Last updated on February 27, 2024

Glint-Sleeve Artisan - Illustration by Ryan Pancoast

Glint-Sleeve Artisan | Illustration by Ryan Pancoast

If you’ve ever ventured into the world of paper Magic, you’ve probably bought some card sleeves before. And if you’ve bought a couple different brands or types of sleeves, then you’ve definitely noticed that there can be a pretty big difference in quality. If you’ve 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, it’s 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 you’re trying to figure out what sleeve is best for you—or you’re now questioning every card sleeve purchase you’ve ever made—then I’ve got your back. Whether you’re 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, I’ll cover everything you need to know and give you the scoop on what to get and what to avoid. So, let’s 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.

Sale
Ultimate Guard Katana Sleeves Standard Size Black (100)
  • Acid free, no PVC
  • Impeccable clarity
  • Extra long lifespan and durability
  • Made in Japan
  • Perfect shuffling

Buyer’s Guide

Glint-Sleeve Siphoner MTG card art by Greg Opalinski

Glint-Sleeve Siphoner | Illustration by Greg Opalinski

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of what brand and sleeve you should buy, let’s go over the “dos and don’ts” of buying card sleeves for MTG. Or, at the very least, the stuff you should keep in mind when you’re trying to figure out what sleeve to get.

First, I’ll say that if you’re looking to truly protect your cards while playing, you should also look into getting 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. They’ve also got some pretty awesome art if aesthetic is important to you.

No matter what you’re looking to do with your card sleeves, you’re going to want to look at their characteristics to figure out if what you’re looking at is worth the price tag. Here’s a quick breakdown of some examples and what you need to look out for with each:

Choose the Right Size

At least it does for MTG card sleeves. Even if you’re not looking to maintain the value of your cards per se, I doubt you’re 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?

MTG card varying sizes

I talked about this in my MTG card size article, but here’s a quick recap if you just want the quick-and-dirty:

  • If you’re looking for a basic sleeve to protect your cards while playing, you need a “standard size” sleeve (usually around 66x91mm)
  • If you’re looking for sleeves to store cards in a binder, you’re looking at “perfect fit” sleeves (usually sized as 64x89mm)
  • If you’re looking to double sleeve your cards for extra protection, you’ll need perfect fit and standard fit sleeves, one in the other
  • Pokémon cards are the same size as MTG cards, so you can get Pokémon sleeves for your Magic collection if you want
  • Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are smaller than MTG cards and use “mini” or “small” sleeves and can’t be swapped out (unless you want to warp your cards)

Sleeve Strength and Durability

Next up is the sleeve’s durability. How much punishment can it take before it starts to crack or peal? Obviously, you don’t want a sleeve that’s going to look like you’ve had it in the attic for the past 10 years after just a couple of months or, god forbid, a couple of weeks.

torn MTG Oko art sleeves

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 that’s supposed to protect your cards when it can’t even protect itself.

Opacity and See-Through Characteristics

Peer Through Depths - Illustration by Anthony S. Waters

Peer Through Depths | Illustration by Anthony S. Waters

This goes for both sides of the sleeve. How opaque is it?

If we’re talking 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 there’s the possibility of marking (i.e., putting “marks” on certain cards so you can tell when they pop up in your deck without drawing/scrying them). You typically can’t even participate in tournaments if your sleeves are see-through, even if there’s 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. Everything but dust and time should get through the front. Can you imagine trying to play Magic when you have to squint just to read your cards? Sounds like a bad time to me.

Finish and Sleeve Coating

Shinechaser - Illustration by Evan Shipard

Shinechaser | Illustration by Evan Shipard

Last but not least—if you play in tournaments, at least—is the finish on the sleeves. Even if you don’t 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 they’ve got, you’ll have an easier or harder time shuffling. Some get sticky after a while, and there’s 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 they’re great out of the pack, glossy usually get sticky much faster. There are some brands that have mattes/hyper mattes that don’t 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

Skewer the Critics | Illustration by Heonhwa Choe

Whether you’re buying 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 are obviously what you wanna look out for 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 they’ll hug your cards a little too closely and warp them over time. If you’re looking at standard fit, they might run small and ruin your double-sleeving intention by being closer to a perfect fit and now you’ve 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 there’s no geometry this time! Hallelujah.

Before we dive in, though, full disclosure: I have not personally used all of these sleeves. I’ve used several of them and will update if I have new insight to share.

In a Rush? Get The Best Overall

Ultimate Guard Katana Sleeves

Ultimate Guard's Katana sleeves are a newer entrant to the market, but wow, have they arrived with a bang.

They're an absolute blast to shuffle and can be effectively used for any situation — 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. If you don't care about fancy art, then these are the sleeves for you.

They're by far the best value. No, they're not a bottom-of-the barrel price, but do you really want to keep rebuying new sleeves over and over again?

Sale
Ultimate Guard Katana Sleeves Standard Size Black (100)
  • Acid free, no PVC
  • Impeccable clarity
  • Extra long lifespan and durability
  • Made in Japan
  • Perfect shuffling

Competitive Play Sleeves

perfect fit smoke 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 you’re gun-ho on this brand, though, some of their perfect fit smoke sleeves can do wonders in preventing any see-through cheating scandals.

