If you're an passionate Pokémon card collector, you understand the significance of proper Pokemon card storing solutions. Pokémon cards are valuable both financially and emotionally, making it crucial to safeguard them against wear and tear. By mastering the art of learning how to store your cards properly, you can ensure your collection remains in mint condition for years to come.

I started collecting Pokemon cards as a kid in the late 90's. Back then you would go to the shops and be lucky to buy 1 booster pack. Then you'd come home and rip it open with your grubby hands and put it in your pocket when you're done with it. 

Fast forward to today, people are buying cards by the case and carefully opening each pack with gloves followed by sleeving them to keep them in pristine condition. 

Anyway, as my collection grew as a kid I realised I wanted to display them in an easy to view way. For Christmas I was given an original Pokemon Card folder and began putting all my cards in the binder and I was able to appreciate them more. 

This is my actual first folder from 25 years ago. As you can see over time, the folder has diminished and different levels of humidity has definitely played a factor in its slow death.

Back then as kids, we didn't have access to the card storage options we have today. This article will go over ways to protect your Pokemon Cards from damage so they don't turn out like the photos above.

The Different Types of Pokemon Card Storage Supplies Available

Do you have a valuable Pokemon card collection? If so, you need to take steps to protect it from damage. In this blog post, we'll explore the different types of Pokemon card storage supplies available and how to use them to keep your collection in pristine condition.

Whether you're an avid collector or just starting your journey, knowing the various types of Pokemon card storage supplies available can help you make informed choices to safeguard your cherished cards.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the different options, including sleeves, binders, boxes, and other storage containers.

Pokemon Card Sleeves

Card sleeves are a fundamental component of card protection. They are transparent, thin plastic covers that fit snugly over individual cards.

Assortment of older Japanese Pokemon Cards in penny sleeves. You must have penny sleeves. Even if you don't get anything else in this blog, you need to get these at the very least. They come in packs of 100 and are dirt cheap, but extremely effective at protecting your cards. I usually sleeve anything from a rare rarity and above.

Sleeves offer several advantages:

Protection from Wear and Tear: Sleeves shield cards from handling, reducing the risk of surface damage, scratches, and scuffs.

Prevent Moisture and Dirt: They create a barrier against moisture, dirt, and oils from your hands, ensuring your cards remain in pristine condition.

Easy Handling: Sleeved cards are easier to shuffle, making them ideal for gameplay. 

How To Sleeve Pokemon Cards

Step 1: Get your sleeve ready

Step 2: Pinch the top of the sleeve to create an opening

Step 3: Carefully insert the card corner first

Step 4: Slide the rest of the card in carefully without scraping or nicking the bottom card.

Double Sleeving Pokemon Cards With Inner Sleeves

These are becoming more popular amongst collectors as they can be used as a sort of double protection. Inner sleeves are perfect fit sleeves for your Pokemon cards which you can then double sleeve with a larger card sleeve. 

Mewtwo EX 154/162 Breakthrough Set 2015 shown in a double sleeve. I usually do this to cards which I think are worthwhile and in good condition but not planning on grading, yet.

Double sleeving Pokemon cards, using both a perfect fit sleeve (inner sleeve) and a normal size sleeve (outer sleeve), offers several benefits for card collectors and players:

Enhanced Protection: The primary advantage of double sleeving is the added protection it provides to your Pokemon cards. The perfect fit sleeve snugly fits around the card, preventing it from coming into direct contact with dirt, oils, moisture, and other potential contaminants. The outer sleeve further shields the card from external factors, ensuring maximum protection against wear and tear.

Reduced Risk of Damage: Double sleeving significantly reduces the risk of physical damage to your cards. The combination of the two sleeves minimizes the chances of creasing, bending, or scratching, even when the cards are handled frequently or during gameplay.

Top Loaders For Pokemon Cards

Top loaders are rigid plastic holders designed to encase individual cards. These are often used in conjunction with card sleeves for added protection.

