Grading & Submission
Card Saver Sizes Explained
Four numbers, one published dimension, and a straight answer about the rest.
By Brijon M. · Published October 6, 2026 · Last updated October 6, 2026
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The short answer
The Card Saver 1 is 3 5/16" by 4 7/8" — the size PSA names. The rest are relative.
The Card Saver 1 dimension is published and it matches the semi-rigid size PSA's shipping guidance specifies for standard trading cards, which is why it became the submission default. The other three sizes are described by the manufacturer relative to the CS1 rather than with published figures, and this page says so rather than inventing numbers.
Semi-rigid holder sizing is one of the few places in this hobby where a published figure settles the question outright — for one of the four sizes. For the other three, the hobby repeats numbers that the manufacturer does not publish, and this page is not going to add to that.
| Holder | Dimensions | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Card Saver 1 | 3 5/16" x 4 7/8" (published) | Standard modern and vintage cards up to roughly 20pt. The PSA submission default. |
| Card Saver 2 | Larger footprint than the Card Saver 1 (not published as a figure) | Oversized and tall vintage cards that will not fit a Card Saver 1. |
| Card Saver 3 | Thicker capacity than the Card Saver 1 (not published as a figure) | Sleeved cards that bind in a Card Saver 1 but sit well under 55pt. |
| Card Saver 4 | Thickest of the Card Saver range (not published as a figure) | Thick patch and relic cards going to a grader. |
Only the Card Saver 1 dimension is published as a figure and corroborated by PSA's own stated semi-rigid size. The others are described relative to it.
Why the Card Saver 1 dimension matters so much
PSA's shipping guidance tells submitters to place each sleeved card into a semi-rigid card holder and names 3 5/16" by 4 7/8" as the standard trading card semi-rigid size. The Card Saver 1 is that size. That single correspondence is the entire reason the product is treated as a standard rather than as one brand among several.
It also means the requirement is the dimension, not the brand. A semi-rigid from another manufacturer at the same size satisfies the same instruction — which is why Ultra Pro and BCW semi-rigids are legitimate alternatives rather than compromises.
Quick picks
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CG Cardboard Gold Card Saver 1 At 3 5/16" by 4 7/8" it matches the semi-rigid dimension PSA names for standard cards. The published size | Standard modern cards going to PSA | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 | CG Cardboard Gold Card Saver 4 The thick-card member of the family, for patch and relic stock going to a grader. When the card is thick | Thick patch, relic and jersey cards | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 | CG Cardboard Gold Card Saver 2 The larger footprint, for oversized and tall vintage that will not fit a CS1 at all. When the card is tall | Oversized and vintage cards | Check price on Amazon |
#ad We earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no cost to you. Prices move constantly, so we link to the live listing instead of printing a number that would be wrong next week. How we are funded.
1. The published size
Cardboard Gold Card Saver 1
Cardboard Gold · Standard modern cards going to PSA
The semi-rigid holder PSA's own shipping guide points you toward, at the size its instructions name. If you submit standard-thickness modern cards, this is the default and the decision is made.
Why it takes this slot: At 3 5/16" by 4 7/8" it matches the semi-rigid dimension PSA names for standard cards.
- Holder size
- 3 5/16" x 4 7/8"
- Card thickness
- Standard cards up to roughly 20pt
- Material
- Acid-free, PVC-free rigid vinyl
- Common pack sizes
- 50, 100 and 200 count
What it does well
- Matches the semi-rigid dimensions PSA's shipping guide specifies
- Consistent fit from pack to pack, which matters when you are loading 200 cards
- Thin enough to band and ship in bulk without a bulky box
Where it falls short
- A snug fit — a thick or already-curved card needs care going in
- Priced above generic semi-rigids precisely because it is the submission standard
#ad We link to the listing rather than printing a price that would be wrong next week. How we are funded
2. When the card is thick
Cardboard Gold Card Saver 4
Cardboard Gold · Thick patch, relic and jersey cards
The thick-card answer in the Card Saver family. When a patch card will not go into a CS1 without force, this is the holder that keeps the submission compliant instead of reaching for a toploader.
Why it takes this slot: The thick-card member of the family, for patch and relic stock going to a grader.
- Card thickness
- Thick cards above standard, including many relics
- Material
- Acid-free, PVC-free rigid vinyl
- Format
- Semi-rigid, submission-friendly
What it does well
- Takes thick cards without forcing them, which is where corner damage comes from
- Keeps thick submissions in a semi-rigid rather than a toploader
Where it falls short
- Overkill and loose for standard cards
- Thicker stacks mean fewer cards per shipping box
#ad We link to the listing rather than printing a price that would be wrong next week. How we are funded
3. When the card is tall
Cardboard Gold Card Saver 2
Cardboard Gold · Oversized and vintage cards
Taller and wider than the Card Saver 1, which is the point: it takes oversized vintage issues and tall non-standard cards the CS1 simply will not hold.
Why it takes this slot: The larger footprint, for oversized and tall vintage that will not fit a CS1 at all.
- Relative size
- Larger footprint than Card Saver 1
- Card thickness
- Standard thickness, non-standard dimensions
- Material
- Acid-free, PVC-free rigid vinyl
- Common pack sizes
- 50 and 100 count
What it does well
- Holds tall and oversized cards that will not fit a Card Saver 1
- Same acid-free material and lip design as the CS1
Where it falls short
- A standard modern card has room to shift inside it
- Stocked less widely than the Card Saver 1
#ad We link to the listing rather than printing a price that would be wrong next week. How we are funded
Matching a card to a size
Work in two axes, because they fail differently. Height and width decide whether a card fits at all: an oversized or tall vintage card needs the CS2 and nothing else will do. Thickness decides whether it fits comfortably: a sleeved card that binds in a CS1 wants a CS3, and a patch card wants a CS4.
Thickness is the axis people get wrong, because they reach for the physically larger holder when the problem is depth. Points convert directly to a holder on the card thickness points chart.
For the practical buying decision rather than the dimensions, start at best card savers, or best card savers for PSA if a submission is the reason you are here.
Common questions
What size is a Card Saver 1?
What are the exact dimensions of a Card Saver 2, 3 and 4?
Does PSA require a specific brand of card saver?
Will a Card Saver fit a thick patch card?
Back to Grading & Submission.
Sources
About the author
Brijon M. is the hands-on owner behind MadGrey LLC and the person who writes and maintains every page on Slab & Stack. He buys supplies in bulk, submits cards for grading, and keeps this site's recommendations tied to what a working collection actually needs.
Brijon M. · Owner, MadGrey LLC · Read the full bio
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