You only need two accessories to start playing Magic: The Gathering: a pack of card sleeves and a deck box. Sleeves protect your cards while you shuffle and play, and a deck box keeps them safe between games. A playmat and some counters make games easier, and everything else can wait. A basic setup costs about $12 to $23, and the priciest versions of the same gear cost hundreds. This guide shows what each price tier gets you, so you can decide where your money actually matters.
About the prices: The prices in this guide are typical U.S. prices we found on maker websites and at online retailers in the week of September 26, 2026. Prices change, so use them as a guide.
What accessories do you actually need for Magic: The Gathering?
- Buy first: card sleeves (one 100-pack per deck) and a deck box that holds 100+ sleeved cards.
- Nice to have: a playmat (about 24 by 14 inches), plus a way to track life and counters, like dice, paper or a phone app.
- Can wait: inner sleeves for double sleeving, a toploader or one-touch holder for a card worth protecting, and a binder or storage box once your collection grows.
Why 100 of everything? A Commander deck has exactly 100 cards, including the commander. Standard and Modern decks have at least 60 cards plus an optional 15-card sideboard. One pack of 100 sleeves covers either one, and a box that holds 100+ sleeved cards fits both. You start each game with 20 life in most formats and 40 in Commander, so it also helps to have a d20 or a pen and paper handy.
Which card sleeves should you buy?
Sleeves are thin plastic covers that protect a card from wear, spills and sticky fingers. Magic cards are 2.5 by 3.5 inches, and you want standard size sleeves for them. They usually come in packs of 100.
You will see two main finishes. Classic sleeves are the plain, glossy style. Matte sleeves add a textured, non-glare back that many players prefer for shuffling.
| Type | Typical price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Penny (soft) sleeves | About $1.50 to $2 per 100 | Thin, clear sleeves. They usually go inside a toploader, not in a deck. |
| Budget deck sleeves | About $7 to $10 per 100 | Plain gloss or matte. Fine for casual play. |
| Mainstream deck sleeves | About $10 to $15 per 100 | Well-known brand lines with lots of colors. This is where most players land. |
| Premium art sleeves | About $18 to $35 per pack | Printed art or licensed designs. Same job, more style. |
At $10 to $15 for 100, mainstream sleeves work out to about 10 to 15 cents a card.
What do the tournament rules say about sleeves?
Magic's official Tournament Rules say all the sleeves in your deck must be identical. At higher-level events, sleeves with highly reflective backs or hologram patterns are not allowed. Sleeve your whole deck the same way and you are covered. You can read the current rules on the official Magic rules page.
Do you need to double sleeve?
Not at first. Double sleeving means putting a card in a snug inner sleeve and then in a standard outer sleeve. It gives valuable cards extra protection, and it adds a little thickness. Beginners playing with a first deck can skip it.
- If you do it, do it to every card. Magic's Tournament Rules allow double sleeving only when every card in the deck is double sleeved the same way, so no card is thicker than the rest.
- Typical price: about $2.50 to $7.50 per 100 inner sleeves, so double sleeving a 100-card deck adds about that much.
Which deck box should you buy?
A deck box needs to fit your sleeved deck. For Commander, look for a box that says 100+. Check whether the size is for single or double sleeved cards, because a double sleeved deck is thicker.
| Tier | Typical price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | About $5 to $13 | A simple box that holds a sleeved 100-card deck. |
| Mainstream | About $14 to $28 | Themed and magnetic boxes, some with dice trays or extra drawers. |
| Premium single-deck | About $30 to $50 | Sturdier boxes with more features. Some hold two decks. |
| Large cases | About $50 to $100 | For several decks or a growing collection, holding hundreds or over a thousand cards. |
| Hand-built hardwood | About $70 to $440 | Made by independent woodworkers, in wood like walnut, maple, teak and rosewood. |
Do you need a playmat?
