To pick card sleeves, measure the card's width and height in millimeters and choose a sleeve a few millimeters larger in each direction. Standard trading card games such as Magic and Pokémon use cards of about 63.5 by 88 mm, which fit standard sleeves of about 66 by 91 mm. Board games use many other sizes, so always check the size for your specific game before buying.
Sleeves protect cards from wear, spills and bent corners, and they make a well-played game look new for years. The challenge is size: board games use dozens of card sizes. Here is how to get the fit right.
Measure first
- Take a card from the game and measure its width and height in millimeters.
- Look for a sleeve that is 2 to 4 mm larger in each direction. Too tight and cards bend or split the sleeve; too loose and they slide around.
- Count the cards in each size. Many games use two or three sizes.
Publishers and sleeve makers often list sleeve sizes per game, and BoardGameGeek’s sleeve database is a good place to check.
Common card sizes
| Name | Card size (approx.) | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Mini American | 41 × 63 mm | Small cards in many board games |
| Mini European | 44 × 68 mm | Small cards in many European games |
| Standard American | 56 × 87 mm | Many board games |
| Japanese / small | 59 × 86 mm | Yu-Gi-Oh! and small card games |
| Standard card game | 63.5 × 88 mm | Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, many board games |
| Standard European | 59 × 92 mm | Many European board games |
| Tarot | 70 × 120 mm | Tarot-size cards in some games |
| Square | 70 × 70 mm | Square tiles and cards |
Sleeve makers label these sizes differently, and the exact sleeve dimensions vary by brand, so compare your measurement with the sleeve’s listed card fit rather than its name.
Types of sleeves
- Penny sleeves: thin, cheap and soft. Good for basic protection and for collections.
- Premium or board game sleeves: thicker (often measured in microns) for better durability and shuffling. Matte backs reduce glare and make shuffling smoother.
- Perfect-fit or inner sleeves: tight-fitting sleeves used inside a larger outer sleeve for double protection, common for valuable trading cards.
- Colored-back sleeves: standard in competitive card games to hide card backs; usually unnecessary for board games.
Thickness and box space
Sleeves add bulk, and in a large game this adds up. A deck of a few hundred cards can grow by a centimeter or more once sleeved. Before you buy:
- Check whether the box insert still holds sleeved cards.
- Choose thinner sleeves for card-heavy games, thicker sleeves for decks you shuffle constantly.
- Consider an organizer insert if the original insert doesn’t fit.
Is it worth sleeving?
Sleeve games where:
- Cards are shuffled often (deck builders and card games).
- Cards are handled a lot or near food and drink.
- Cards are hard to replace or the game is out of print.
Games with cards that are rarely shuffled or handled are fine without sleeves.
Common questions
What size sleeves do Pokémon and Magic cards use?
Both use standard-size cards of about 63.5 by 88 mm. Standard sleeves are usually about 66 by 91 mm, and inner perfect-fit sleeves are close to the card size.
Do Yu-Gi-Oh! cards fit standard sleeves?
They fit, but loosely. Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are smaller, about 59 by 86 mm, and are usually sleeved in small or Japanese-size sleeves for a snug fit.
Do sleeved cards still fit in the game box?
Sleeves add thickness, so a large deck may no longer fit the original insert. Thicker premium sleeves add the most. Check the box space before sleeving everything, or plan an organizer insert.
Should I sleeve my board game cards?
Sleeve cards that get shuffled often or handled with snacks around, and anything hard to replace. Sleeves protect against wear, bent corners and spills, and they keep marked cards from being identifiable.