Pokémon toploaders: what they're for and which to choose
A toploader is a rigid, clear plastic holder that protects a card from bends and knocks. For a standard Pokémon card, the right model is the 3 × 4 inch, 35pt toploader, into which you slide the card already protected by a soft sleeve. Thicker sizes are reserved for thick cards and bulkier items.
What exactly is a toploader?
The name comes from its opening: the card goes in from the top ("top loading"). The external dimensions are 3 × 4 inches, around 76 × 102 mm, to hold a standard-size 63.5 × 88.9 mm card. That covers Pokémon cards, in every language, and One Piece cards.
Unlike a sleeve, it doesn't bend. That is the whole point: a card in a toploader can be handled, stored in a box or sent through the post without any risk of bending.
Understanding "pt" thicknesses
The "pt" (point) is an American unit measuring the thickness of card the toploader can hold: 1 point equals one thousandth of an inch. A standard Pokémon card fits a 35pt. Even so, Ultra PRO makes its 3 × 4 toploaders in several thicknesses:
| Thickness | What for? |
|---|---|
| 35pt | Standard Pokémon and TCG cards, with a soft sleeve |
| 55pt | Slightly thicker cards, or a double-sleeved card |
| 75pt and 100pt | Thick cards (patches, memorabilia, metal cards) |
| 180pt | Very thick items, very rare in Pokémon |
Going thicker "just to be safe" is not a good idea: the card floats around and can slide, which damages the corners. Choose the thickness closest to what you are storing.
When should you use a toploader?
- As soon as you open a booster pack, to set aside an illustration rare, a secret card or a promo.
- For storing your best cards in a box, upright and snug without being squeezed.
- For an in-person trade or sale: the card can change hands without risk.
- For posting a card, even a modest one.
For binders, there are also models with pockets designed for toploaders. Our binder guide explains how to choose.
Always a sleeve inside
Never slide a bare card into a toploader. The inside can scratch the surface, and the opening easily catches a corner. The right method:
- Put the card in a soft sleeve (penny sleeve).
- Tilt the toploader slightly and slide the sleeved card in, without forcing it.
- If you are worried the card might slip out, fold over the top of the sleeve or put a second sleeve, opening facing down, over the toploader.
Avoid sealing the opening with tape stuck directly onto the toploader: the adhesive can reach the card when you take it out.
Sending a card by post
The toploader is the standard for sending cards between collectors. Here is our method:
- Card in a sleeve, then in the toploader.
- Close the toploader with a second sleeve or a small resealable bag.
- Slip it between two slightly larger pieces of rigid cardboard, held together.
- Send it in a padded envelope and, for a valuable card, choose a tracked service.
If the card is going off for grading, the rule is different: PSA and CGC ask for a semi-rigid holder rather than a toploader. All the details are in our guide Getting your Pokémon cards graded.
Material and quality
Classic toploaders are made of very clear rigid PVC. That is the case, for example, with Ultra PRO's 3 × 4 models, and it is precisely this material that gives them their rigidity. As the card stays inside a PVC-free soft sleeve, it is not in direct contact with the holder. A good toploader can be recognised by its clarity, well-finished edges with no snagging burrs, and an even opening. Some manufacturers, such as Gamegenic with its Exoshield range, offer their own variants: compare the product pages before choosing.
Find our models in the Toploaders section. Add them to your request list, or write to us if you are unsure about the thickness.
Frequently asked questions
Does a 35pt toploader fit a double-sleeved card?
It is often too tight. For a double-sleeved card, a slightly greater thickness, such as 55pt, is more comfortable.
Toploader or magnetic holder?
A toploader is for storage and posting. A rigid magnetic holder ("one-touch") is more for displaying a card in a cabinet.
How many toploaders do I need?
One for each card you really want to protect. Always keep a few spare for opening booster packs.
Can toploaders be stored in a deck box?
Some large-capacity boxes take toploaders standing upright. Check the box's internal dimensions before buying.