No, a clean table works fine. A playmat gives you a smooth, soft surface that is easier on your cards and helps keep your play area tidy. A standard playmat is about 24 by 14 inches.
| Tier | Typical price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | About $15 to $20 | Simple designs and a basic surface. |
| Mainstream | About $21 to $30 | Stitched edges or natural rubber, with Magic art and art from other games. |
| Premium | About $36 to $69 | Art, collector and licensed mats, often with special surfaces or finishes. |
What dice and counters do you need?
You need a way to track life, and sometimes counters. Pen and paper is free, and a phone app works too. A d20 (a 20-sided die) is the classic way to track life, and a spindown d20 counts down from 20 so you can turn it as you take damage. For +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters on creatures, many players use small counter dice.
| Tier | Typical price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Free to about $5 | Paper, an app, or a plain resin d20. |
| Mainstream | About $6 to $7 | Small dice sets and counter dice. |
| Premium | About $18 to $19 | Premium resin d20s. Some are made to sit on the table and be seen, not rolled. |
What about binders, toploaders and storage?
These are for later, when you own cards you are not playing with. They do not help you play, they help you keep and show cards.
- A card worth protecting: a magnetic one-touch holder is about $4 to $8 each, and a pack of 100 penny sleeves and 100 toploaders is about $14 to $15.
- A binder: about $15 for a basic 9-pocket album, $25 to $34 for a zip binder and $40 to $50 for a premium portfolio.
- Storage boxes: cardboard boxes are about $2 to $8, plastic bins are about $40 to $59, and drawer cabinets run about $100 to $131.
How much does the cheapest setup cost compared to the most expensive?
Here is the cheapest realistic option for one deck and the priciest option we found in each category while checking prices in September 2026.
| Item | Cheapest realistic | Priciest we found |
|---|---|---|
| Deck sleeves (100) | $6.99 | $34.99 (105 count art sleeves) |
| Inner sleeves (optional) | $2.49 | $7.49 |
| Deck box (100+ cards) | $4.99 | $440 (hand-built hardwood) |
| Playmat | $14.99 | $69.49 |
| Life counter | Free | $19 (premium resin d20) |
| Total without inner sleeves | $26.97 | $563.48 |
| Total with inner sleeves | $29.46 | $570.97 |
Look at where the difference comes from. The hand-built hardwood deck box is $440 of the top total. Every item does the same basic job at either end of the range: sleeves protect your cards, the box holds your deck, and the mat gives you a place to play. The higher prices buy materials, art and looks.
What does a setup cost at each tier?
Adding up the typical prices above gives a range for a whole setup for one deck. Each extra deck needs its own sleeves and box.
- Budget, about $12 to $23: budget deck sleeves ($7 to $10) and a budget 100+ deck box ($5 to $13). Track life on paper or your phone.
- Mainstream, about $51 to $80: mainstream sleeves ($10 to $15), a mainstream deck box ($14 to $28), a mainstream playmat ($21 to $30) and small dice sets ($6 to $7).
- Premium, about $102 to $173: art sleeves ($18 to $35), a premium single-deck box ($30 to $50), a premium playmat ($36 to $69) and a premium resin d20 ($18 to $19).
The top of the market, with a hand-built hardwood box, is over $560.
What can you skip as a beginner?
- Premium art sleeves. They cost $18 to $35, and the extra money mostly buys the art.
- Hardwood and other high-end deck boxes. A simple box that closes securely and fits your deck does the job.
- Collector playmats. A mat is nice, and a budget playmat (about $15 to $20) gives you a smooth playing surface.
- Binders and big storage. Wait until you own cards you are not playing.
- Double sleeving. Add it later for cards worth protecting.
Are the more expensive accessories worth it?
Our take: spend where you touch the gear most. You handle your sleeves every time you shuffle, so a step up from the cheapest sleeves is the first upgrade worth considering. A deck box only needs to close well and fit your deck. A playmat is a comfort item. Art, materials and licensed designs are worth paying for if you love them, and they are never required to play well.
Where can you browse all of our accessories?
You can see everything we carry on our Card Sleeves, Binders and Deck Boxes page.