What Are the Best Trading Card Storage Supplies?

How to choose the right supplies to display and store trading cards.

The way you store your trading card collection is more than just an organizational preference, it’s how you protect and preserve your collection. Because a card’s value is tied directly to its condition, it’s important to store trading cards properly. There are many different trading card storage supplies, but which ones are the best? It all depends on your budget, space, and collection goals.

How to Store Trading Cards Within Your Budget

Whether you’re new to the hobby or a seasoned collector, setting and sticking to a budget is one of the most important things to do. Prices for trading cards can range from a dollar to thousands of dollars, depending on the rarity of the card and other factors. Collecting sports and TCG cards can be an extremely expensive hobby, but it doesn’t have to be. There are plenty of cards for every budget, and a variety of trading card storage supplies for every budget.

The cheapest place to start is with standard card sleeves, often referred to as penny sleeves. Depending on the brand and type, you can pick up a pack of 100 sleeves for anywhere between $1-$5. These are your first line of defense to protect cards when you’re handling them. Make sure you buy penny sleeves that are acid-free so the surface of the card will not be damaged.

After you place cards in penny sleeves, you have a few different options to ensure your cards are protected. Semi-rigid card sleeves, top loaders, and magnetic cases are the most common trading card supplies. Semi-rigid card sleeves, often called card savers, hold the card in place while providing added protection. If you’re planning on submitting your cards for grading, these are the preferred method of protection. A pack of 50 semi-rigid card sleeves costs around $6-$8.

Top loaders are made of thick plastic that is more rigid than a card saver. They ensure your cards won’t get bent, but you have to make sure you’re buying the correct size. A top loader that’s too tight can damage your card when you try to slide it in or out. When a top loader is too big, the card can shake around in it, which can lead to damage to the corners of the card.

Most cards fit into one of two top loader sizes: 35 pt. or 55-60 pt. 35 pt. top loaders are good for regular cardboard trading cards like paper versions of Topps, Donruss, or Pokémon cards. 55-60 pt. top loaders are good for slightly thicker cards from sets like Topps Chrome or Donruss Optic. There are also thicker top loaders for memorabilia cards. Depending on the size, a 25-pack of top loaders can cost between $5-$10.

Magnetic cases, often called a one-touch because there’s one small magnet at the top, are great if you want to display your cards. However, these are the most expensive option. Depending on the size, one magnetic one-touch can cost between $4-$6. Like top loaders, one-touches come in different thicknesses depending on the card. If you want to protect and display your cards in a one-touch, make sure they have cutout corners and a recessed area to hold the card. This ensures the corners of the card remain pristine and your card won’t get squished between the plastic.

While card savers, top loaders, and one-touches are great for protecting, displaying, and storing your cards, they can be expensive. If you’re looking for less expensive trading card storage options, consider binders or storage boxes. A pack of 100 9-pocket binder pages can cost between $20-$30. Storage boxes come in a variety of sizes and prices. You can find cardboard boxes that hold 800 cards for $2.50, and boxes that hold up to 3,200 cards for less than $10.

How to Store Trading Cards in a Small Space

When considering how to store your trading cards, you also must consider how much space you have. If you’ve only got a small closet or room to devote to trading card storage, binders aren’t going to be a good option.

If you’re trying to make the most of a small space, consider using large cardboard storage boxes. These boxes can hold thousands of cards each and can be stacked on each other. It’s also important to consider which supplies you’re using. One-touches will take up a lot more space than top loaders or card savers.

If space isn’t an issue, you have options. You can organize your collection into smaller boxes or binders, or even display some of your favorites while using a combination of storage supplies.

Trading Card Storage and Your Collection Goals

Besides working within your budget and space, consider your collection goals when deciding how to store your trading cards. Are you planning to look through your cards often, or are you just looking for long-term storage?

If you’re going to be looking through and handling your cards often, you’re going to want to store your cards where they’re easily accessible while also making sure they’re protected. Binders are good if you want to look through your cards often. Just make sure you’re using binder pages that have space for a penny sleeve so that your cards stay protected. If you’re handling your cards regularly, make sure they’re protected in a card saver, top loader, or one-touch.

Cardboard boxes that hold hundreds or thousands of cards are great if you aren’t planning to go through them on a regular basis. You also have the freedom to decide if you want to place your cards in just a penny sleeve or additional supplies for added protection.

Second, and maybe even more important: Are you focused on investing in high-value cards, or are you a casual collector whose cards carry more sentimental value than monetary value? High-value cards require more consideration about how you’re protecting and storing your cards. You’ll want to make sure you’re using properly sized supplies and storing them in cases that will protect them. Don’t use binders or stack high-value cards in boxes without any protection. Instead, consider hard-sided plastic cases that hold one-touches or graded cards in place.

If you’re a casual collector or looking for storage options for lower-valued cards, you’ll probably be fine with just a penny sleeve or binder storage. In most cases, base cards can be placed directly in a storage box without the need to sleeve them. This will save you money on supplies and storage space within the box.

Trading Card Storage Supplies at AA Mint Cards

AA Mint Cards has trading card storage supplies for every collection! If you still need help deciding which supplies are best for you, our trading card experts can help point you in the right direction. We have sleeves, top loaders, one-touches, and everything you need to safeguard your collection. Stop by AA Mint Cards to pick up supplies, trading card storage boxes, binders, and hard-sided cases that fit every budget and collection need!