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.

When it comes to protecting your cards, there are plenty of options. For standard-sized cards, 9-Pocket Pages offer a convenient way to store them in an album. However, thick cards require a different approach for optimal protection. For these, consider using toploaders, magnetic card holders, or other specialty holders outlined below.

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.BCW
Regular Snap
BCWSnap1-RS
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
n/an/a4-Screw
Non-Recessed
BCW4-Screw1-4SNR
2½ x 3½ 4-Screw
Recessed
BCW4-Screw1-4SR
2½ x 3½ 4 Screw
Black Border
BCW4-Screw1-9CS-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 3½35-pts.35-pts. MagneticBCWMagnetic1-MCH-35-BLK
2½ x 3½ x235-pts.35-pts. MagneticBCWMagnetic1-2MCH-35-BLK
2½ x 3½ x335-pts.35-pts MagneticBCWMagnetic1-3MCH-35-BLK
2½ x 3½ x435-pts.35-pts. MagneticBCWMagnetic1-4MCH-35-BLK
2¾ x 3½Approx.30-pts..Acrylic Card Stand VerticalBCWPressure Fit1-ACS-V
2¼ x 4¼ 1/4″ Acrylic
4-Screw
BCW4-Screw1-A025
2¼ x 4½ ½” Acrylic
4-Screw
BCW4-Screw1-A050
2 1/16 x 3 1/820-pts.Tobacco Card ToploaderBCWTopload1-TLCH-TBC-25
2¾ x 3 7/835-pts.25-Pack Standard
Toploader
BCWTopload1-TLCH-N 1-TLCH-100
2¾ x 3 7/1635-pts.25-Pack Premium
Toploader
BCWTopload1-TLCH
2¾ x 3 7/835-pts.Toploader with “Rookie Card”BCWTopload1-TLCH-RG (Gold)
1-TLCH-RW (White)
2¾ x 3 7/835-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