Check out this easy DIY Pokemon storage box and how to organize Pokemon cards with a photo storage box and a few dividers. This is an easy storage option to keep all those cards in one place.

My son recently started collecting Pokemon. I would say he loves the game, but I don’t think he knows how to play or has even tried to. Does anyone really play Pokemon?

It seems that Pokemon is not a game at all, but a way to collect and trade cards. It’s like modern day trading cards.

He asks me daily to help him organize them. After a senseless meltdown (from my son, not me) about not being able to find a really important GX (priorities right?), I decided it was time to take matters into my own DIY hands. “Good thing mommy likes to organize and create, right?”

I have come up with a fun solution for our own DIY Pokemon storage box. In my opinion this is the best way to organize and even separate specific cards so you don’t lose them. This DIY storage box even holds a penny sleeve for the “really important cards.” This is a simple storage solution even for an extensive collection of cards.

Before we dive into how to organize a pokémon trading card game set, let’s first talk about the different types of cards.

Table of Contents

Understanding Pokemon Card Categories

Card Types

Pokemon cards come in three main types: Pokemon, Trainer, and Energy.

Pokemon Cards

Pokemon cards feature a Pokemon character and its stats, moves, and abilities. There are basic, stage 1, and stage 2 Pokemon cards, with each subsequent stage requiring specific conditions to evolve.

Trainer Cards

Trainer cards provide support for the player’s Pokemon, such as healing, drawing cards, or discarding opponent’s cards.

Energy Cards

Energy cards are used to power up Pokemon moves. There are nine types of energy cards, each corresponding to a Pokemon type.

Rarity Levels

Pokemon cards come in different rarity levels, denoted by a symbol in the bottom right corner of the card. The rarity levels are Common (black circle), Uncommon (black diamond), Rare (black star), and Ultra Rare (black star with a shiny background).

Series and Sets

Pokemon cards are released in sets, each with a specific theme and full art work. Sets are organized into series, with each series containing multiple sets. Some popular series include Base Set, Jungle, and Fossil.

Understanding the different categories of Pokemon cards is essential to organizing them properly. By categorizing them by type, rarity level, and series, players can easily find and use their cards during gameplay.

Let me show you what his OLD Pokemon storage method looked like.

Mommas, tell me if you can relate to any of these?

The first two pictures are typically how you would find my son’s Pokemon displayed; all over the floor or stacked in tin boxes.

The last picture was my attempt to try to “display” the Pokemon cards in an old spice rack. Unfortunately, my son decided he didn’t like it.

That’s when I decided I would find a way to store his Pokemon cards in one place.

I know there are other options to store these cards like with a pokemon card binder. The thing I didn’t love about this is the lack of storage for lots of cards. Let’s be honest, most kids’ pokemon card collection will include a lot more cards than what you can fit in a binder. So what do you do with the rest of the cards?

After thinking of how to store the elite trainer boxes and other random sacks of cards, I came to a budget friendly and quick way to store my son’s collection.

Disclosure; this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This does not affect the price you pay. This disclosure statement refers to the rest of the amazon links and other affiliate links in this post.

How to Organize Pokemon Cards

Look what I found! These $5 photo boxes are a perfect solution to stack those valuable cards in one place. The selling point of these boxes is the dividers that allow you to organize each set in different ways.

I purchased two photo boxes with divider index cards at the local craft store, but you can also find them HERE.

I also purchased a set of large craft sticks that you can find HERE.

Supplies for the DIY Pokemon Storage Box:

Sorting Your Pokemon Cards

Once you have gathered your Pokemon cards and the photo storage boxes, it’s time to start organizing them. Here are some tips on how to sort your Pokemon cards efficiently.

By Set

When sorting your Pokemon cards by set, it’s essential to group them by the same series or collection. For example, if you have cards from the XY Evolutions set, you should group them together. You can also sort them by the year they were released or the expansion they belong to.

To make it easier to identify which set the cards belong to, you can create a table or a list of each set. You can also label each divider with the name of the set, making it easier to access the cards you need.

By Type

Sorting your Pokemon cards by type is another great way to organize them. You can group them by their elemental type, such as fire, water, electric, etc. Alternatively, you can group them by their evolution stage, such as basic, stage one, or stage two.

