Gifts for Board Game Lovers: Sleeves, Organizers and Dice Trays

The best gifts for board game lovers are accessories for games they already own: card sleeves in the right size, an organizer insert for a crowded box, a dice tray, or a small travel game. Match the gift to how they play. A collector wants protection, a host wants faster setup, and a frequent traveler wants small boxes.

Before you buy: find out which games they own

Most board game accessories are sized to specific games. A sleeve pack for one game will not fit another, and an insert made for one box is useless in the next.

So before shopping, get the names of two or three games they play most. A quick look at their shelf, or a word with their partner or regular game group, is enough. With those names, every section below gets easier.

For the collector who protects every card

Card sleeves are the classic gift for someone who cares about condition. They are clear plastic pockets that keep cards clean and stop edges from wearing during shuffles.

What size card sleeves do they need?

Sleeves are sized in millimeters, and there are many sizes. Mayday Games alone makes 22, from 41 by 63 mm to 88 by 125 mm. The table shows sizes from Gamegenic’s range, which labels each size with a color code.

Gamegenic’s sizes are the sleeve dimensions. Mayday Games lists card size first: its sleeve for 63.5 by 88 mm cards is “commonly referred as 66x91 MM” on the outside. The standard card size covers games such as Terraforming Mars, Pandemic and Spirit Island, according to Mayday’s product page.

How to get the size right

• Use a sleeve finder. Mayday Games keeps a spreadsheet with over 10,000 games and a phone app for checking sizes.
• Count the cards. A big game can need several packs. For standard-size cards, Mayday’s standard pack holds 100 sleeves and its premium pack holds 50.
• Choose a thickness. Mayday sells standard and premium sleeves; its premium sleeves for standard-size cards are 90 microns thick. Thicker sleeves feel sturdier but take more room in the box.

For the host who hates setup and cleanup

People who run regular game nights often want faster setup more than another game. Organizer inserts replace the cardboard tray in the box with compartments sized to each set of pieces.

Wooden inserts. The Broken Token makes laser-cut wooden organizers that come as kits; it recommends wood glue, sold separately. Its card organizer lists different capacities for unsleeved, standard-sleeved and premium-sleeved cards, a reminder that sleeves change the fit.

Lightweight inserts. Folded Space makes game-specific organizers that it says need no tools to assemble. Its catalog lists inserts by game title.

Whichever you choose, The Broken Token’s advice applies: measure the inside bottom of the game box, since box sizes vary between printings.

Dice trays. A dice tray keeps rolls on the table and off the floor. It suits anyone who plays dice-heavy games and needs no sizing, so it is the safe pick when you cannot find out which games they own.

For the one who plays on the go

A gamer who travels, commutes or visits family often gets more use from small boxes than from a big game.

• Small card games. Many full games fit in a pocket-size box. Our guide to small card games that fit a stocking lists picks from 2 to 7 players.
• Travel editions. Some makers sell compact versions of classics. WS Game Company, for example, lists a Travel Games collection.
• A card deck box or sleeve set for the small game they always carry, so it survives the bag.

For the one who follows the awards

Germany’s Spiel des Jahres awards are an easy way to pick a game they may not own yet. The Kennerspiel des Jahres goes to games for more experienced players.

Two examples from the award’s own site: Wingspan, known in German as Flügelschlag, won the Kennerspiel des Jahres in 2019, and Hanabi, a small cooperative card game, won the Spiel des Jahres in 2013. Our guide to Spiel des Jahres winners covers what each award means, and our strategy board games roundup suggests next steps for someone who already owns the gateway classics.

If you buy a popular game like Wingspan from a marketplace, read how to spot a counterfeit board game first.

For the one with a game room

A dedicated game table, with a recessed playing area and a cover that turns it back into a dining table, is the biggest gift in this category. It is a furniture purchase, so it suits a milestone rather than a stocking. Measure the room before choosing one.

In the meantime, simpler storage upgrades help any shelf: card organizers for games with many decks, or insert kits for the boxes that get played most.

Quick picker by budget and effort

How to buy accessories safely on eBay

1. Match the exact game and edition in the listing title to the one they own. Second editions can have different box sizes.
2. For sleeves, confirm the millimeter size and the number of sleeves per pack.
3. For inserts, check whether the listing says it fits sleeved cards and whether assembly is needed.
4. Read the seller’s feedback and return policy, in case the fit is wrong.

For games rather than accessories, start with our main board game gifts guide.