Last updated on January 31, 2025
Glint-Sleeve Artisan | Illustration by Ryan Pancoast
If youโve ever ventured into the world of paper Magic, youโve probably bought some card sleeves before. And if youโve bought a couple different brands or types of sleeves, then youโve definitely noticed that there can be a pretty big difference in quality. If youโve never bought card sleeves before or have only ever bought the same ones, well, now you know.
Regardless of your relationship with card sleeves for paper Magic, itโs important to know that there are so many options available for you to choose from. A handful of brands are well-known among paper Magic-ers, whether for good or for ill.
If youโre trying to figure out what sleeve is best for youโor youโre now questioning every card sleeve purchase youโve ever madeโthen Iโve got your back. Whether youโre looking to display your collection, protect your cards while you play, need a gift for a fellow Magic player, or just want some good, high-quality aesthetic sleeves, Iโll cover everything you need to know and give you the scoop on what to get and what to avoid. So, letโs get this started, shall we?
Our Top Pick
If you're looking to save time and just get the overall best sleeves available, my recommendation is Ultimate Guard Katana Sleeves. They feel amazing to shuffle, fit really well in your deck box, and are incredibly durable. They're a rock-solid, no fuss choice for premium-feeling sleeves.
- Acid free, no PVC
- Impeccable clarity
- Extra long lifespan and durability
- Made in Japan
- Perfect shuffling
Buyerโs Guide
Glint-Sleeve Siphoner | Illustration by Greg Opalinski
Before we get into the nitty-gritty of what brand and sleeve you should buy, letโs go over the โdos and donโtsโ of buying card sleeves for MTG.
First, if you want to truly protect your cards while you play, get a playmat. While sleeves are certainly meant to protect your cards, using a playmat to keep them from picking up a bunch of gunk from your play surface never hurts. Theyโve also got some pretty awesome art if aesthetic is important to you.
You need to know what to look for to figure out if the sleeves are worth the price tag. Hereโs a quick breakdown of some examples and what you need to look out for with each:
Choose the Right Size
At least it matters for MTG card sleeves. Even if youโre not looking to maintain the value of your cards per se, I doubt youโre eager to have a bunch of warped, curled, or bent cards. Does the sleeve fit a bit too tight and warp your cards in any way? Is the sleeve a bit too loose and so the cards constantly fall out at the slightest provocation (and maybe get bent somehow on the way)? Or is the sleeve a perfect fit, no wiggle room without squeezing too much?
I talked about this in my MTG card size article, but hereโs a quick recap if you want the quick-and-dirty:
- For a basic sleeve to protect your cards while playing, you need a โstandard sizeโ sleeve (usually around 66x91mm)
- For sleeves to store cards in a binder, you want โperfect fitโ sleeves (usually sized as 64x89mm)
- If youโre looking to double sleeve your cards for extra protection, youโll need perfect fit and standard fit sleeves, one in the other
- Pokรฉmon cards are the same size as MTG cards, so you can get Pokรฉmon sleeves for your Magic collection if you want
- Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are smaller than MTG cards and use โminiโ or โsmallโ sleeves and canโt be substituted.
Sleeve Strength and Durability
Next up is the sleeveโs durability. How much punishment can it take before it starts to crack or peal? Obviously, you donโt want a sleeve thatโs going to look like youโve had it in the attic for the past 10 years after just a couple of months or, god forbid, a couple of weeks.
Reviews can usually give you this info, as sleeves with awful durability will probably get absolutely blasted. Nobody wants to spend money on a product thatโs supposed to protect your cards when it canโt even protect itself.
Opacity and See-Through Characteristics
Angelic Overseer | Illustration by Jason Chan
This goes for both sides of the sleeve. How opaque is it?
If we talk about the back, it should be completely opaque. No light, sound, or smell should get through the back! This is mostly to avoid the look of impropriety, as being able to see the back of the card means thereโs the possibility of marking (i.e., putting โmarksโ on certain cards so you can tell when they pop up in your deck without drawing/scrying them). You typically canโt even participate in tournaments if your sleeves are see-through, even if thereโs no other evidence of marking in your deck. Wear and tear can be considered marking as well.
On the flip side, you want the front to be completely see-through. Can you imagine trying to play Magic when you have to squint just to read your cards?
Finish and Sleeve Coating
Shinechaser | Illustration by Evan Shipard
Last but not leastโif you play in tournaments, at leastโis the finish on the sleeves. Even if you donโt do tournaments and just play casually or in events/FNM at your LGS, this bit still kinda applies.
Matte, hyper matte, glossy, there are a few options. Depending on the quality of the sleeve and what finish theyโve got, youโll have an easier or harder time shuffling. Some get sticky after a while, and thereโs also the potential for bending corners if the shuffling is a bit stuck. This can lead to accidentally marking your sleeves, warping your cards, and just generally making your cards and deck frustrating to handle.
