Thick-Card Toploaders for Pokémon: 130pt and 180pt (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · October 31, 2026 · 6 min read
Every Pokémon collector who opens a metal promo card from an Ultra-Premium Collection eventually makes the same mistake.
They reach for a standard 35pt toploader and the card stops halfway. Metal promos from UPCs are approximately 130pt thick, which is roughly 3.7 times the thickness of a standard Pokémon card (130 ÷ 35 = 3.71x). No amount of force fixes a card that genuinely does not fit, and forcing it will scratch the edges. You need a heavy duty toploader designed for thick cards: specifically the 130pt or 180pt size.
The right pick for almost every Pokémon metal promo is a Ultra PRO Super Thick 130pt toploader (interior 2.75 × 3.88 × 0.138 in, confirmed on ultrapro.com Oct 2026). The 180pt exists for sports cards with thick fabric relics. For Pokémon, the 130pt handles everything currently in print.
On this page 6 sections
Which thickness does each Pokémon card need?
The "pt" in 35pt means thousandths of an inch (0.035 in). Rarity does not change card stock: a Charizard Special Illustration Rare and a bulk common use identical paper. Only metal promos break out of the 35pt bracket.
| Card type | Approx. thickness | Toploader needed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Pokémon card (any rarity) | ~35pt | 35pt regular | SIR, Gold Rare, and etched foil: same 35pt stock |
| Double-sleeved standard card | ~55pt | 55pt or larger | Inner + outer sleeve adds ~20pt total |
| Metal promo (Celebrations, Arceus VSTAR, 151, Prismatic Evolutions UPCs) | ~130pt | 130pt Super Thick | 35pt will not close; 55pt will not close |
| Metal promo inside a penny sleeve | ~150pt | 180pt Super Thick | Sleeve adds ~20pt; use penny sleeve only if card edges are visibly sharp |
| Jumbo oversized promo (the large promos from ETBs) | ~35pt (standard thickness, large dimensions) | 6 × 9 toploader (different guide) | Size, not thickness, is the issue for jumbo cards |
The table covers every card type a typical Pokémon collector handles. Standard paper cards, regardless of print treatment or set era, use identical card stock to WotC-era base set cards. See our 35pt toploader guide for full coverage of the standard-card side of this chart.
Which UPCs contain Pokémon metal cards?
Four Ultra-Premium Collections have shipped with metal promos as of October 2026. Each one requires a 130pt holder.
The Celebrations UPC (2021, Pokémon.com) included two metal cards replicating the Base Set Pikachu and Charizard. The Arceus VSTAR UPC (November 4, 2022) added metal Arceus V and VSTAR versions with an enamel finish. The 151 Ultra-Premium Collection (October 6, 2023) contained a single etched metal Mew ex (205/165). The Prismatic Evolutions UPC (2025) introduced metal Espeon ex and Umbreon ex.
All four products use standard card dimensions (63 × 88 mm), so a 3 × 4 in toploader fits the footprint. Only the thickness is the barrier.
The 35pt Pikachu combo shown above is correct for every standard Pokémon card, including all Special Illustration Rares and etched foils. It will not work for metal promos from the UPCs listed above. Keep both on hand if your collection includes both card types.
130pt vs 180pt: which should you buy for a Pokémon metal promo?
Buy the 130pt.
The Ultra PRO Super Thick 130pt (interior 2.75 × 3.88 × 0.138 in, confirmed on ultrapro.com Oct 2026) fits every Pokémon metal promo card with room to spare. A bare metal card goes in cleanly; a metal card with a thin inner sleeve also fits. The 180pt was designed for sports-card relic cards that contain thick fabric swatches; Pokémon metal promos are solid metal and do not need that extra room.
The 180pt is still useful if you want an even looser fit for display, or if you are sleeving the metal card in a standard penny sleeve before inserting it. A penny sleeve adds roughly 20pt, pushing the total to about 150pt, which fits comfortably in the 180pt holder.
