The Best TCG Deck Boxes for 2025

The Best TCG Deck Boxes for 2025

You have an awesome deck. You’ve built and tested it over and over again, and you invested in a play set – with that special and expensive card every deck seems to need. You don't want your secret, rare, fully blinged-out deck to get damaged or lost. Do you want to keep several hundred dollars of cardboard gold in a cheap, basic deck box? Look no further! Here is a list of things to consider, to help you find the best deck box to protect and organize your valuable trading cards.

Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, having a sturdy and reliable deck box is essential. About ten years ago, Tristan Rousset, owner of LDB Duel, knew he had this problem. "I wanted to create a deck box that would hold my deck, protect it well, and not be too bulky because I always brought a bunch of decks with me. I also loved playing Yu-Gi-Oh! I wanted to recreate the deck box that Yugi used.”

The result was the original deck box, which Tristan made from leather.

“I figured out the pattern that I could use to hand cut a box and then fold and shape it so I could use rivets to hold it in place. At the time there was nothing like that on the market. I made a few of them, and I really liked it to organize my decks. Someone said that I should sell them online. I opened my first store in 2015 under the name Leather Deck Box. I had a sale almost instantly.”

From there the store grew, adding laser-engraved designs that were hand-painted on the front, to represent a customer’s favorite card or archetype.

The reaction was terrific, and the shop expanded as the new category of TCG accessories grew. “We called the original leather deck box the Mach 1. Soon I saw that there were competitors who were also starting to make the same kind of deck boxes. My business expanded to the point where I couldn’t keep up making deck boxes in my workshop, so I found a production partner and recreated the original Mach 1. This became the Mach 2, introduced about 5 years ago.

The store also rebranded as LDB Duel and opened its own online store at ldbduel.com. The product line grew too. There are now 100s of designs of playmats, card sleeves, field centers. More products are being added all the time. But it is all based on the original idea that every customer needs a great deck box that lets them add their own graphics and express their love of their game.

So what makes a great deck box?

The original deck box is very similar in function to today’s Mach 2 deck box from LDB Duel. It’s like the deck boxes used in the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime. It has a built-in belt loop on the back that opens and closes with a strong snap. It can attach to a belt or backpack, but the loop lies discreetly away if you don’t want to use it.

Tristan also designed a gold or silver clip that attaches to the belt loop on the Mach 2. “It is the ultimate in portability for our customers. You can hook your deck box to anything when you are on the go.” This clip is an add-on purchase when you get a Mach 2. It is exclusive to LDB Duel.

“Card prices have increased over the decade. Customers were telling me that theft is more and more a problem. They wanted to go to tournaments and know that their deck was securely attached and couldn’t be tampered with.”

The boxes are designed with a flat bottom and top, so they are stackable. They don’t topple over if you have them beside you at a tournament. And you can store several together and save space.

“What’s vitally important for a good deck box is that it must be strong enough to protect your cards, even if someone drops the box, or someone sits on it. We tested our original deck boxes many times, to make sure they offer the best protection for your deck.”

The closure used on the boxes needs to be strong enough to stay closed, even if it is dropped or shaken. But the closure should have a smooth opening motion. “We tested that a lot, and I still do. You don’t want to struggle to get into your cards.”

Trading cards come in a couple of sizes. There’s the smaller Japanese-sized cards that fit games like Yu-Gi-Oh!  and Cardfight Vanguard. And there’s the slightly larger standard-sized cards for games like MTG and Pokémon. Some players double sleeve their decks, so check if your deck box is sized for double-sleeved cards. Both the Mach 2 and Mach 3 can accommodate these sizes easily.

Finally, there is color. And you may want to choose a color that reflects your style. “We’ve introduced a number of color options over the years. But finally, we have stuck with black, brown, red and blue,” explains Tristan.

Expanding into the Mach 3

You also want to consider if you need storage for game accessories like tokens, life counters and dice. Sometimes you need to hold more cards than would be realistic to hold on your belt. For that, LDB Duel introduced a new design of deck box.

“Our Mach 3 box, which was introduced in 2020, was designed to be a bigger deck box that offers maximum protection for larger decks, even a double sleeved 100 card Commander deck, which are popular. We were expanding into other games at that point. And larger decks and token storage are important for games like Magic the Gathering. The Mach 3 has got multiple components that come apart, with a separate card holder container and a pull-out dice tray. Rare earth magnets are used to secure the detachable lid.

LDB Duel has integrated state-of-the-art printers into the company. “The detachable lid on a Mach 3 can be fully printed. There are so many options of full color designs.

“I will hear from customers that are blown away by their deck box. Sometimes I think about how I used to hand paint the original Mach 1. Everything has come a long way.”

Where is the industry headed?

“What’s most fun about this journey has been how LDB Duel has grown in lock-step with the industry itself. I am always innovating, and these innovations quickly get absorbed across the world.”

Personalization is the current trend. Customers want to design their own TCG accessories with their own artwork. They are buying matching products, like custom card sleeves, custom playmats and a Mach 3 custom deck box at the same time.

LDB Duel is continuing to expand the personalization options. People are looking for binders so their collections can be secured, as well as custom printed to add their designs and labelling. Ideas for the Mach 4 are underway. It will be fully personalized like the Mach 3 but hold multiple decks.

Concludes Tristan, “It’s not just about having a sturdy deck box anymore, although that is still vitally important to my customers. It’s also about choosing all the products that add value to their carefully crafted deck, as well as reflect their personality and love of their game.

“There is a powerful sense that people want to connect with others who love their games as much as they do. It’s not just nostalgia. It’s also a declaration about how community is important to them.”

Don't let your precious cards go unprotected in an old box, or settle for uninspiring, basic TCG gear from a toy store. Check out LDB Duel, and rest assured that your trading card collection will be well-preserved and easily accessible whenever you're ready to battle it out with friends or be a stand-out at your next tournament.