It’s 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. I’d suggest either sticking to the perfect fit or double-sleeving with another brand.

Dragon Shield AT-13023 Card Case, Smoke, One Size
  • 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 μm quality thickness. For cards measuring up to 63x88 mm's (2½"x3½").

Budget Sleeves

BCW 500 Count Deck Guard BLACK MATTE Sleeves

If you can’t 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. They’re about half the price of most other sleeves and aren’t 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.

Sale
BCW Deck Guard - Double Matte Card Sleeves | 500 Count Box (10 Packs of 50 Sleeves) |Acid-Free, No PVC | Fits 2.5" x 3.5" Game Cards | Archival Safe Sleeves for Card Protection (Black)
  • Acid-Free and Archival Safe: These clear 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

Perfect Fit

When it comes to double-sleeving, the inner sleeve’s best bet is KMC’s Perfect Fit Size. Not only are they pretty cheap, but they’re also of pretty good quality and are good at the thing that matters most: protecting your cards with a perfectly-snug hug.

KMC 100 Pochettes Card Barrier Perfect Size Soft Sleeves, 3 Pack/Total 300 Pochettes [Komainu-Dou Original Package], Clear
  • 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

Dragon Shield mattes

We’re going back to Dragon Shield mattes on this one. Part of why they’re my overall recommendation is because they’re pretty versatile in terms of what they’re good for, one of those being Commander decks.

When it comes to Commander, you’re obviously going to be dealing with a bigger deck since the minimum is 100 cards instead of 60 as it is with Standard. So, 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 deck box, after all.

Dragon Shield Standard Size Sleeves – Matte Orange 100CT - Card Sleeves are Smooth & Tough - Compatible with Pokemon, Yugioh, & Magic The Gathering Card Sleeves – MTG, TCG, OCG
  • 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 (2½"x3½").
  • PVC-free polypropylene sleeves, no acid. Archival safe.

Best for Cube

KMC’s hyper matte sleeves

When we’re talking a really large amount of cards like in Cube, the best sleeves to go for are KMC’s hyper matte sleeves. They’re pretty cheap in bulk much like their Perfect Size counterparts, and don’t suffer in quality because of it. They’re pretty durable and fit very well especially if you’re double-sleeving.

KMC Full Size Hyper Matte Sleeves (80-Pack), Black, Standard Size
  • Great for collectible card game singles
  • Perfect for tournament use
  • Low gloss and less slick then regular sleeves

Best Art

If you’re looking for pretty sleeves to fit your aesthetic, I’ve actually got a few suggestions for you depending on what you’re looking for.

Ultra Pro Printed Art Magic The Gathering Card Game 100ct Printed Art Card Sleeves - MTG Mana 7 Green Forest
Top Pick
Magic the Gathering - MTG Eldritch Moon Tamiyo Card Sleeves (80 Count) Deck Protectors
Ultra Pro Printed Art Magic The Gathering Card Game 100ct Printed Art Card Sleeves - MTG Mana 7 White Plains
Ultra PRO - MTG Commander Masters 100ct Standard Size Card Sleeves - Urza, Lord High Artificer Artwork, Matte Finish with ChromaFusion Technology, Protect Magic: The Gathering Cards Deck Protectors
Ultra Pro 86817, Mountain/Mountain
Ultra Pro Printed Art Magic The Gathering Card Game 100ct Printed Art Card Sleeves - MTG Mana 7 Green Forest
Magic the Gathering - MTG Eldritch Moon Tamiyo Card Sleeves (80 Count) Deck Protectors
Ultra Pro Printed Art Magic The Gathering Card Game 100ct Printed Art Card Sleeves - MTG Mana 7 White Plains
Ultra PRO - MTG Commander Masters 100ct Standard Size Card Sleeves - Urza, Lord High Artificer Artwork, Matte Finish with ChromaFusion Technology, Protect Magic: The Gathering Cards Deck Protectors
Ultra Pro 86817, Mountain/Mountain
$24.95
$9.94
$24.95
$17.49
$21.09
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
-
Ultra Pro Printed Art Magic The Gathering Card Game 100ct Printed Art Card Sleeves - MTG Mana 7 Green Forest
Ultra Pro Printed Art Magic The Gathering Card Game 100ct Printed Art Card Sleeves - MTG Mana 7 Green Forest
$24.95
Amazon Prime
Top Pick
Magic the Gathering - MTG Eldritch Moon Tamiyo Card Sleeves (80 Count) Deck Protectors
Magic the Gathering - MTG Eldritch Moon Tamiyo Card Sleeves (80 Count) Deck Protectors
$9.94
Amazon Prime
Ultra Pro Printed Art Magic The Gathering Card Game 100ct Printed Art Card Sleeves - MTG Mana 7 White Plains
Ultra Pro Printed Art Magic The Gathering Card Game 100ct Printed Art Card Sleeves - MTG Mana 7 White Plains
$24.95
Amazon Prime
Ultra PRO - MTG Commander Masters 100ct Standard Size Card Sleeves - Urza, Lord High Artificer Artwork, Matte Finish with ChromaFusion Technology, Protect Magic: The Gathering Cards Deck Protectors
Ultra PRO - MTG Commander Masters 100ct Standard Size Card Sleeves - Urza, Lord High Artificer Artwork, Matte Finish with ChromaFusion Technology, Protect Magic: The Gathering Cards Deck Protectors
$17.49
Amazon Prime
Ultra Pro 86817, Mountain/Mountain
Ultra Pro 86817, Mountain/Mountain
$21.09
-