To make it easier to identify each type, you can use bold or italic formatting. You can also create a list of each type and label each divider accordingly.

By Rarity

Finally, sorting your Pokemon cards by rarity is an excellent way to keep track of your collection. You can group them by common, uncommon, rare, or ultra-rare. You can also sort them by their holographic or non-holographic versions.

To make it easier to identify each rarity, you can use bold or italic formatting. You can also create a table of each rarity and label each divider accordingly.

By following these tips, you can keep your Pokemon cards organized and easy to access. With a little effort, you can create a well-organized collection that you can be proud of.

How to create a DIY Pokemon Storage Box

First, add the dividers to the storage boxes. Use a Pokemon card to decide where to hot glue each one. Run a bead of glue around the bottom and sides to make sure the dividers are secure in the box. Make sure to allow plenty of time for the hot glue to dry and cool down before adding your cards.

DIY Pokemon storage box from a photo box

Optional step; Attaching the photo boxes together. I thought long and hard about how to connect two boxes together and this was the simplest way I could think.

I glued a few craft sticks to the bottom of the boxes to attach them together. It might not look super pretty, but after all, who really looks at the bottom of the boxes right?

I even added two sticks to the back for extra support. Here are a few more tips to personalize your pokémon card collection.

Labeling and Creating Dividers

When organizing a collection of Pokemon cards, labeling and creating dividers is an important step to ensure easy access and a tidy display.

Designing Custom Labels

Custom labels can be added to the separate dividers to help categorize your Pokemon cards and make them easier to find. Here are some tips for designing custom labels:

Use clear and concise language: Make sure the label accurately reflects the contents of the section it represents. Use simple language that is easy to understand.
Use color coding: Assign a different color to each category of Pokemon cards to make it easier to identify them at a glance.

Divider Placement Strategies

Here are some strategies for divider placement:

Alphabetical order: Arrange your dividers in alphabetical order based on the first letter of the label. This can help you quickly locate the section you need.
Numerical order: Pokémon cards typically have a card number in the bottom right corner, which indicates their sequence in a set or in the National Pokédex. For example, a card might read “35/108,” where 35 is the card’s set number, and 108 is the total number of cards in that set.
Rarity order: If you have a large collection of Pokemon cards, you may want to arrange your dividers based on the rarity symbol of the cards. This can help you quickly find the most valuable cards in your collection. Most people want to keep the rarest cards together while others want to keep a small binder of only the ultra rares or secret rares.
Type order: Another option is to arrange your dividers based on the type of Pokemon cards. This can help you easily find cards that are part of a specific evolution chain or have a certain ability.

While there are plenty of divider placement strategies, the best method is ultimately a personal preference.

Arrangement Techniques

There are several ways to arrange your Pokémon cards within the box. One technique is to sort them by type, such as water, fire, electric, and so on. Another technique is to sort them by generation, such as first generation, second generation, and so on. You can also sort them by rarity, with rare cards in one section and common cards in another.

To make it easier to find specific cards, you can label each divider with a specific type or generation. This will save you time when searching for a particular card. Also, you can use color-coded dividers to further differentiate between types or generations.

Additional Organizational Tools

Sleeves and Protectors

In addition to using a photo storage box and dividers, sleeves and protectors can be useful tools for organizing Pokemon cards. Sleeves (also known as penny sleeves) are thin plastic covers that fit over individual cards, protecting them from wear and tear. Protectors are thicker plastic cases that hold multiple cards, providing extra protection from damage.

Sleeves come in a variety of sizes and styles, including clear sleeves that allow the card to be seen and colored sleeves that add a pop of color to the collection. They can be purchased in bulk online or at local hobby shops.

Protectors also come in various sizes and styles, ranging from simple plastic cases to more elaborate display cases. They can be used to store entire sets or rare cards that need extra protection. Some protectors even come with built-in dividers, making it easy to organize cards by set or type.

photo boxes turned DIY Pokemon storage box

This DIY Pokemon storage box has been such a lifesaver!

Video on how to create your own Pokemon Storage box

Did y’all like this post? You might enjoy the one below too all about a DIY lego and craft table.

Thanks for stopping by friends!

Lindsey**