If you’ve read any of my posts about photo organizing, you probably already know I’m a big fan of IRIS USA’s photo storage case for storing printed photos. In fact, I dedicated a whole post to why I think they’re the best photo storage box option.

The short version: they hold up to 1,600 photos, come in both 4×6 and 5×7 sizes, are affordable, and make it easy to sort and label your prints with individual inner cases. They’re the best space-saving solution out there for prints that actually keep them organized, too.

If you’ve been eyeing them but aren’t sure which to grab, this post breaks down every option by capacity, dimensions, and more, so you can choose the best case for you!

Things to Consider Before You Buy

Before you run to click buy on your new Iris photo storage cases (I know I’ve made them sound pretty enticing!), there are a few things worth thinking through first.

What size are your prints? Iris cases come in dedicated 4×6 and 5×7 sizes, and we’ll cover both. Plus, there’s an option for your larger prints, like 8x10s.

How many prints do you have or want to store? A rough estimate is all you need here. I’ll go over the capacity for each case so you can figure out exactly how many to order.

Are you storing anything beyond photos? If you have cards, ticket stubs, documents, or other memorabilia you want to keep alongside your prints, there are actually Iris cases designed for that, and we’ll cover them, too.

Do you care about color? Iris cases come in a few different colorways in addition to a standard clear. Your choice all depends on your aesthetic preferences.

Iris Photo Storage Cases: Quick Comparison Table

The Storage Cases

12-case and 16-case for 4×6 prints

Either option here is the holy grail of space-saving photo print storage. The only major difference is that the 12-case holds about 400 fewer prints than the 16-case, and it also weighs less when full (they can get heavy when they’re full of prints!).

The 12-case is perfect if you’re just getting started with organizing your photos, or if your collection is new and growing.

I’d recommend going straight to the 16-case if you have decades of prints or are tackling a big backlog. You can use the inner cases as temporary organizing spots as you refine your system.

5×7 Case

The 5×7 6-case storage box is a must-have if you plan to store any 5×7 prints (there are usually at least a few floating around!). It’s perfect for school photos, professional prints, and larger prints of your favorite shots.

If you truly only have a handful of 5x7s and don’t plan on growing your collection, you can also grab an individual 5×7 inner case from The Container Store.

Document Cases

Document cases are the only Iris option that fits 8×10 prints, so if you have any larger photos in your collection, grab either the shallow or deep option, too. These are also perfect if you’re a “I can’t throw away a birthday card” type of person, or have keepsakes to store like letters, newspaper clippings, or programs.

The shallow document cases are perfect if you have a few different types of memorabilia you want to organize and separate (they’re stackable and easy to label, just like the photo cases).

Meanwhile, the deep document case is the better choice for small books, programs, kids’ artwork, notebooks, etc.

Where to Buy

The Container Store 

My go-to because they have the widest range of options. They sell the 16- and 12-case carriers for 4×6 photos, the 6-case for 5x7s, individual inner cases, and they’re the only place I can find shallow and deep document cases sold individually. Shop at The Container Store →

Target

Offers a 2-pack bundle of the 16-case carrier if you’re organizing a lot at once. Plus, they offer them in other colorways like black, pearled, and with rainbow inner cases.

They also sell a 10-pack of the individual 5×7 cases in case that fits your needs.

For document cases, they also sell a 6-pack of the shallow document case and a 2-pack and 4-pack of the deep document cases.

FAQ

Are Iris Cases Acid-Free?

Yes! All of these Iris photo storage products are acid-free. This helps keep your photos safe from fading and damage over time.

Can You Stack Iris Cases?

Yes! The cases are designed to stack with the same product. So your 16-case carriers will all stack perfectly with one another. (But as you can see in my photos, they all stack easily regardless of the product!).

Is It Bad To Store Photos in Plastic?

Generally, no, especially with acid-free cases like these, but they need to be stored properly. I cover this in more depth in this post! For extra-delicate photos and keepsakes, I’d lean toward archival paper boxes like these instead.

So Which One Is Right For You?

I hope this breakdown has helped you decide which Iris photo storage cases you need to store your photo prints. Like me, you might find you need a combination of all of them! Whatever you end up grabbing, you really can’t go wrong. These cases have completely changed how I store and access my photo collection, and I think they’ll do the same for you.