The EVORETRO multi-pack is a practical option for collectors who hold multiple card types. One pack covers every thickness from 35pt standard cards up to 180pt, so you are not paying for a separate bulk order of just thick toploaders when you only need a handful.
Three mistakes that damage thick Pokémon cards in the wrong holder
Forcing a metal card into the wrong toploader is the most common, and the most avoidable, source of edge damage to metal promos.
Mistake 1: Using a 35pt or 55pt toploader
A 35pt toploader internal depth is 0.035 in. A metal Pokémon promo is approximately 0.130 in. The card physically cannot enter the sleeve beyond the first few millimetres. Collectors who push harder end up with edge scratches on the metal face, which are permanent.
Mistake 2: Skipping the penny sleeve when edges are sharp
Some Pokémon metal promos have sharper-cut edges than standard cards. A thin penny sleeve acts as a buffer between the metal edge and the PVC toploader walls. If you choose the penny sleeve route, size up to the 180pt holder so the combined thickness still slides in without force.
Mistake 3: Storing metal cards face-down under weight
Metal cards do not flex like paper. Stacking heavy items on top of a toploader holding a metal promo does not warp the card, but it can crack the PVC holder along the seam. Store toploader stacks horizontal and avoid pressure from above. See the broader Pokémon metal card holder guide for storage stacking tips.
The Neon Kanto ONE-TOUCH EDGE shown above is a 35pt magnetic holder for standard Pokémon cards. It is not suitable for metal promos, but it is an excellent display option for the rare standard cards you want to show alongside a graded or toploader-stored metal piece.
Gifting a UPC this holiday season?
The Celebrations, 151, and Prismatic Evolutions UPCs all appear regularly on gift lists. If you are buying or receiving one this Q4, pick up a pair of 130pt toploaders at the same time.
The metal card inside each UPC has no holder in the box. The first place it usually ends up is a 35pt toploader that someone had on hand, and that is where the edge scratching begins. Including a 130pt holder with a UPC gift is a simple detail that most gift-givers miss. The DexHaul holiday gift guide has more sealed-product gift ideas for this season.
FAQ
Do metal Pokémon cards fit in standard 35pt toploaders?
No. Metal promos from Pokémon Ultra-Premium Collections are approximately 130pt thick. A standard 35pt toploader has an interior depth of 0.035 in and cannot accept a 0.130 in card. You need a 130pt Super Thick toploader.
Which Pokémon UPCs contain metal cards?
Four as of October 2026: the 2021 Celebrations UPC (metal Base Set Pikachu and Charizard), the 2022 Arceus VSTAR UPC (metal Arceus V and VSTAR), the 2023 Pokémon 151 UPC (etched metal Mew ex 205/165), and the 2025 Prismatic Evolutions UPC (metal Espeon ex and Umbreon ex). All four use standard 63 × 88 mm card dimensions.
Should I buy a 130pt or 180pt toploader for a Pokémon metal promo?
The 130pt is the right choice for a bare metal card. Use the 180pt if you are sleeving the metal card in a penny sleeve first, which adds roughly 20pt and brings the total to around 150pt.
Can I use a magnetic ONE-TOUCH holder for a Pokémon metal card?
Not the standard 35pt ONE-TOUCH. Ultra PRO makes magnetic holders in thicker variants (look for 130pt or "thick card" in the product description), but the standard Pokémon-branded magnetic holders are 35pt and will not close over a metal promo. A toploader is the practical everyday storage choice; thicker magnetic holders are for permanent display.
What storage should I use alongside my toploader collection?
The Pokémon card storage boxes guide covers bulk storage options, and the graded card storage guide addresses PSA/CGC slab display if you eventually submit your metal card for grading.
Browse thick-card holders and toploader accessories across independent shops at dexhaul.com/collections/accessories. DexHaul is independent and unofficial, with no affiliation to The Pokémon Company or Ultra PRO.
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