Toploaders are a seriously must have for any Pokemon card collector. They usually come in packs of 25 for only a few dollars. Stick all your rare cards in these to prevent damage and also to stop the cards from curling due to humidity. These can also reverse the effects of curling if they are kept in here for a very long time. I have done it on many old vintage Pokemon cards. Don't put more than one card in there and make sure you put it in a penny sleeve first.

Top loaders offer the following advantages:

Sturdy Protection: They provide excellent protection against bending, creasing, and other physical damage.

Easy Display: Cards in top loaders can be displayed upright or stored securely in cardboard boxes.

Ideal for Valuable Cards: Collectors often use top loaders for their most valuable or cherished cards.

Pokemon Binders

Binders are a popular choice for Pokemon collectors looking to organize and display their Pokemon card collections. They can consist of three-ring binders or flat books with clear plastic pages designed to hold cards.

These are great for holding sets of cards and other rare and holographic cards for easy viewing.

Benefits of using binders for your Pokemon trading cards include:

Organization: Binders allow you to categorize and easily access your cards, making them a preferred choice for set collectors.

Display: Cards in binders are neatly arranged and can be showcased to friends and fellow collectors.

Easy Transportation: Binders are portable, making them convenient for taking your collection to events and conventions.

Pokemon Card Storage Boxes

Card storage boxes come in various sizes and materials, including cardboard, plastic, and metal.

This is one of my storage boxes that I keep all the commons, trainers, energy cards and a few other cards I couldn't figure out what to do with. You can also use penny sleeves with these boxes too.

These boxes are suitable for storing large quantities of cards and have several advantages:

Capacity: They can hold hundreds or even thousands of cards, making them ideal for bulk storage.

Protection: Sturdy boxes protect cards from external elements, including light, moisture, and dust.

Organization: Some boxes come with dividers or compartments, allowing you to sort your cards by set, rarity, or type.

Card Storage Cases

Card storage cases are hard plastic or acrylic containers designed to hold cards or sealed product such as booster boxes.

You can put any sealed product like Pokemon elite trainer boxes or sealed Pokemon booster boxes in these.

They offer the following advantages:

Security: Cases typically have secure latches or magnets to keep cards safe during transport or storage.

Visibility: Clear cases provide visibility, allowing you to admire your collection without opening them.

Protection: They offer protection from physical damage and are often used for displaying valuable cards or sealed product.

Deck Boxes

Deck boxes are designed to hold a specific number of cards for gameplay. They come in various sizes and materials, including plastic and metal. They can also be used with perfect fit sleeves to protect more expensive decks.

Good for carrying around a Pokemon deck. Most deck boxes can also be used with sleeved cards.

Deck boxes offer:

Portability: Convenient for taking your decks to tournaments or casual play with friends.

Customization: Some deck boxes can be customized with artwork or logos, adding a personal touch.

Protection: They protect your decks from damage and the elements.

Card Sleeves with Artwork

To be honest these aren't too common and you won't see many people doing this. As most people just prefer the plain clear penny sleeve. These are usually used by those that play competitively, where they aren't allowed to show the back of their card. Competitively they are used, because one could make a mark on the back of a Pokemon card so they would know which card to use. I personally do not use any for my collection but if you like them, go for your life.

For collectors who want to protect and showcase their cards simultaneously, card sleeves with artwork are a stylish choice. These sleeves feature unique designs, characters, or artwork from various franchises, making them appealing to collectors and gamers alike.

Toploader Pokemon Card Storage Albums

Great for holding and displaying all your rare cards that are in toploaders.

Similar to binders, toploader card storage albums are designed to hold cards in clear plastic pockets with a toploader. They are often used for showcasing and organizing valuable or special collections, such as rare cards or limited editions.

Pokemon Card Grading

Grading Pokemon cards can offer several benefits to collectors and investors. Card grading involves a professional evaluation of a card's condition and assigns it a grade or rating.

This process is typically conducted by third-party grading companies like PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), BGS (Beckett Grading Services), or CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) for non-sports cards.

PSA currently dominates the Pokemon market as it has for many, many years. Will they continue to dominate the market in 5,10,20 years? Who knows.