Matte and hyper matte do better in this regard, as glossy sleeves tend to stick together when shuffling much more. Even if theyโre great out of the pack, glossy usually get sticky much faster. There are some brands that have mattes/hyper mattes that donโt stand up to the test, but you should probably stay away from those brands in general.
What NOT to Buy
Skewer the Critics | Illustration by Heonhwa Choe
Whether you buy sleeves in-person at a store or online, there are some telltale signs to look out for to avoid getting cheaply-made sleeves. Bad reviews help you know what to avoid when shopping online. Sleeves with lots of complaints about splitting or bending are a bad sign.
Also keep a lookout if the fit seems to be off. Some perfect fit sleeves actually tend to run a bit small so theyโll hug your cards a little too closely and warp them over time. If youโre looking at standard fit, they might run small and ruin your double-sleeving intention by being closer to a perfect fit and now youโve gone and wasted your money. Not as bad an outcome, but still not good.
The Best Sleeves for Each Use
Now we get to the part where I tell you what to buy. And thereโs no geometry this time! Hallelujah.
Before we dive in, though, full disclosure: I have not personally used all of these sleeves. Iโve used several of them and will update if I have new insight to share.
In a Rush? Get The Best Overall
Ultimate Guard's Katana sleeves are a solid option on the market, and wow, do they deliver.
They're an absolute blast to shuffle and can be effectively used for any situation โ constructed decks, Cube, Commander, you name it.
They're also perfect for both single and double-sleeving due to their consistent size and tight fit.
Though they don't have beautiful art on the back (I'll suggest a few of these below), what they do provide is top notch quality, feel, and durability.
They're by far the best value because we're talking collectibles and not needing to replace sleeves. No, they're not a bottom-of-the barrel price, but do you really want to keep rebuying new sleeves over and over again?
- Acid free, no PVC
- Impeccable clarity
- Extra long lifespan and durability
- Made in Japan
- Perfect shuffling
Competitive Play Sleeves
Even though Dragon Shield mattes are my overall recommendation, they may not be the best option for competitive play as they can be a little bit see-through. If youโre gun-ho on this brand, though, some of their perfect fit smoke sleeves can do wonders in preventing any see-through cheating scandals.
Itโs up to you if you wanna double-sleeve but be wary if you do; the Dragon Shield mattes can be a bit difficult to double-sleeve with. Iโd suggest either sticking to the perfect fit or double-sleeving with another brand.
- Clear front & Smoke back. Semi-transparent coloration conceals details on your cardback while retaining full readability.
- Perfect Fit sleeves provide improved card protection. These inner sleeves fit closely over cards and fit inside all Standard Size Dragon Shields.
- Cards should be loaded into the perfect fit from the bottom and then slid into a regular sized sleeve to maximize protection.
- PVC-free polypropylene sleeves, no acid. Archival safe.
- 60 ฮผm quality thickness. For cards measuring up to 63x88 mm's (2ยฝ"x3ยฝ").
Budget Sleeves
If you canโt afford to spend exorbitant amounts of money on card sleeves but still want to properly protect your cards while playing or just showing them off, then the BCW Matte Sleeves are your answer. Theyโre about half the price of most other sleeves and arenโt the worst you could get. They might not be the best for competitive events but they hold their own for kitchen-table Magic and the like.
- Acid-Free and Archival Safe: These deck guards provide a protective barrier without compromising the quality of your cards. Our sleeves are acid-free and archival safe, ensuring that your cards remain in excellent condition for years to come.
- Perfect Fit for Game Cards: Designed to accommodate 2-1/2" x 3-1/2" game cards, these sleeves are tailored to fit a variety of popular card game formats. These sleeves work with trading card games, collectible card games, or classic playing cards.
- Anti-Glare Technology: Experience superior visibility with our cutting-edge anti-glare technology, designed to elevate your gameplay and display by minimizing distractions and ensuring your cards shine with crystal-clear brilliance.
- Durable Construction: Our clear card sleeves are built to withstand regular use and handling. Whether you're a casual gamer or a dedicated collector, these gaming card sleeves offer durable protection against wear and tear.
- Easy to Shuffle: Don't compromise on gameplay! The clear card protector sleeves are designed for easy shuffling, allowing you to enjoy a smooth and enjoyable gaming experience without sacrificing ultimate card protection.
The Best Inner Sleeves
When it comes to double-sleeving, the inner sleeveโs best bet is KMCโs Perfect Fit Size. Not only are they pretty cheap, but theyโre also of pretty good quality and are good at the thing that matters most: protecting your cards with a perfectly-snug hug.
- Card sleeves protect cards from dirt, gunk and moisture.
- High quality card sleeves from KMC, card sleeve manufacturer in Japan, the sleeves to protect your valuable card collections
- Great for collectible card games.
- KMC is known for highest quality.
- Age.Mfg Minimum: 144
Best for Commander
Back to Dragon Shield mattes on this one. Part of why theyโre one of my top recommendations is because theyโre pretty versatile in terms of what theyโre good for, one of those being Commander decks.
