Choosing a binder: pockets, layouts and what to avoid
The binder decides what your pages look like as much as the cards do. Here's what to look at before you buy one.
Pocket layout
- 9-pocket (3×3): the standard. Nine cards is enough to build a theme and a gradient, and it's what most people picture when they think of a binder page.
- 4-pocket (2×2): fewer cards, bigger moments. Good for your best cards or a small portable binder. Gradients are harder with only four cards, so these pages usually work better as "one color" pages.
- 12-pocket (3×4): holds more and fits a lot onto one spread. Long color runs look great here, but each card gets a little lost.
Binder Lab lets you choose the pocket layout per binder, so you can plan in the same grid you'll actually use.
Side-loading pockets
Pockets that open on the side, toward the spine, are much better at keeping cards in place than pockets that open at the top. Cards are far less likely to slide out when the binder is carried, stood upright or dropped. If you're putting anything valuable in a binder, side-loading is worth paying a little more for.
Zip, strap or ring?
- Zip binders close fully, so dust stays out and cards can't fall out. Best for carrying.
- Elastic strap binders are fine for a shelf.
- Ring binders let you add and reorder pages, but cards in the column nearest the rings can get pressed or dented when the binder closes. If you use one, choose a D-ring rather than an O-ring and don't overfill it.
Materials
Look for pages labelled acid-free and PVC-free (usually polypropylene). Older PVC pages can break down over time and damage cards. Stay away from very thin, cloudy pages too. They make even great cards look dull.
Sleeves in binders
Penny sleeves add protection, but in a snug pocket they make cards harder to slide in and out. Some side-loading binders are sized to take a sleeved card. Check the listing before you buy.
Plan before you fill
Moving cards around in a physical binder is how corners get bent. Planning the layout first, then putting cards in once, saves wear on the cards and saves you time. That's exactly the job Binder Lab was built for.