BGS is popping up a little bit more for Pokemon cards and is popular for their subgrades and black labels.

CGC is a reputable company that has been grading comics for decades and has recently started offering card grading which is also quickly gaining popularity.

The most recent Charizard 1st Edition was sold as a CGC 10 for 77k.

This is the holy grail card, incase you were wondering.

Here are some benefits of protecting your Pokemon trading cards through grading:

Authentication: Grading provides authentication services, ensuring that your card is genuine and not a counterfeit or altered version. This is especially important for valuable and rare cards.

Preservation: Grading encapsulates the card in a protective case (slab), which helps prevent physical damage, wear, and tear. The case is designed to protect the card from environmental factors like moisture, UV light, and handling.

Standardized grading: Grading companies use consistent and widely accepted grading standards, making it easier for buyers and sellers to understand the condition of a card. This standardization helps establish fair market values.

Increased value: High-grade, professionally graded cards tend to command higher prices in the collector's market. Serious collectors and investors often seek out graded cards because they offer greater confidence in the card's condition.

Liquidity: Graded cards are easier to sell and trade because buyers have more confidence in the card's condition and authenticity. This can lead to quicker transactions and access to a larger pool of potential buyers.

Protection against disputes: In the event of a dispute over a card's condition or authenticity, having a graded card with a third-party certification can help resolve issues more easily. The grading company's reputation adds credibility to the card's assessment.

Insurance purposes: Graded cards are easier to insure because their condition is professionally documented and they are securely encapsulated. This can be especially important for high-value cards in your collection.

Historical documentation: Grading companies keep records of each graded card, including detailed information about its condition. This historical documentation can be useful for tracking the card's history and provenance.

Display and storage: Graded cards are ready for display in your collection or for long-term storage. The protective case also allows you to enjoy your cards without worrying about handling damage.

Graded this card myself after it had spent 10+ years in a penny sleeve and in one of my Pokemon card binders.

Future-proofing: As the Pokemon card hobby evolves and matures, graded cards are likely to remain an integral part of the market. Grading helps ensure your cards remain relevant and valuable in the future.

Keep in mind that grading services come with associated costs, and not all cards are worth grading. It's essential to consider the potential value of your Pokemon card, as well as the grading fees, before deciding to have a card graded. Additionally, some collectors prefer to keep their cards in their original, ungraded condition for sentimental reasons or as part of their collection strategy.

Other Important Information Regarding Storing Pokemon Cards

Keep them out of direct sunlight. The UV rays over time can damage your cards. There is some sleeves and graded cards which offer UV protection, but for best practice do not display them on a windowsill or out in the open.

Do not place cards in an area of your house with fluctuating humidity as this can severely damage your cards over time and also create curling in cards like the holos.

To further control humidity, place silica gel packs inside your card storage containers. These packs help absorb excess moisture and maintain a drier environment.

Try to keep the room's temperature and humidity levels stable. Ideally, the temperature should be between 60-70°F (15-24°C), and the relative humidity should be around 40-50%. You can use a digital thermometer and hygrometer to monitor these conditions.

Periodically inspect your cards for any signs of damage or deterioration. By doing this every so often such as a few months of once every year, you can keep track and prevent any further damage.

Summary of Storing Pokemon Cards 

In conclusion, choosing the right Pokemon trading card storage supplies is essential for preserving the condition and value of your collection. Your choice will depend on your specific needs, whether it's organizing, protecting, displaying, or transporting your cards.

Consider your collection size, budget, and preferences when selecting the storage options that best suit your needs. With the right supplies, you can ensure that your trading card collection remains in excellent condition for years to come.

tldr; For the average collector looking to protect their cards, a penny sleeve and a toploader is sufficient protection for your rare cards. If you can afford it, get your rarer cards graded so they are encapsulated in a safe little home. Put other rares and sets in a binder with a penny sleeve. Throw the commons, trainers and energy cards in a box and forget about them.

Source: My 24+ years experience of collecting and storing vintage Wizards of the Coast and new generation Pokemon cards.

Good luck on your collecting journey!