Sleeves, toploaders, binders, deck boxes: once a trading card collection starts growing, the accessories aisle can look like a second hobby. This guide explains what each one is for, so you can pick what suits the cards you actually have.
First, check the card size
Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece and Disney Lorcana cards are all standard size, about 63 x 88mm. Every sleeve and holder in this guide is made for standard-size cards. If you collect a game not on that list, measure a card before buying sleeves.
Sleeves: for cards you play with or handle
A sleeve is a thin plastic pocket that a single card slides into. It is the first layer for almost every card, whether it lives in a deck or a binder.
- Dragon Shield Standard Size Deck Protector Sleeves, Non-Glare Matte Clear V2: 100 sleeves, fits cards up to 63 x 88mm, with a textured backing.
- KARDIKO Standard Size Card Sleeves: a range of matte colours, so a deck can have its own colour.
- Pokémon Center Original Deck Shield sleeves, for Pokémon fans who want their deck to look the part.
Clear backs show the card back. Coloured backs make your deck easy to tell apart from your opponent's.
Double sleeving
Some players put each card in a tight inner sleeve, then put that inside a normal outer sleeve. That gives each card two layers of plastic.
- Inner: Ultimate Guard Precise Fit Resealable sleeves, 100 transparent sleeves at 64 x 89mm, made to go inside an outer sleeve.
- Outer: any standard sleeve above, such as the Dragon Shield matte.
- A third layer: Ultimate Guard Supreme UX 3rd Skin sleeves are made to fit over cards that are already double sleeved (50 sleeves, 69 x 94mm).
Each layer makes the deck thicker, so check your deck box still closes.
Toploaders: for single cards you want to keep flat
A toploader is a rigid plastic holder that keeps one card flat. It is open on one short side. Collectors usually sleeve the card first, then slide it into the toploader. The BCW 3x4 Topload Card Holder comes in a pack of 25 and is made for one standard-size card.
Binders: for showing a collection
A binder or album holds cards in pocket pages so you can flip through the whole collection. The BCW Folio 9-Pocket Card Album has 20 double-sided pages that load from the side, nine cards to a page, for up to 360 cards, with an elastic band to keep it closed.
Deck boxes: for carrying a deck
A deck box holds one sleeved deck, ready for a game at school or a friend's house. The KARDIKO Premium Deck Box 100+ comes in several colours. Its label says 100+, and how many cards fit depends on how many layers of sleeve you use.
Bulk storage: for everything else
Most collections end up with a pile of cards that are not in a deck or a binder. The BCW Card House Storage Box holds twelve 800-count card boxes (sold separately), up to 9,600 standard-size cards in all.
Dice and counters
Many card games need a way to track damage or counters. KARDIKO DICESKI 12mm dice come in sets of 36 in several translucent colours.
A simple setup to start with
- A deck you play with: sleeves, plus a deck box.
- Favourite cards to show: sleeves, then a binder or toploaders.
- Everything else: a storage box.
Whatever you choose, keep cards somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight.
See every sleeve, holder and box in our Card Game Accessories collection. For the games themselves and what booster packs, bundles and Commander decks are, read our trading card games guide. Order online and collect at our Hougang Rivercourt store, or drop by and have a look.
Source: sizes, counts and capacities above are taken from the product listings on kidify.co, as checked on 13 October 2026.