How to organize pokemon cards in binder

So you have a big Pokémon card collection, and you want to sort and organize it, you just arrived at the right place!

Sorting and Orgenizing Pokemon Cards:

There are many ways to organize the cards in your collection, I will try to give you the best ways to make the most of your cards.

Usually when opening many packs you will have several copies of a single card (mostly commons and uncommons), you keep one copy of every card for your personal binder set, and in the end you have a stack of duplicates in your possession that you need to sort and keep protected.

Below you can access recommended pokemon cards protective gear by ultrapro (the one that i use for years), it is a must to have in order to protect your cards for the long run.

Organizing option #1 – Colors and Energy

Organize your cards by the type of energy it represents, sort the cards in stacks of colors:
Green, red, blue, yellow, purple, brown, black, gray, white – (the colors of the energy’s) the rest will be the trainer cards – that way, you will have 10 different stacks of cards divided by colors that will make it easy for you, if you have some specific Pokémon type in mind that you want to locate.

Organizing option #2 – Rarity

This method is more suitable if you are planning to own a large stack of cards, or you will want to maximize profit by selling specific card bulks in the future.

At the bottom of each card there are several icons that represent what rarity that card is, common (circle), uncommon (diamond), rare (star), amazing rares (rainbow with A in the middle), there are high rarity cards like: V , Vmax, EX, GX, golden, Rainbow cards, and so on (this cards can be the most valuable in your collection so keep them protected).
Sort the cards to their specific set icon and just stack them depends on their rarity.

Organizing option #3 – Numbering

This method of sorting Pokémon cards is based on the number of the card in each set.
Some Pokémon sets have over 200 cards and each one of them is represented by a number depending on his position in that set. (1/200, 15/200…)
In recent sets there are several “secret rares” that are harder to get from packs (more rare).
The secret rares are also part of that specific set, but their numbers are going over the total card numbers (203/200).

Organizing by the numbers may take time, but in the long run you can pinpoint every card location by his number at the bottom.

Storing Pokemon Cards:

So we checked what kinds of sorting options we have for our Pokémon cards, now it’s time to mention the possible storing items to help with that task.

Storage option #1 – Tins

If you got some tin lunch box or tin collection box, you can use that empty tin for storing your Pokémon cards.
The lunch box can also hold some sealed packs in a very nice way, that also protects them in the long run.

Storage option #2 – Elite Trainer Boxes

One of the best ways to store your Pokémon cards is to get a Pokémon elite trainer box (ETB).

You get in every box 4 dividers and that can be very useful to divide between specific Pokémon cards.
(You can also use limited time items like Trainer’s tool kit box and such).

Storage option #3 – Shoe Boxes

This option is not the best way to protect your Pokémon cards, but it is very popular across the world.
One shoe box can hold thousands of cards and it is very easy to come by.

The disadvantage in storing Pokémon cards in shoe boxes, is the long term, condition it may cause the cards like yellow borders and humidity.

There are several ways to get your Pokémon cards organized, pick the one that suits you best and enjoy your collection.

For tips on starting collecting pokemon cards you can check this guide page.

For great pokemon deals you can check the newest pokemon deals page.

Due to the design nature of Pokémon cards, they can actually be organized in a variety of ways. For collectors, it is best to organize by set number, but organizing by rarity or type has its benefits too. By the end of this guide, you will know exactly how to organize your cards.

What You’ll Need to Get Started

A binder
Sleeves
Reference material for setlists

A binder is going to be the first and most important item for organizing cards. If you don’t already own one, there are plenty of binder buying guides around the internet and on Youtube.

Binders with a spine and side-loaded pockets are best for cards. 3-ring binders are not recommended for storing cards, and the rings can cause damage referred to as ‘binder dings’.

It is best practice to first sleeve your cards before inserting them into the binder pockets. This has two benefits: the sleeves help hold the cards in place, preventing them from shifting or falling out, and they also protect the edges and corners when the cards are being removed/inserted into the pockets.

You’ll need reference material if you want to organize your cards by set number, or even rarity. Few collectors have actually memorized all of the set symbols, so you’ll need to identify which symbols belong to which expansion set.

Here are some great sites to use:

Bulbapedia.com
tcgplayer.com

Organize by Set Number, Rarity, or Type

You can organize Pokémon cards however you want. Heck, you could even organize them alphabetically if you felt so compelled to do so.

But most collectors will sort them based on the set number, rarity, or type. Furthermore, the cards can be organized by both rarity and type; often the set numbers will go by type as well. If you are someone who enjoys organizing, then Pokémon cards can be a therapeutic escape.

How to Organize by Set Number

Pros: Numerical order is easy, spaces can be left for missing cards, and sets will be organized chronologically.

Cons: Rare cards will be at the back, missing cards can leave the binder feeling empty.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game introduces four to five expansion sets every year. Each set is assigned a symbol that can be used to help identify its set name, the total number of cards, date of release, and potential value.

To organize your cards by set number, all you have to do is simply insert the cards into the binder pockets in numerical order.

