Vinyl Record Sleeves

Vinyl Record Sleeves protect your records and album jackets from dust, scratches, fingerprints and scuffed corners. Here you'll find inner sleeves for the record itself, replacing the original paper sleeve, as well as clear outer sleeves that hold the entire album. Most are for 12" LPs, a few packs are for 7" singles, and a double outer sleeve suits gatefold albums containing two or three records. Legend Vinyl, Muziker, Reloop and Audio Anatomy offer them in packs of 20 to 100.

What's the difference between inner and outer vinyl record sleeves?

An inner sleeve touches the record itself, so it's made from a smooth, antistatic material that keeps dust out of the grooves without scratching the record. Models with a rounded bottom, such as Legend Vinyl Curved Base, fit more easily into the album jacket without creasing its corners. An outer sleeve is a clear pocket made from PP, OPP, LDPE or PVC film that you slip over the entire album. The album jacket stays visible, but it doesn't rub against neighbouring records on the shelf, and the film protects it from dust, fingerprints and water.

Which inner sleeve should you choose: plastic or paper?

Inner sleeves differ in the material that comes into contact with the record.

• HDPE film: a thin, antistatic sleeve, such as the 40 µm thick Legend Vinyl Curved Base or the matte HDPE sleeve from Muziker, protects the record from dust and scratches.
• Paper with a plastic lining: a firmer sleeve in which HDPE film touches the record, such as Legend Vinyl made from acid-free kraft paper or Reloop Premium Polylined with a centre hole that lets you see the label.
• Rice paper: the soft, antistatic lining in Legend Vinyl Rice Paper sleeves protects against static electricity and lets the record slide in smoothly.

Which outer sleeve will fit a double album or a 7" single?

According to the manufacturers, outer sleeves measuring around 32.5 × 32.5 cm, such as Legend Vinyl Premium Outer or Reloop Premium Outer, fit standard 12" LPs and most gatefold double albums. For gatefold albums containing two to three records, there's the Muziker double outer sleeve measuring 32 × 69.1 cm, with a flap for closing it. For 7" singles and EPs, you'll find Legend Vinyl inner sleeves in the 7" size. You can then store your sleeved records in LP storage boxes, and if you want to wash them before putting them into a new sleeve, vinyl record cleaning kits can help.