Once you have cards that hold value to you, it is important to protect them to retain that value. There are many different types of protectors for cards of all sizes. We’ll do a brief overview of the different standard types of card protectors out there and why they may be useful for your cards.

Sleeves. These are the first and most common step of protection. For non-gaming cards, sleeves are typically made of clear polypropylene film and help protect the card from scratches and dings from handling. For gaming cards, sleeves will typically have a clear face and a solid back. They come in many colors and designs and will protect your gaming cards from shuffling and usage while gaming.

Sleeved cards can be stored within basically all card storage boxes and card binders. They are one of the most important types of card protection you can invest in.

Toploaders. These are made of rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and are used to protect the card from all forms of general handling. It’s common for cards to be sleeved first, and then placed into a toploader for added protection. Toploaders are ideal for protecting cards of value.

Card Savers. These are clear semi-rigid holders that are slightly flexible. Due to their flexibility, they have become the industry standard for card grading submissions.

Team Bags. These are clear polypropylene film similar to sleeves. While typically used as a “bag” to hold about 25-30 cards, they are also ideal for “sleeving” toploaders.

One-Touch (Magnetic) Cases. These are made of thick, rigid, clear plastics that seal with a magnet. They are ideal for display and high-end cards. You can also find one-touch sleeve bags to protect the clarity of the one-touch case.

Screw-down Case. These are typically made of thick acrylic plastic and are sealed with a screw. These are known to cause card damage and have lost favor to the simplicity of the One-Touch Case.