What sleeve size do you need for Pokémon cards?

In this article

• Standard size, Japanese size, penny sleeve or deck protector. The size you need depends on your cards, not your budget. Here are the millimetres.

What sleeve size do you need for Pokémon cards?

Buying sleeves looks simple until you see "standard size", "Japanese size", "penny sleeve" and "deck protector" sitting side by side on the shelf. Below you will find which size fits which card, in millimetres, so you pick up the right box first time.

A Pokémon card is 63 by 88 millimetres

Every English Pokémon card has exactly the same size: 63 by 88 millimetres. That is called the standard size, and Pokémon shares it with Magic: The Gathering, Lorcana and One Piece. Whether you pull a plain common out of a booster or an expensive illustration rare, the size is identical.

That makes your choice easier than the packaging suggests. If you buy your cards from a Belgian or European shop, they are almost always English cards in standard size.

Standard size sleeves: 66 by 91 millimetres

A standard size sleeve measures roughly 66 by 91 millimetres. Those few millimetres of room around the card are deliberate: your card slides in without you forcing the corners, and there is just enough space left to shuffle comfortably.

On the packaging you will spot them as "standard size" or "standard deck protector". Ultra PRO, Dragon Shield and the official Pokémon deck protectors all use this size. For almost everyone reading this, this is the right box.

Watch the count too. A deck holds 60 cards, so play sleeves are often sold in packs of 65: five spares for when one gets damaged. If you want to sleeve a bigger collection, buy packs of 100.

Japanese or small size: only for Japanese cards

Japanese Pokémon cards are smaller: 59 by 86 millimetres. They need their own sleeves, sold as "Japanese size" or "small size". Those measure roughly 62 by 89 millimetres.

Put a Japanese card in a standard sleeve and there is too much room left over. The card slides around and the corners wear faster than they need to. The other way around simply does not work: an English card will not fit in a Japanese size sleeve.

Short version: if you buy Japanese cards, buy Japanese size. In every other case, do not.

Penny sleeve or deck protector

Beyond size, the type matters too. Both exist in standard size, they just do different jobs.

A penny sleeve is the thin, clear sleeve you use to store or ship cards. Cheap, no coloured back, not made for playing.

A deck protector is the thicker sleeve with an opaque back. You use it to play, because your opponent should not be able to see through your cards.

If you want to double sleeve, use a penny sleeve as the inner layer and add a deck protector around it for play, or a toploader for a valuable single or for shipping. Keep in mind that a double sleeved card gets thicker, so it needs a roomier deck box.

In short: what should you buy?

If you play with English cards, get standard size deck protectors in packs of 65 or 100. If you only store your cards, penny sleeves will do. If you have Japanese cards, go looking for Japanese size on purpose.

If you keep your sleeved cards in a binder, check the size there too. Binder pages are made for standard size cards, but not every page swallows a sleeved card easily. Look for side-loading pockets, they hold your cards in place and still leave room for a sleeve.

Still unsure what suits you? Below you will find our sleeves and binders, all made for standard size cards, shipped from Oudenburg via bpost.