Which BCW Cardboard Boxes are Large Enough for Card Holders or Graded Cards?

Most BCW cardboard boxes are only large enough to hold standard 2½” x 3½” cards or cards in sleeves. However several boxes have wider rows to accommodate cards in protective holders such as semi-rigids, toploaders, 1-screws, magnetics or other holders or cases. Some BCW boxes are designed to hold graded cards or other tall cards. A few boxes have both wide rows and increased height.

If you are trying to decide which BCW boxes are right for your collection, the list below shows the basic sizes. If you store cards in protective holders, you’ll need a box with WIDE rows. If you have graded cards, other tall cards, or you have 4-screw card holders, get a box labelled GRADED.

Continue reading

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

BCW Folio Solutions for Card Playsets

In Magic: the Gathering, Pokémon, and other card games, collecting playsets of four cards is ideal for some strategies. In Magic for example, you have a deck of sixty cards (in general) and you draw seven cards in your opening hand and one more each turn thereafter. Magic rules limit your card selection to no more than four of the same card in your deck. Thus, if you have four of a certain card in your deck, a “playset”, you can maximize the likelihood the desired card will be in your hand when needed.

Organizing playsets in a binder is perfect for displaying what sets you have or showing what cards you’re needing to complete a set. Furthermore, when forming a deck with a desired tactic, folios make it easy to see your options and selecting your deck. BCW offers three solutions for collecting cards in playsets.

BCW 4-Pocket Page Pro-Folios with Magic cards

BCW 4-Pocket Pro-Folios

BCW 4-Pocket Pro-Folios provide a simple 4-up page. Twenty double-sided pages are welded into the album for holding 160 cards. The pages are acid-fee with side-loading pockets. An elastic closure is used to keep the folio closed. 4-Pocket Pro-Folios are available in five colors.

BCW 8-Pocket Page Pro-Folio LX Black with Magic cards

BCW 8-Pocket Pro-Folio LX Black

The BCW 8-Pocket Page Pro-Folio LX is available with a black leatherette cover and an elastic closure. It’s the same exterior size as our 9-Pocket Page Pro-Folio LX, however the cards are oriented the other direction with 8 pockets per page which is conducive to collecting sets of four. The folio contains twenty double-sided pages to for holding 320 cards.

BCW 12-Pocket Page Z-Folio LX with cards

BCW 12-Pocket Z-Folio LX

The BCW 12-Pocket Page Z-Folio LX has twenty double-sided pages for holding 480 cards. The pages are acid-free with side-loading pockets. The leatherette covers are available in five colors. A durable zipper ensures cards will be kept safe.

Why do BCW Card Box Names Not Match the Amount of Cards They Can Hold?

BCW offers numerous sizes of boxes to store collectible trading cards. The boxes are named by numbers, implying they can store that many cards. An example is the BCW 930 Count Box – its title implies it holds 930 cards, however the description claims it holds 825 cards. So why do BCW box names not match what the boxes actually hold? Is there a system to help collectors understand the box naming system vs. the actual box quantity amount?

This is a frequently asked question at BCW Supplies. To understand the answer, a brief history lesson in baseball card collecting is needed. Between 1956 and 1981, Topps was the only manufacturer of baseball cards and they used an 18 point card stock. In 1981, the MLB added 2 more licensees which were Donruss and Fleer. By 1989, The Upper Deck Company, Score, and other brands started emerging. With competition came innovation and card companies started making cards with a little heavier card stock and UV coating which made them a couple of points thicker. One manufacturer of football cards, Action Packed, even started embossing their cards. Then, the card manufacturers started making thicker “premium brands” of trading cards and adding pieces of memorabilia to some of the special cards, usually referred to as inserts.

So, the answer is that, for the period between 1956 and 1989, cards were approximately 18 points thick (18/1000th of an inch) and the boxes were originally designed for these cards. As your cards might be thinner or thicker than 18 points, the card box will hold more or less depending on your situation.

Various BCW card storage boxes with collectible cards

The bottom of most BCW boxes describes their size.

The 1000 Count TCG Card Storage Box is sized to hold 1000 game cards, such as Magic: The Gathering (MTG), Pokémon, and KeyForge. These gaming cards on a pressed, glossy paper that’s thinner than traditional sports cards. A MTG card is about 11 points thick (11/1000th of an inch), while a 1980’s Topps baseball card is about 18 points thick (18/1000th of an inch). BCW card boxes have been named for the cards they were designed to hold. So the 1000 Ct. TCG Box is designed to hold 1000 gaming cards, while the 800 Ct. Box will hold about 800 traditional sports cards. This explains why (in the picture below) the 1000 Ct. Box, designed for the thinner game cards, is actually smaller than the 800 and 930 Ct. Boxes, that were designed for the thicker sports cards.

See all of the BCW Trading Card Boxes. Please refer to the product description to ensure the box you need will protect all of the cards you’re storing.

Size comparison of the BCW 930, 800, and 1000 tcg card boxes

The bottom of the 930 ct., 800 ct., and 1000 ct. TCG Card Boxes