BinderTemplates

How it works

A quick guide to getting the most out of binder templates. If you've never used placeholders before, start here.

What is a binder placeholder?

Without placeholders

You buy a binder, open it and… it's empty. You don't know which card goes in which pocket, or what you're missing to complete the set.

→
With placeholders

Every pocket holds a faded black-and-white placeholder with the card's image, number and set. When you get the real card, you slot it in over the placeholder.

It's like having a map of the set: at a glance you see what you have and what you're missing. Especially handy for master sets, Pokédex templates, or organising your collection properly.

In 3 steps

1

Pick your template

By set (Crown Zenith, SV1, …), by generation (Kanto, Johto, …) or build a custom one by searching for cards or Pokémon.

2

Download the PDF

Printable A4 with 9 placeholders per sheet at real size (63 × 88 mm), with cut marks. Being a PDF, it works on any printer.

3

Print and cut

Print at 100% scale. Cut along the marks with a guillotine or scissors. Slot each placeholder into its binder pocket.

Printing tips

  • 100% scale (don't fit to paper). In the print dialog, look for «Actual size» or turn off «Fit to page». That's the only thing that matters: the PDF is already sized correctly.
  • Plain A4 paper (80 gsm). No cardstock or photo paper needed — the placeholders are faded on purpose and won't compete with the real card once you slot it in.
  • B&W ink is enough. The PDF is in faded greyscale to save ink and give that «empty slot» feel. If your printer is colour-only, that's fine too.
  • Check the first placeholder with a ruler. After printing the first sheet, measure any placeholder: it should be exactly 63 × 88 mm. If not, check the scale in the print dialog.

Cutting tips

  • Guillotine > scissors. A paper guillotine gives straight, consistent cuts. If you have to use scissors, mark the lines first with a ruler and a light pen.
  • Follow the cut marks. Each sheet has 8 edge ticks marking where the horizontal and vertical cuts of the 3 × 3 grid go. Line the blade up to those ticks.
  • There's a 3 mm gap between placeholders. That gives you margin for error: even a slightly off cut still fits inside the binder pocket.

Frequently asked questions

Which binders do they fit?▾

Any standard-pocket binder (Vault X, Ultra Pro, Dragon Shield, Pokémon Center, etc.). The placeholder is 63 × 88 mm, the same as a Pokémon TCG card in a single sleeve.

What are the Complete, Master and Grandmaster levels?▾

On each set page you choose how far you want to complete it:

  • Complete: the officially numbered cards (e.g. SV1: cards 1–198). The playable set.
  • Master: adds the secret rares (numbers beyond the printed total) and the reverse holo variant of every common, uncommon or rare. RHs carry a «REV» tag on their placeholder.
  • Grandmaster: plus the set's promos (Trainer Gallery, Shiny Vault…), on the sets that have them.

«Master set» isn't an official term — every collector uses their own — so you can stop at whichever level you collect.

Can I print only the ones I'm missing?▾

Yes. On a set or Pokédex page, sign in and mark the cards you already have (click each one, or Shift-click to mark a whole range at once). Then turn on «Only what I'm missing» and the PDF comes out with just the ones you still need — saving paper and ink as you complete the collection.

Why are they faded black and white?▾

So they're clearly placeholders and don't get confused with real cards. In full colour, flipping through the binder would look like you already own the card. Faded B&W says «a card you don't have yet goes here».

Bonus: it saves a lot of ink if you print many sets. And to spend even less, turn on Save ink mode: each slot prints as an outlined box with its number and name, no artwork.

What pocket size does it support?▾

Standard 9-pocket (3×3 per page, 360 cards in a 20-page binder). It's the most common Vault X and Ultra Pro format.

Is it free?▾

Yes. All downloads, templates and custom building are free. You only need an account to save templates to the cloud and mark which cards you already own.

How do I save a template to edit later?▾

On a set or generation page, hit «Save as template». It shows up in My templates. From there you can edit it: add or remove cards and reorder it.

Does it support other TCGs (Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh, One Piece)?▾

Pokémon TCG only for now. If the community asks, we'll add more.

Recommended gear

What do you need for your binder?

All you really need: a 9-pocket binder and sleeves.

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Ready to start?

Start by picking a ready-made set, a Pokédex generation, or build your custom template from scratch.

Browse setsPokédexBuild a template