Looking for official MTG art on your sleeves? Get you some Ultra Pro art sleeves. They’re not too expensive, are pretty good quality, and there are a bunch of official art options for you to choose from. They don’t have unlimited options and you might not be able to find what you’re looking for if it’s a specific card image, but there’s lots of different art to choose from.

Top Pick
100 Legion Supplies Princess Bride Inconceivable Deck Protector Sleeves
Legion Card Sleeves - Pizza Time - 100ct
100 Legion Supplies Absolute Iconic Yellow Triforce Deck Protector Sleeves
100 Legion Supplies Sad Panda Deck Protector Sleeves
Legion Iconic Witch and CAULDRON 50 Matte Finish Sleeves (fits Magic / MTG, Pokemon Cards)
100 Legion Supplies Princess Bride Inconceivable Deck Protector Sleeves
Legion Card Sleeves - Pizza Time - 100ct
100 Legion Supplies Absolute Iconic Yellow Triforce Deck Protector Sleeves
100 Legion Supplies Sad Panda Deck Protector Sleeves
Legion Iconic Witch and CAULDRON 50 Matte Finish Sleeves (fits Magic / MTG, Pokemon Cards)
$13.99
$11.00
$11.00
$14.98
$7.00
Amazon Prime
-
-
Amazon Prime
-
Top Pick
100 Legion Supplies Princess Bride Inconceivable Deck Protector Sleeves
100 Legion Supplies Princess Bride Inconceivable Deck Protector Sleeves
$13.99
Amazon Prime
Legion Card Sleeves - Pizza Time - 100ct
Legion Card Sleeves - Pizza Time - 100ct
$11.00
-
100 Legion Supplies Absolute Iconic Yellow Triforce Deck Protector Sleeves
100 Legion Supplies Absolute Iconic Yellow Triforce Deck Protector Sleeves
$11.00
-
100 Legion Supplies Sad Panda Deck Protector Sleeves
100 Legion Supplies Sad Panda Deck Protector Sleeves
$14.98
Amazon Prime
Legion Iconic Witch and CAULDRON 50 Matte Finish Sleeves (fits Magic / MTG, Pokemon Cards)
Legion Iconic Witch and CAULDRON 50 Matte Finish Sleeves (fits Magic / MTG, Pokemon Cards)
$7.00
-

On the other hand, if you’re looking for aesthetically-pleasing sleeves that use non-MTG art, Legion art sleeves will be your friend. They’ve got a ton of really cute, funny, or just plain pretty art to choose from and won’t break your wallet either.

Finally, if your goal is to collect sleeves themselves, then you’re looking at getting limited edition sleeves. These can sometimes get pretty pricey and there isn’t 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 you’re OK with paying for.

The Best Custom Sleeves

YourPlaymat custom sleeves

Our final stop, custom sleeves, can get a bit tricky. Printing sleeves isn’t easy or cheap, and so there aren’t 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.

That being said, I’m not just going to leave you high-and-dry like that. While they’re definitely expensive, YourPlaymat offers custom sleeves and they’ve 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 you’ll 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 sleeve’s description that the art on their custom sleeves is non-peeling, so they may be creating higher quality sleeves than you can usually expect from custom ones.

FAQs About Magic Card Sleeves

As you might guess based on the rest of this article, people have a lot of questions about sleeves. Allow me to address a few of the most frequent ones…

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?

If you have valuable cards that you'll be playing with, yes. 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?

If by “standard size” you mean 66x91mm, then yes they do. This will protect your cards with some room to spare (in contrast to “perfect fit” sleeves).

Slip That Sleeve Off

Pledge of Unity - Illustration by Chris Rallis

Pledge of Unity | Illustration by Chris Rallis

And that’s all I’ve got for ya! Hopefully this guide ends up being useful to you in picking out the best fit for your MTG cards and collection. What’s your experience with some of the recommended sleeves I mentioned? Does my summary make sense, or did you have a different experience? Let me know in the comments!

As usual, I’m gonna take a sec to thank you for your support. I know I probably sound like broken record, but it’s only because it’s true. Your support, no matter what form it takes—be it reading, commenting, or sharing our blog posts, using our draft simulator, Arena Tutor, or supporting us through Patreon—is always super appreciated. See what I did there *nudgenudgewinkwink*

With everything going on in the world, I hope you’re all safe and that it stays that way. Take care of yourselves and your communities, and I wish you well!

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