Last updated on September 30, 2022
Drizzt Do’Urden | Illustration by Tyler Jacobson
So you’ve finally decided to build that awesome Commander deck you want. You have all the cards (pretty expensive ones, too), you play tested it to make sure it works perfectly, you even got all the tokens you needed, and now you have a 100-card (maybe more) giant of a deck. It doesn’t fit anywhere and there’s absolutely no way to move it around. Much worse if you’ve got it sleeved up.
I’ve suffered this problem more than once. EDH decks take up a lot of space and you’re probably gonna be moving them around all the time. Whether you’re going to a LGS or to your friend’s house, you need a way to take your decks with you without your cards getting scattered all around and—god forbid—lost. Even if you don’t move them much, you still need to keep them in order.
There’s a lot of storage options for your cards. More so when it comes to deck boxes. Some are unnecessarily expensive, but sometimes that extra buck can make a huge difference.
Trying to find the right box can be a real pain. I took the time to go through a variety of products to see if I could find the best boxes out there for all your EDH needs, or for a cool gift. Hopefully this list will get you on the right path to find the box you need for your decks.
Let’s get into it!
My Top Pick
I chose the FlipnTray Xenoskin 200+ as my personal pick for a variety of reasons. This is one of the most expensive products I’ve considered, but the overall quality is super high. It also fits two fully-sleeved Commander decks plus a compartment for dice, beads, and counters.
And the price is still less than two individual Flip’N’Tray 100s, which only fit one deck each. You’re pretty much set up for good with just two of these boxes. It’s not very common to carry around more than two or three decks plus a handful of dice at a time, so even only one of these should get you set.
- Independent access to each tray
- Removable card and accessory tray
- Microfiber inner linning
- Strong magnetic closure
- Resistant Xenoskin material
What Should You Look For?
The first thing that should come to mind when you’re thinking about what box to get should be something along the lines of, “what do I intend to do with this?” What I mean by this is that you need to think a little more deeply about where and when you’re going to be using the deck.
Maybe you want a simple box to store your deck in your home and not move around much. Maybe you’re expecting to take one or two everywhere and you need something that’ll protect them while also comfortably fitting in your backpack. Maybe you’re the person who has all the decks in your playgroup and you need to transport a ton of decks all at once. It seems obvious when I say it like that, but intended use is really important and can sometimes get overlooked.
I think the most important thing is finding a box that’s able to last a long time considering its use. It makes no sense investing a ton of money on a super protective box that’s barely gonna move from a shelf, in the same way that it’s too risky to buy a box that’s a little too cheap and might break too quickly if you’re constantly carrying your decks with you.
Magic cards are very expensive pieces of cardboard, and that means they’re very fragile. You should always aim to spend a bit more and get something that’ll properly protect your cards rather than cheap out and risk ruining your favorite cards. You might save a few bucks when buying the box, but you’re gonna end up having to spend a lot more than what a good box would’ve cost if a super expensive card gets ruined.
There may be some players who disagree with me on this, but I think that price, protection, and durability are the main things you need to pay attention to. Things like the aesthetic of the box or extras like a dice compartment should come second. I may be on board with spending extra for a box that’s prettier that you like it as long as it’s equally as protective, but I’d never recommend spending less for the same reason.
A Checklist
Trelasarra, Moon Dancer | Illustration by Kieran Yanner
Here’s short list of things to check when looking for a deck box to make sure it fits what you need:
- Comfortably fits a fully sleeved 100-card deck. Making sure it fits a double-sleeved deck is also important. The cards shouldn’t be too tight or forced into the box.
- It’s long-lasting. There’s no point in buying a box that’ll only last a year or two because you’ll end up spending a lot more on new boxes every couple of years.
- Make sure it doesn’t open on its own. A lot of boxes look really cool and are super solid, but they’ll open up and let all the cards out as soon as you toss them in your bag. This can lead to lost or ruined cards which defeats the entire purpose of buying a box in the first place.
- It doesn’t tear up your bag. Sturdy boxes are great, but boxes that are so sturdy that they end up breaking your bag aren’t good. There’s plenty of bag-friendly options out there.
- There’s no way the cards can get damaged by things inside the box. Avoid metal rivets or small internal contraptions that might catch on your cards and damage them.
- Price range. You don’t want to go around spending a small fortune on every deck box you buy, so make sure you’re getting the best you can for a reasonable price. I’d say the ideal price range is $10 to $20 for individual deck boxes. Exceptions can be made for boxes that fit more than one deck at once.
- It’s comfortable and pretty. This is probably the least important point on the list, but you also ideally want the box to look and feel nice if it fits all the other criteria.
You’re hopefully gonna go for a box that meets all of these requirements one way or another. Most of these are spectrums rather than a “yes” or “no” thing. Some decks have softer edges than others and some are sturdier than others, but this doesn’t mean that the “others” are inherently bad. The most important thing is that the box fits your personal needs.
Everything I’ve listed are things that I’d consider pretty much universal. Everyone cares about them one way or another. Paying attention to them when you’re buying a box can save you a lot of time, trouble, and money.
Other things to consider when going through some of these boxes is how much you can use them aside from storing your deck. Deck boxes like the Ultimate Guard Boulders completely open up, which leaves you with two compartments to store your tokens, dice, counters, and other various things you might want to have close by during a match. Luckily there are boxes that are designed with this in mind and come with additional storage space.
