Which Sleeves to Choose for Your Cards: A Simple Guide
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An €80 card can be ruined by a fingerprint. Sleeves cost pennies per card and offer the best protection for the price in this hobby. The problem is that there are dozens of types, and the packaging talks about microns. Let’s simplify.
First: what do you need them for?
The answer changes everything. There are three situations:
- Storing your collection in a binder or box, without handling it much
- Playing with the deck, shuffling and handling it dozens of times
- Protecting an expensive card that’s valuable on its own
Inner sleeves (Perfect Fit)
They’re transparent, very thin and fit snugly around the card. They go inside another sleeve.
- What they’re for: completely sealing the card against dust and moisture
- When to use them: cards you really want to keep in good condition, or as the first layer before a play sleeve (this is called double sleeving)
- Advantage: they don’t obscure the artwork because they’re virtually invisible
Dragon Shield Perfect Fit Clear are the standard in this category.
Regular sleeves (standard)
These are the ones everyone knows, with coloured or transparent backs. They come in packs of 50, 60 or 100.
- What they’re for: everyday use, storing and playing
- Size: look for “standard size”, 63.5 x 88.9 mm. They fit Pokémon, Magic, One Piece and Lorcana cards
- Watch out for Japanese size: Japanese cards are smaller (59 x 86 mm) and need their own sleeves, or a Japanese Perfect Fit inside a standard sleeve
Matte or glossy?
It’s the most common question, and the answer is simple:
- Matte: much easier to shuffle, don’t stick together and don’t glare under the light. They’re the choice for serious players
- Glossy: cheaper and show the artwork better, but they slip and stick together. Good for storage, annoying for playing
What about the numbers? (microns)
Thickness is measured in microns (µm) or points (pt). In plain English:
- Up to 60 µm: thin. Perfect Fit and storage sleeves
- 80 to 100 µm: standard for playing. They can withstand being shuffled hundreds of times
- Above 100 µm: very durable, but the deck gets thick and may not fit in the deck box
Common mistakes
- Buying sleeves with PVC. PVC releases acids over time and causes cards to yellow. Always look for “PVC-free” and “acid-free”. All the ones we sell are
- Mixing different batches. If the backs aren’t exactly the same, you’ll give your opponent an advantage in a tournament and may be penalised
- Buying just enough. Always buy more than the 60 cards in your deck: some will get scratched and you’ll need to replace them
- Forgetting the deck box. Sleeves protect the card; the box protects the deck in your backpack
Quick summary
| If you... | Use |
|---|---|
| Store your collection in a binder | Perfect Fit or thin transparent sleeves |
| Play with your deck every week | Matte, 80 to 100 µm |
| Have an expensive card | Perfect Fit + regular sleeve + toploader |
| Have Japanese cards | Japanese-size sleeves |