What Thickness of Card Holder Do I Need?

With the increased popularity of memorabilia sports cards comes increased confusion on what thickness of card holders you need to protect your prized cards. Card thickness (depth) is often measured in points. One point is equivalent to .001 inches or .0254 millimeters.

A simple method to determine the correct thickness of a card is to use a Card Thickness Point Gauge. These gauges are located on BCW toploader and magnetic card holder packages. You can also download a printable Card Thickness Point Gauge (PDF). If you print the gauges, make sure to print the sheet at 100% scale (no print scaling like “fit to page”) to get accurate sizing.

There are lots of choices when deciding how to protect your cards. You can use 9-Pocket Pages to place cards in an Album, or you can use individual card holders. We have listed most of the BCW and Pro-Mold Card Holders below. To simplify the decision, first determine what size you need. Most cards are 2½ inches wide x 3½ inches high, but dimensions can vary. Then check the thickness using your Card Thickness Point Gauge. After you have determined the size, select your desired closing method: snap, 1-screw, 4-screw, magnetics, toploaders, or semi-rigids.

Interior
W x H
in Inches
Depth in PointsDescriptionBrandClosing
Method
SKU
2½ x 3½20-pts.BCW
Mini Snap
BCWMini Snap1-MS
2½ x 3½20-pts.Pro-Mold
Mini Snap
Display Box
Pro-MoldMini SnapPM-PC1D
2½ x 3½20-pts.Pro-Mold
Mini Snap
Blank Packaging
Pro-MoldMini SnapPM-PC1B
2½ x 3½20-pts.BCW
Regular Snap
BCWSnap1-RS
2½ x 3½20-pts.Improved
Mini Snap
Pro-MoldMini SnapPM-PC1II
2 5/9 x 3½70-pts.Action Packed
Mini Snap
Pro-MoldMini SnapPM-PC3
2⅔ x 3 8/930-pts.Pre-57 HolderPro-MoldMini SnapPM-PC4
2 5/9 x 3½120-pts.Real Thick CardPro-MoldMini SnapPM-PC20
2 1/16 x 2½30-pts.1948-1950
Bowman
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC48
2 3/16 x 320-pts.Topps &
Bowman Minis
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC21
2 1/16 x 3 1/820-pts.1951-1952
Bowman
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC51
2 5/8 x 3¾30-pts.1952-1956
Topps
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC52
2 ½ x 3¾30-pts.1953-1955
Bowman
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC53
2½ x 3½20-pts.Regular
1-Screw
BCW1-Screw1-1S
2 9/16 x 3 9/1650-pts.Thick Card
1-Screw Holder
BCW1-Screw1-1S-THICK
2 9/16 x 3 9/16120-pts.Super Thick Card1-Screw HolderBCW1-Screw1-1S-STHICK
2½ x 3½20-pts.Regular
1-Screw
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC5II
2 5/9 x 3½20-pts.1-Screw
with Stand
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC13
2½ x 3½20-pts.1/2″
1-Screw
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC14
2½ x 3½50-pts.1/2″ 1-Screw
Thick Card
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC15
2½ x 3½110-pts.1/2″ 1-Screw
Real Thick Card
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC16
2½ x 3½180-pts.1/2″ 1-Screw
Super Thick Card
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC17
2½ x 3½50-pts.Thick Card
1-Screw
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC6II
2 5/9 x 3 5/9120-pts.Extra Thick Card
1-Screw
Pro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC18II
1.517 x 2.71720-pts.1-Screw T-206 Topps GinterPro-Mold1-ScrewPM-PC206
n/an/a4-Screw
Non-Recessed
BCW4-Screw1-4SNR
n/an/aPro-Mold 4-Screw
Non-Recessed
Pro-Mold4-ScrewPM-PC9
2½ x 3½ 4-Screw
Recessed
BCW4-Screw1-4SR
2½ x 3½30-pts.Pro-Mold 4-Screw
Recessed
Pro-Mold4-ScrewPM-PC11
2½ x 3½ 4 Screw
Black Border
BCW4-Screw1-1CS-B
2½ x 3½35-pts.35-pts. MagneticBCWMagnetic1-MCH-35
