---|---|
| Standard | Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Lorcana, One Piece and most others |
| Small (Japanese size) | Yu-Gi-Oh! and a few other games |
Sleeve packets are labelled with the size they fit, so check before you buy.
Step 2: Pick the Right Type of Sleeve
Penny sleeves
Thin, clear and cheap. Great for storing cards in a binder or box, protecting singles you've just pulled, or as an inner layer. They're too flimsy for heavy shuffling. Try LPG Essentials Penny Sleeves.
Play sleeves
Thicker sleeves made to be shuffled hundreds of times. They have a coloured or patterned back and a clear front, and most players prefer a matte finish because it shuffles smoothly and cuts glare. Ultimate Guard Cortex Matte sleeves come in a range of colours.
Perfect fit (inner) sleeves
Very snug, thin sleeves that go on first, usually upside down. They seal the card in and keep dust and moisture out. Dragon Shield Perfect Fit come in regular and thick.
Outer sleeves
Clear sleeves designed to go over the top of another sleeve. Dragon Shield Outer Sleeves have a matte clear finish for smooth shuffling.
Should You Double Sleeve?
Double sleeving means putting each card in a perfect fit sleeve, then into a play sleeve with the open end at the opposite side. Dust, spills and sweaty hands have no easy way in.
Do it if: the cards are valuable, you play a lot, or you play somewhere drinks and snacks are nearby.
Skip it if: it's a casual deck, or you prefer a thinner, lighter deck to shuffle.
Either way, every card in a deck should be in the same sleeves. Mixed or worn sleeves can make some cards easy to identify, which is against the rules at most events.
Step 3: Get a Deck Box That Fits
Deck boxes are rated by how many sleeved cards they hold. Double sleeving makes every card thicker, so a deck that fits a box single-sleeved may not fit double-sleeved.
| Box size | Good for |
|---|---|
| 80+ | A 60-card deck plus extras |
| 100+ | Bigger decks, Commander, or a deck plus tokens and dice |
Options include the Ultra Pro PRO 80+, the Ultimate Guard Deck Case 100+ and the clear Dragon Shield Strongbox. When in doubt, go one size up.
Quick Recommendations
- New player, casual deck: one set of matte play sleeves and an 80+ deck box.
- Valuable or competitive deck: perfect fit inners, matte play sleeves, and a 100+ box.
- Collection and binder storage: penny sleeves.
See the Range
Browse our trading card accessories and trading card games, or bring your deck into the shop at 22 Castlemaine Street, Kirwan, and we'll help you find sleeves and a box that fit.