Well now, if you’re lookin’ to figure out how thick them sports cards are, you’ve come to the right place. I been collectin’ cards for years, and I can tell ya, it ain’t always easy to know just what you’re holdin’ in your hand. These cards come in all sorts of thicknesses, and you gotta know the lingo if you want to make sure you ain’t bein’ taken for a fool when you buy or sell. So sit back and let me tell ya a thing or two ’bout how to tell how thick them cards are and what them numbers mean.
Now, first thing you gotta understand is, sports cards are measured by somethin’ called “points.” Now don’t go gettin’ confused with all these fancy words. A point ain’t nothin’ but a unit of measurement. One point equals one thousandth of an inch. Yep, that’s right. One point is one/1000 of an inch. So when someone says, “This card is 100pt,” they’re really sayin’ it’s a tenth of an inch thick. Sounds a bit much, don’t it? But that’s how they measure it.
Now, if you take a regular sports card, like the kind you see in baseball or football packs, they usually come in around 20pt to 40pt thick. That means they ain’t all that thick when you hold ’em in your hand, just a little over a millimeter or so. They got a standard size too, which is 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches. That’s the regular size for most trading cards, so if you’re lookin’ to buy a sleeve or a top loader to protect your cards, you’ll wanna get one that fits these dimensions. You’ll find most standard cards come in right around 40pt thickness, that’s the max for most of them.

But, now, don’t be thinkin’ all cards are the same. Some cards are a whole lot thicker than others, like them thick insert cards or special edition cards. Them cards can be as thick as 100pt, or even more! When you get into the higher points, them cards feel a lot heavier, and they got a real solid feel to ’em. I reckon if you’ve got a big ol’ stack of cards, and you put a thicker one in the middle, you’ll definitely notice the difference.
If you ever need to figure out how thick a card is and you ain’t got a fancy tool, there’s a simple way to do it. Just grab yourself a ruler or a measuring tape, and see how thick that card is. You’ll want to measure it in inches, and then just multiply by a thousand to get your point. For example, if you measure a card that’s 1/10th of an inch thick, well, that’s 100pt. Simple as that, really.
Here’s a little chart to help ya out:
- 20pt: Standard sports card thickness.
- 40pt: Common for most regular trading cards.
- 50pt: Thicker than standard, often used for premium or insert cards.
- 100pt: Real thick cards, usually used for autographed or special edition cards.
- 120pt and above: Some very thick collector cards, may need special storage cases.
See, you don’t need no fancy tools to figure it out. Just a little bit of know-how and you can be measurein’ cards like a pro. But I know some folks like to get real fancy with their collections, so you can always get yourself a point gauge. They’re handy little devices that’ll tell you exactly how thick your card is, down to the very point. Might cost ya a little bit, but it could save you some headache if you’re serious ’bout your collection.
Now, as for protectin’ your cards, once you know how thick they are, you can start thinkin’ about how to store ’em. Cards that are thicker, like them 100pt ones, might need a special holder, like a thick top loader or a rigid case. Regular cards, the 40pt ones, usually fit fine in the regular soft sleeves. But be careful, cause if you put a thick card in a sleeve that’s too small, you could bend it or scratch it up.
When you store your cards, you wanna make sure they’re kept in a cool, dry place. Don’t go stickin’ ’em in the sun, or leavin’ ’em in a hot car, ‘cause that can warp them cards something fierce. Also, don’t stack too many on top of each other if they’re in soft sleeves, ‘cause the weight could damage ‘em over time. Best to store ‘em in a box or a binder, with some extra protection for the thick ones.

Remember, folks: A little bit of care goes a long way in keepin’ your collection in good shape. Whether your cards are 20pt or 100pt, they’re all worth something if you take care of ’em right. So, just know what you’re workin’ with, and treat ’em with the respect they deserve.
That’s about all I got to say on the matter. If you got any more questions ’bout sports card thickness, well, don’t be shy. Just ask around or look it up, but now you got a good idea of how to measure and store them cards properly. Good luck with your collection, and happy trading!
Tags:[sports cards, card thickness, trading cards, card protection, collectibles, card measurement, sports memorabilia, card storage]