Binders & Albums
Card Sleeves: Everything You Need to Know
Card sleeves are indispensable for Trading Card Games. These protective sleeves made of plastic are the most important accessory to protect your cards from dirt and wear. Especially in games like Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, or Yu-Gi-Oh!, where decks are regularly and frequently shuffled, card sleeves protect against damage on the edges, bending, or scratching. This helps maintain the good condition of your cards – and therefore their value.
Card sleeves are not only available for collectible cards but also for board and tabletop games, and they come in various variations: from simple, completely transparent sleeves (also called Penny Sleeves due to their low price) to high-quality and sturdy card sleeves with an opaque back. As for the front of card sleeves, they are usually distinguished between Standard (also Glossy) and Matte. The latter have a slightly milky front and do not reflect as much.
Which card sleeves are the best for you depends on where you intend to use them. Casual players have different requirements for the appearance or durability of their card sleeves compared to tournament players. At Ultimate Guard, you will find a wide selection of premium-quality card sleeves for all needs!
The main purpose of card sleeves: they protect your cards from dirt and wear, ensuring they remain in good condition and maintain their value. Additionally, card sleeves contribute to a better shuffling feel. And they also look good!
Most card games like Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, or Lorcana are produced in the dimension of 63x88 mm, the corresponding card sleeves are of standard size. Among the major TCGs, only Yu-Gi-Oh! deviates from this, where the cards are slightly smaller at 59x86 mm. Matching card sleeves are labeled Japanese Size.
The dirt that card sleeves protect your cards from can accumulate on the sleeves over time. Cleaning card sleeves is quite easy though: take a slightly damp cloth – preferably a microfiber one – and wipe the sleeves on both sides. Stubborn dirt that cannot be removed with the cloth can be gently scraped off with your fingernails. Just be careful not to rub too hard to avoid creasing the card sleeve. And make sure that no moisture gets inside the card sleeve while wiping.
If you want to be extra secure, you can put your card in two sleeves simultaneously, a practice known as double sleeving. In double sleeving, the card is first inserted with the top side facing into a smaller card sleeve, which has the exact dimensions of the card. These transparent card sleeves are called Inner Sleeves or Precise-Fit Sleeves. Then, the card is placed into a regular sleeve. This makes the card even more stable and, most importantly, perfectly protects it against moisture.