Card sleeves
The first layer. Sizing, matte versus glossy, inner sleeves and how to double-sleeve without warping a card.
A sleeve is the first layer of protection and the only one most cards ever get. Standard sleeves are 66 × 91 mm and Japanese sleeves are 62 × 89 mm. A sleeve stops surface scratches and handling wear — it does not stop a card being bent, crushed or faded by light.
What a sleeve protects against, and what it does not
Sleeves solve one problem well: contact. Shuffling, dealing, sliding a card in and out of a binder pocket — all of it abrades the printed surface and rounds the corners over time. A sleeve takes that wear instead of the card.
What a sleeve cannot do is provide structure. It will not stop a crease if the card is bent, it will not stop crushing if something heavy lands on it, and it does nothing about light. Cards that need those protections need a rigid holder or a better storage location, not a better sleeve.
Two sizes, and only two that matter
Standard size sleeves measure 66 × 91 mm and fit the 63.5 × 88.9 mm card used by Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, Lorcana, One Piece, Flesh and Blood and sports cards.
Japanese size sleeves measure 62 × 89 mm for the smaller card of roughly 59 × 86 mm used by Yu-Gi-Oh! and Cardfight!! Vanguard. A standard sleeve on a Yu-Gi-Oh! card will be visibly loose, and a loose card wears at the corners as it moves.
Pokémon cards are standard size in every language — there is no separate Japanese Pokémon sleeve size, despite the claim circulating on some hobby sites.
Material and thickness
Polypropylene is the standard material, and it is the right one. Conservation guidance lists polypropylene, polyethylene and polyester as chemically stable plastics safe for long-term contact, and singles out PVC as one to avoid.
Thickness is quoted in microns. Dragon Shield's thick Perfect Fit inner sleeves are 100 µm, roughly twice their regular inner sleeve. Thicker sleeves resist splitting for longer; they also make a deck bulkier.
Matte, glossy and opacity
The finish is a playing decision more than a protection one. Textured backs shuffle more predictably and are the usual preference for cards that see regular play; glossy sleeves are clearer for display.
For tournament use, opacity is the property that matters — a sleeve with a see-through back gives information away, which is why manufacturers advertise high opacity for sight-shielding.
Common questions
- What size card sleeves do I need?
- Standard size (66 × 91 mm) for Magic, Pokémon, Lorcana, One Piece, Flesh and Blood and sports cards. Japanese size (62 × 89 mm) for Yu-Gi-Oh! and Cardfight!! Vanguard.
- Do sleeves stop cards from bending?
- No. Sleeves protect against surface and edge wear from handling. They add almost no rigidity, so a sleeved card can still be creased. Bending is what rigid and semi-rigid holders are for.
- Are card sleeves safe for long-term storage?
- Polypropylene sleeves are. Conservation guidance lists polypropylene as chemically stable for long-term contact, unlike PVC, which generates acids and can stick to printed items.
Sources
In this section