# Best toploaders and card protection for shipping

> Penny sleeves, toploaders, team bags and semi-rigid holders ranked for shipping Pokémon and sports cards without bends or scratches.

Ship a card in a soft sleeve against the surface and a rigid holder to stop bends, then seal both in a bag so it cannot slide out.

Each layer costs cents. Penny sleeves run about $6 to $14 for 1,000, toploaders $10 to $18 for 100, and team bags $5 to $10 for 100.

1. **[Penny sleeves, 1,000 pack](https://sellersetups.com/us/product/penny-sleeves)** ($6 to $14): The first layer for each card you ship, at about a cent each.
   - Good for: Every card you sell; Bulk commons
   - Not for: Shipping on their own
2. **[35pt toploaders, 100 pack](https://sellersetups.com/us/product/toploaders)** ($10 to $20): The rigid layer that stops bends in the mail.
   - Good for: Any card worth a few dollars; Shipping in a rigid mailer
   - Not for: Thick patch cards, which need a deeper toploader
3. **[Resealable team bags, 100 pack](https://sellersetups.com/us/product/team-bags)** ($5 to $10): Seals the toploader so the card stays put.
   - Good for: Every toploaded card you ship; Keeping moisture out
   - Not for: Cards without a toploader
4. **[Semi-rigid card holders, 3 5/16 × 4 7/8 in, 50 pack](https://sellersetups.com/us/product/card-savers)** ($10 to $18): The holder graders ask for, and easy for buyers to open.
   - Good for: Grading submissions; Cards a buyer will grade
   - Not for: Shipping without a rigid mailer

## How we chose

- Stops the bend or scratch buyers complain about
- Fits a standard 2.5 × 3.5 inch card
- Price per card at a typical pack size
- What graders and buyers expect

## The standard layers

Sleeve the card first, then slide it into a 35pt toploader, then seal the toploader in a team bag. Tape across the opening of the bag, not onto the toploader itself.

Cheap commons can go in a sleeve with a piece of cardboard behind them. Put anything worth a few dollars in the full set: sleeve, toploader and team bag.

## Toploader or semi-rigid holder

A toploader is stiff and protects best in the mail. A semi-rigid holder flexes slightly and has a lip, so the card comes out without catching.

Grading companies ask for semi-rigid holders of about 3 5/16 × 4 7/8 inches. Send cards for grading in those, and ship sales in toploaders.

## Thick cards and relics

Patch and relic cards are thicker than 35pt. Check the card's thickness and buy a toploader rated for it, such as 55pt or more.

A card forced into a tight holder can crease at the corner, so check the fit before you seal it.

## Shipping the protected card

Put the sealed toploader in a rigid mailer. A single card under $20 on eBay can go by eBay Standard Envelope; anything more valuable belongs in a tracked USPS Ground Advantage package.

A plain envelope with a stamp has no tracking and can jam in letter sorting machines. For high-value cards, add tracking and keep a photo of the card in its holder before you seal the mailer.

## Questions

### Do I need penny sleeves inside a toploader?

Yes. The toploader's edges can scratch a bare card, and the sleeve stops it.

### What size toploader fits a Pokémon card?

The standard 3 × 4 inch, 35pt toploader fits Pokémon, Magic and most sports cards in a penny sleeve.

### What are team bags for?

A team bag seals over a toploader so the card cannot slide out and moisture stays out.

### Should I use a semi-rigid holder or a toploader for grading?

Grading companies ask for semi-rigid holders. Check the submission guide of the company you use.

### Can I ship a toploaded card in a plain envelope?

Many sellers do for cheap cards, but it has no tracking and no buyer protection proof. Check eBay's current Standard Envelope rules, or use a tracked Ground Advantage label for anything you can't afford to lose.

### Is it fine to tape a toploader shut?

Tape the team bag instead. Tape on the toploader can stick to the sleeve, and the buyer has to peel it off to get the card out.