When it comes to Commander, you deal with a bigger deck do, you want a good sleeve that has all the other perks while also being as thin as possible. It might not seem like a fraction of a millimeter makes any difference, but it can really stack up. You need to have enough room in your EDH deck box, after all.
- Clear front & Orange back. Light a spark and set fire to the game.
- Matte sleeves are our popular line of textured Dragon Shield with superior handling. A perfect mix of durability and shuffle-ability.
- The sturdy cardboard box fits 75+ single sleeved cards or 65+ double sleeved cards. Every box has a label at the top of the box for personalization.
- For Standard sized cards measuring up to 63x88 mm's (2ยฝ"x3ยฝ").
- PVC-free polypropylene sleeves, no acid. Archival safe.
Best for Cube
When weโre talking a really large amount of cards like in Cube, the best sleeves to go for are KMCโs hyper matte sleeves. Theyโre pretty cheap in bulk much like their Perfect Size counterparts, and donโt suffer in quality because of it. Theyโre pretty durable and fit very well especially if youโre double-sleeving.
- Great for collectible card game singles
- Perfect for tournament use
- Low gloss and less slick then regular sleeves
Best Art
If you want pretty sleeves to fit your aesthetic, Iโve got a few suggestions for you.
Like official MTG art on your sleeves? Get you some Ultra Pro art sleeves. Theyโre not too expensive, are pretty good quality, and there are a bunch of official art options for you to choose from. They donโt have unlimited options and you might not be able to find what youโre looking for if itโs a specific card image, but thereโs lots of different art to choose from.
On the other hand, if you desire aesthetically-pleasing sleeves that use non-MTG art, Legion art sleeves are your friend. Theyโve got a ton of really cute, funny, or just plain beautiful art to choose from and wonโt break your wallet either.
Finally, if your goal is to collect sleeves themselves, then go for limited edition sleeves. These can get pretty pricey and there isnโt necessarily one brand or place to look. Most brands will occasionally put out limited edition art sleeves, and what you decide to get should depend both on what art you want to add to your collection and which brands youโre OK with paying for.
The Best Custom Sleeves
Our final stop, custom sleeves, can get a bit tricky. Printing sleeves isnโt easy or cheap, and so there arenโt many places that do it. The few that do are usually pretty expensive and the quality may not be up-to-par in order to keep their production costs down.
While theyโre definitely expensive, YourPlaymat offers custom sleeves and theyโve got some pretty good reviews. There are also tons of pictures that look pretty epic.
If you do end up getting a custom sleeve, though, you may want to double-sleeve them. The problem that youโll usually run into with custom sleeves is that the art is printed on top of the back of the card and can peel off. YourPlaymat does mention in the custom sleeveโs description that the art on their custom sleeves is non-peeling, so expect high quality sleeves.
Do You Need Sleeves for Magic Cards?
You probably do. While it's not a requirement to play the game casually with your friends, if you have valuable cards, or if you're playing in a tournament, you absolutely need to have them.
Should I Double Sleeve My MTG Cards?
Yes, I recommend double sleeving especially if you have valuable cards that you play with. Double-sleeving is particularly common in Commander, Cube, and older formats like Legacy and Vintage where it is not uncommon for many cards in your deck to be worth over $100 each. Double sleeving gives your cards more protection and helps prevent wear and warping.
Do Standard Size Sleeves Fit Magic Cards?
Yes, standard size sleeves that are 66x91mm fit Magic cards. These will protect your cards with some room to spare (in contrast to โperfect fitโ sleeves).
Sleeve Up
Greensleeves, Maro-Sorcerer | Illustration by Tuan Duong Chu
And thatโs all Iโve got for ya! Hopefully this guide is useful to you and helps you find the best fit for your MTG cards and collection. Whatโs your experience with some of the recommended sleeves I mentioned? Did you have a different experience? Let me know in the comments!
Thank you for your support. I know I probably sound like broken record, but itโs only because itโs true. Your support, no matter what form it takesโbe it reading, commenting, or sharing our blog posts, using our draft simulator, Arena Tutor, or supporting us through Patreonโis always super appreciated.
With everything going on in the world, I hope youโre all safe and that it stays that way. Protect your cards, take care of yourselves and your communities, and I wish you well!
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2 Comments
Hello! I don’t know if this topic is been already talked about here, do you know which sleeves are the smallest possible for MTG cards? I know that they might be too small and maybe won’t let use inner sleeves but I’d like to know if they exists. Like every standard sleeve is 66x91mm, are available some sleeves of 65x90mm or similar? Hope the question is clear. Thank you for your support!
Hey Samuele!
An MTG card has an exact measurement of 6.35cm x 8.89cm, so whatever sleeves come closest to that are what you’re looking for. Usually ‘penny sleeves’, though those also come in various sizes.
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