How to Buy a Mahjong Set as a Gift If You Don't Play

The Mahjong Set Gift Guide for People Who Don't Play

A lot of the mahjong sets I sell as gifts are bought by people who have never played. Children buying for their mothers. Husbands buying for their wives. A friend buying for the one person in the group who won't stop talking about her Tuesday game. People listening to the mahj bros for the first time and buying one for the boys.

It's also how people end up with the wrong set. Mahjong isn't one game, and a set that looks right in a photo can be the wrong one for someone else.

I got into this by designing a set for my grandmother. She played every week until her 14-pound set got too heavy to carry. So I've spent more time than most people thinking about what a player actually needs. Here's what to figure out before you buy.

1. Find out which mahjong they play

If they play with a group in the US and they talk about "the card," she plays American Mahjong. American sets have 152 tiles, including 8 jokers, and come with racks. Chinese and Hong Kong sets usually have no jokers. Japanese Riichi sets are built for a different game entirely. 

The easiest check is to ask whether she uses a card from the National Mah Jongg League. If you can't ask without spoiling the gift, look at her current set. American sets have tiles that say "Joker" on them.

Plenty of sets sold online aren't American. If the listing doesn't say American Mahjong and doesn't mention jokers, it is likely for a different version of the game. 

2. Check whether she already owns a set

If someone plays regularly, they likely already have a set or two. A new set as a gift can be a new design, new artwork, or new functionality to unlock games in places they can't already play.

A frequent gift is a set for somewhere her main set can't go: a trip, the pool, a lake house, the trunk of her car. This is a frequent reason people buy from Spools - they already have a set at home, and it's hard for it to leave the house.

If she already has one and you'd rather not buy another, I wrote a list of mahjong gifts beyond another set.

3. Don't shrink the tiles

Most travel and "compact" sets get small by shrinking the tiles. Mini tiles are harder to read and harder to pick up, and after one game most players put them in a closet.

Look for full-size tiles, roughly the same size as what she plays with now. Ours are 1.4 by 1 inch.

4. Think about who's carrying it

A complete American set weighs anywhere from 6.5 to 16 pounds, and most of that is the case. If she's older, hosts at other people's houses, or travels, weight can be the difference between playing and skipping game night.

I covered this in more detail in how much a mahjong set weighs and the best set for seniors.

5. Make sure the box is complete

A complete American set includes:

• 152 tiles, including 8 jokers
• 4 racks, with pushers attached or included
• Dice
• A case or bag to carry it all

Some sets sell the racks and pushers separately, so compare prices on what's actually in the box. Here's the full breakdown of every tile if you want to check a listing yourself.

One thing no set includes is the card. The National Mah Jongg League publishes a new one every year and sells it directly. If you want the gift to be ready to play, add the current year's card. They also make a large print version.

A mat is the other common add-on. Players use one to protect the table and quiet the tiles.

6. Let color do some of the work

Players get attached to colors. Many of them match their racks, pushers, and dice to their tiles, and they notice when something doesn't match.

If she has a favorite color, use it. If she already owns a standard set, a themed set for the holidays is a gift she won't already have.

7. Set a budget

Mahjong sets run from about $50 to over $3,000. For a primary set a serious player will actually use, expect to spend a few hundred dollars. The cheap ones can be great as well, but they can also be duds. Here's what changes at each price tier.

The short version

• If they use the NMJL card, buy an American set with jokers.
• If she already owns a set, get her one for the places hers can't go.
• Stick with full-size tiles, not mini.
• Go lighter if portability is important.
• Make sure racks and pushers are included, or add them.
• Add this year's card if you want it ready to play.
• Pick her color.

What I'd buy

If she plays American Mahjong and already has a set at home, the Spools travel bundle is likely a great gift. It has full-size tiles, four racks that split in half for packing, pushers, dice, and a tote. The whole thing is about 3 pounds, and the tiles float, so it goes to the pool too. Bundles start at $399, and the mat is sold separately.

If she's just starting out, read what to look for in a first set instead.

If you're still not sure, send us a note with what you know about her game. Our email is support@spools.com