Cards organized by set number. Spaces are left for the missing cards.

STEP 1- Identify the expansion set

Every Pokémon card is going to have a set symbol somewhere. Cards from the WotC era are going to have it outside the lower-left corner of the illustration box.

Modern cards will have the symbol on the bottom left or bottom right of the card. Being able to identify the symbol and categorize the symbols together will essentially result in your cards being organized into sets.

But you can’t Google a symbol, so what next?

Try Google searching the name of the card followed by the numbers at the bottom. For example, ‘Charizard 025/185′. This will yield results for the Charizard from the set Sword & Shield- Vivid Voltage. At this point, you will now have the set symbol and the name of the set that it belongs to.

STEP 2- Find the setlist

Next, you’ll need to find a list of all of the cards from the set. In this case, you would Google something like “Vivid Voltage setlist” to obtain a list of every card from the Vivid Voltage expansion. Of course, you don’t need this setlist, but it will help identify the cards that you are missing.

This set symbol represents the Pokémon GO set. The rarity symbol indicates this card is an uncommon.

STEP 3- Put them in a binder

Organizing by set number means that you’ll want enough binder pockets for the whole set. You might also want space for the next or previous set as well.

Every couple of years a new era of Pokémon cards is produced. At the time of writing this article, we are in the Sword & Shield era, with the Scarlett & Violet era coming later this year. Each era will produce 20-ish sets before the next era comes around.

This is important for anyone who seeks to organize their cards by set. Unfortunately, there aren’t any binders big enough to hold every Sword & Shield set, but it can be helpful to designate one binder as Sword & Shield or other eras.

Many cards will have a holo or reverse holo variant. In this case, the set number will remain the same. For example, the Spinarak card in the image below is numbered as 007/078. Its reverse holo variant is also 007/078. It is up to the collector if they choose to include all variants in their binder. If you are seeking to own a complete master set, then it is common practice to include all variants.

Cards organized by set number, including the reverse holo variants.

How to Organize by Rarity

Pros: The first page will have an impact, ideal for cards to trade, and rare cards are easy to locate.

Cons: Commons can be difficult to locate, and cards are out of chronological order.

STEP 1- Sort cards by rarity

On the bottom right (bottom left for newer cards) there will be a small symbol next to the set number. This is different from the set symbol and indicates the rarity.

Common

●

Uncommon

♦

Rare

★

Sometimes there will be symbols you don’t recognize. A radiant card has the rarity symbol “K” and amazing rare cards have an “A”. All of these special rarity symbols will be a tier higher than the regular rare (★) symbol.

Step 2- Put them in a binder

The most common reason to sort cards by rarity is a trade binder. This is a binder of cards that you are willing to trade. This is useful if you are traveling to a friend’s house, tournaments, school, or local card shops.

Most collectors will begin the binder with their biggest hits. This means that the rarest cards belong on the front page.

How to Organize by Type

Pros: Easy to locate specific cards, ideal for deck building, visually appealing

Cons: Cards across multiple expansions are mixed

Step 1- Sorting by type

Sorting by type is pretty straightforward, but there are a few tricks, too.

Some cards actually have two types. For example, delta species cards. In this case, you may choose to place them in their own section, or at the end of a section.

There are also cards that you will have a few of. Fairy-type cards are rare to come across and you’ll have significantly less than grass, fire, or water.

Within your type categories, you may also choose to sort between game mechanic types as well. For example, you will have a fire-type section, but you can create a sub-section within it for VMAX fire-type cards.

Step 2- Put them in a binder

You’re probably going to need a high-capacity binder for this method.

Another option is to purchase multiple binders and designate each to its own type. Remember to get an additional binder for all of the odds and ends that don’t quite fit into a regular type category, like dual-type cards.

Protecting Your Cards

Protecting your cards is the single most important thing that any card collector can do.

The most basic and actionable step is to sleeve your cards. This will protect them from edge wear, scratches, and moisture absorption.

It is common practice to sleeve your cards before inserting them into binder pockets. Furthermore, you may choose to store your cards in a box, on display, or in a frame. In this case, you can use top loaders, card savers, acrylic cases, or other methods of protecting your cards.

Check out our guide on How to Protect Your Pokémon Cards.

Final Thoughts

Truthfully, you can organize your Pokémon cards however you want. How and why you organize is probably going to come down to the type of person you are. People (like myself) who find organization relaxing and therapeutic will find their own way after hours of sorting.

How do I organize my Pokemon card binders?

Place your cards into your binder, box-sleeve, or catalog according to your evolutionary organization. To make sure your cards are easily accessible, you may want to create sections in your binder, use separate boxes, or use different drawers for each category you have organized your evolutions into.

How do you organize bulk Pokemon cards?

I store all bulk in numerical order in a Card House. Each individual card is sleeved straight out of the pack. Full arts are also put in toploaders and stored in the 2-Row Shoe Box viewed on top, as the rows in that box are wider to accommodate toploaders.