2½ x 3½55-pts.55-pts. MagneticBCWMagnetic1-MCH-55
2½ x 3½75-pts.75-pts. MagneticBCWMagnetic1-MCH-75
2½ x 3½100-pts.100-pts. MagneticBCWMagnetic1-MCH-100
2½ x 3½180-pts.180-pts. MagneticBCWMagnetic1-MCH-180
2½ x 3½360-pts.360-pts. MagneticBCWMagnetic1-MCH-360
2½ x 3½20-pts.Pro-Mold Regular
Magnetic
Pro-MoldMagneticPM-MH1
2½ x 3½50-pts.50-pts. MagneticPro-MoldMagneticPM-MH2
2½ x 3½120-pts.120-pts. MagneticPro-MoldMagneticPM-MH3
2 9/16 x 3 9/16180-pts.180-pts. MagneticPro-MoldMagneticPM-MH4
2½ x 3½80-pts.80-pts. MagneticPro-MoldMagneticPM-MH5
2½ x 3½150-pts.150-pts. MagneticPro-MoldMagneticPM-MH6
2¾ x 3½Approx.30-pts..Acrylic Card Stand VerticalBCWPressure Fit1-ACS-V
2¾ x 3½Approx.30-pts..Acrylic Card Stand Vertical
with Header
BCWPressure Fit1-ACS-VH
2¼ x 4¼ 1/4″ Acrylic
4-Screw
BCW4-Screw1-A025
2¼ x 4½ ½” Acrylic
4-Screw
BCW4-Screw1-A050
2¼ x 4½118-pts.½” Acrylic 4-Screw with
3MM Insert
BCW4-ScrewA050–A050-I-3MM
2¼ x 4½ 1″ Acrylic
4-Screw
BCW4-Screw1-A100
2¼ x 4½118-pts.1″ Acrylic
4-Screw with
3MM Insert
BCW4-ScrewA100–A050-I-3MM
2¼ x 4½235-pts.1″ Acrylic
4-Screw with
6MM Insert
BCW4-ScrewA100–A100-I-6MM
2 1/16 x 3 1/820-pts.Tobacco Card ToploaderBCWTopload1-TLCH-TBC-25
2¾ x 3 7/820-pts.25-Pack Standard
Toploader
BCWTopload1-TLCH-N 1-TLCH-100
2¾ x 3 7/1620-pts.25-Pack Premium
Toploader
BCWTopload1-TLCH
2¾ x 3 7/820-pts.Toploader with “Rookie Card”BCWTopload1-TLCH-RG (Gold)
1-TLCH-RW (White)
2¾ x 3 7/820-pts.Toploader with
Color Border
BCWTopload1-TLCH-BK
1-TLCH-BL
1-TLCH-RD
1-TLCH-GR
1-TLCH-WH
2¾ x 3 7/850-pts.Action Packed
Toploaders
BCWTopload1-TLCH-TH-1.5MM
2¾ x 3 7/879-pts.Thick Card
Toploader
BCWTopload1-TLCH-TH-2MM
2¾ x 3 7/8108-pts.Thick Card
Toploader
BCWTopload1-TLCH-TH-2.75MM
2¾ x 3 7/8138-pts.Thick Card
Toploader
BCWTopload1-TLCH-TH-3.5MM
2¾ x 3 7/8168-pts.Thick Card
Toploader
BCWTopload1-TLCH-TH-4.25MM
2¾ x 3 7/8197-pts.Thick Card
Toploader
BCWTopload1-TLCH-TH-5MM
2¾ x 3 7/8240-pts.Thick Card
Toploader
BCWTopload1-TLCH-TH-7MM
2¾ x 3 7/8360-pts.Thick Card
Toploaders
BCWTopload1-TLCH-TH-9MM
2¾ x 4 7/820-pts.Tall Card
Toploader
BCWTopload1-TLCH-TALL
3 3/16 x 4 1/4No insetSemi-Rigid Holder 1BCWSemi-Rigid1-SR1
 2 7/8 x 3 3/4No inset Semi-Rigid Holder 2BCWSemi-Rigid1-SR2
3 3/16 x 5 1/8No inset Semi-Rigid Holder 3 – TallBCWSemi-Rigid1-SR3
Comparison of BCW card holders

Protecting Your National Geographic Collection

National Geographic has been publishing some of the best photography, social stories and science news for over a century. For collectors that want to preserve their yellow-bordered magazine collection, BCW bags, backing boards, and boxes are an ideal solution. While BCW offers supplies to protect traditionally-sized magazines, BCW’s products sized for Silver Age comics books are perfect for National Geographic. The Silver Age is an era in comic book publishing from 1956 to 1969 when comics were similar in dimensions to National Geographics.

National Geographic magazines in BCW Short Comic Box

To get the correct comic bag for a National Geographic, use the Silver Thick Comic Book Bag along with a Silver Age Comic Book Backing Board.

To hold a group of five National Geographics, try a Comic Book Stor-Folio.

The BCW Short Comic Box can hold approximately 56 National Geographics in bags and boards, with room for a few BCW Comic Book Dividers. A BCW Long Comic Box can hold about 100 National Geographics. For a premium box solution, try a BCW Comic Book Bin with a partition that acts as a bookend to keep your National Geographics upright in the bin.

National Geographic magazines with various BCW Comic Stor-Folios