I know all of this makes it seem like it’d be impossible to find something that fits all your needs, but there’s some surprisingly high-quality stuff out there. With all this in mind, let’s see some of the best options out there!
Best on a Budget
The Ultimate Guard Boulder 100+ boxes get the job done. They’re on the cheaper end and they’re not particularly pretty, but they’ll protect your decks and are pretty sturdy. The edges are only slightly rounded but it’s enough to avoid any backpack-breaking accidents. The inside is smooth and they don’t easily open up on their own.
These boxes fit a double-sleeved deck just a little tight, which is probably their worst trait. I always prefer to have a little extra space, but it’ll do great if you’re using it for a deck that isn’t double-sleeved.
- Durable and rigid box
- Secure closure
- Soft-touch surfac
- Modular design to combine with Ultimate Guard products
Best Midrange Option
The first thing to note here is that Ultra Pro is a really trustworthy brand. They’re a classic name among Magic and other TCG players for a reason. The Satin Tower has a pretty accessible price range and provides some really great quality protection for your cards.
This deck box is spacious enough to comfortably hold 100 double-sleeved cards and it even includes a small compartment for dice and counters. It’s very sturdy and the soft finish on its edges prevent it from damaging any bag you throw it into. The inside of the box is also pretty much perfectly smooth so there’s no risk of your cards getting damaged while inside.
It’s not the prettiest to look at when compared to some other options, but the paint on them is very high-quality and they come in a wide variety of colors so they’re not the ugliest option either.
- Holds up to 100+ Standard Size Cards in Ultra PRO Deck Protector Sleeves
- Accessory compartment in the bottom
- 1 in shrink wrap with Wrapband
- Sleeves, cards not included
- Smooth feel, like Satin
The “Cadillac” of EDH Boxes — Top Pick
The Flip’n’Tray boxes have very high quality. They’re very resistant and it’s basically impossible for them to open up by themselves. The interior is soft and won’t damage your cards or your sleeves, and the XenoSkin faux-leather exterior is very nice to the touch and super classy.
Another advantage of the XenoSkin is that it makes the box softer on the outside, so it’s a lot smoother and greatly reduces the risk of breaking your backpacks. And it comes in a variety of colors so you can choose your favorite.
I chose this one over the Flip’n’Tray 100 because one of the 200s costs less than two individual Flip’n’Tray 100s. I think this makes it a much better investment and it’s also great if you have something like opposing-themed decks that play really well against each other, or if you carry a back-up deck around.
- Independent access to each tray
- Removable card and accessory tray
- Microfiber inner linning
- Strong magnetic closure
- Resistant Xenoskin material
Best for Multiple Decks
Sometimes you’ve got to give up some style for practicality. The Stanley 10 Removable Bin Compartment Organizer might be unorthodox, but it’s an amazing way to carry a lot of decks around. You can fit eight decks in this for the same cost of a single Flip’n’Tray 200. And that even leaves two compartments for other things.
You’re obviously not gonna be putting this one inside another bag because this is the entire bag. I’d recommend this specifically for situations where you absolutely need to move all (or a lot of) your decks at once. It can be a little uncomfortable to carry with you all day.
- Removable cup compartments
- Stanley - Black & Decker
- High Quality New!!!!!!!
- Unique lid design
- Compartments lock in place
DIY Options
I had some conflict when looking up DIY ideas for Commander deck boxes. I love DIY things. I think they tend to look super nice and it’s always an amazing feeling when you’re able to craft your own stuff. But I also think DIY boxes run too many risks of not meeting enough of the criteria I need when considering a deck box.
If you’re looking for a way to store your decks that looks really nice and isn’t really going to leave the house, then DIY is the right way to go.
There’s always small DIY options like using a bought box as a base to put some decor on. It’s not the same as making your own box, but you can customize them to better fit you and your personality.
If you’re interested in woodwork (or you’re already good at it), you can make your own deck box from scratch. This obviously takes a lot of time and effort, but it’s a great hobby and can really help keep your cards in order. I do have to emphasize that you probably need to already have a woodworking hobby for this to make sense.
I’d personally opt for non-DIY boxes in this particular case just because boxes can be excessively hard to make, and the ones you can buy aren’t excessively expensive. If you want to have fun, make some personalized things, and don’t really expect to take them out a lot, then you should 100% go for some DIY options.
Wrap Up
Storing your Commander decks can be a pain sometimes. There’s a lot of them, they’re very fragile, and they’re expensive. Finding the best way to carry them around without fearing any kind of damage can be even more stressful. Hopefully this list helps make that decision a lot easier. And don’t forget to support your local game store!
If all else fails, luckily the newer precon decks come with sturdier boxes that are more comfortable and fit single-sleeved decks, unlike the old ones.
Source: Me 🙂
I wouldn’t really recommend the new precon boxes for anything other than storing your decks on a shelf. They’re mostly pretty and not very protective. And I needed an excuse to complain about the old boxes because they really were useless as soon as you sleeved your deck.
But enough complaining. How do you store your cards? Is there any specific box you prefer? Feel free to comment down below to let me know. And don’t forget follow us on Twitter and check out our blog for more content like this.
Still thinking about your options? Here’s my top pick, the Xenoskin 200+ one last time:
- Independent access to each tray
- Removable card and accessory tray
- Microfiber inner linning
- Strong magnetic closure
- Resistant Xenoskin material
Make sure you keep your cards well-guarded and stay safe. Until the next one!
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