What's Actually in an American Mahjong Set? A Full Breakdown
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The short answer: A standard American Mahjong set has 152 tiles. That is 144 base tiles (three number suits, winds, dragons, and flowers) plus 8 jokers. Many modern sets add a few extra jokers and blank tiles, so you will also see sets with 160 or more. Beyond the tiles, a full set usually includes four racks, two dice, and a case, while the yearly playing card is bought separately.
If you have ever opened a Mahjong case and wondered what all those tiles are, you are not alone. American Mahjong uses more tile types than most games, and the count can look confusing at first. Here is exactly what is inside a set, what every tile does, and what else you need to actually play.
How many tiles are in an American Mahjong set?
A standard American Mahjong set contains 152 tiles: 144 base tiles and 8 jokers. That said, tile counts vary by maker. Because jokers and blanks get lost or worn over time, many sets include spares, so counts of 160 or a little higher are common. The extra tiles are usually additional jokers and blanks, not new tile types.
The full breakdown, tile by tile
The 144 base tiles fall into a handful of groups. Once you can name the groups, the whole set stops looking like a jumble.
| Tile group | What it is | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Dots (circles) | A number suit, 1 to 9, four of each | 36 |
| Bams (bamboo) | A number suit, 1 to 9, four of each | 36 |
| Cracks (characters) | A number suit, 1 to 9, four of each | 36 |
| Winds | North, East, South, West, four of each | 16 |
| Dragons | Red, Green, and White, four of each | 12 |
| Flowers | Decorative tiles, often numbered | 8 |
| Jokers | Wild tiles | 8 |
| Total | 152 |
The three number suits
Most of the set is made of three suits, each numbered 1 through 9, with four copies of every number. They are:
- Dots, also called circles, marked with round symbols.
- Bams, short for bamboo, marked with stick or stalk symbols. The 1 Bam is usually a bird.
- Cracks, short for characters, marked with a Chinese character and a number.
That is 108 tiles right there, the bulk of any set.
The winds
Four wind tiles, North, East, South, and West, with four copies of each, for 16 total. In American Mahjong the winds are used within the hands printed on the yearly card rather than to assign seats the way other variants do.
The dragons
Three dragons, Red, Green, and White, with four of each, for 12 total. The white dragon is often nicknamed "soap" because older sets showed it as a plain or framed blank tile. Each dragon pairs with one of the number suits, which matters for building hands: Red goes with Cracks, Green goes with Bams, and White (soap) goes with Dots.
The flowers
Eight flower tiles round out the base set. They are decorative and often numbered or grouped into flowers and seasons, and they appear in specific hands on the card. Unlike the suits, you do not need matching sets of four to use them.
The jokers
A standard set includes 8 jokers, which are wild tiles that can stand in for others when you are building certain groups. They cannot be used for a single tile in a pair, and they are never passed during the Charleston. Because jokers do so much work in the American game, sets often include a few extra.
What are the blank tiles for?
Many sets, especially newer ones, include a handful of blank tiles. These are spares. If a tile is ever lost or damaged, a blank can be marked to replace it. Some players and house rules also use blanks as extra jokers. They are not part of the standard 152-tile count, which is why a set advertised as 160 tiles is usually 152 plus extra jokers and blanks. A Spools set, for example, ships with 160: 144 base tiles, 10 jokers, and 6 blanks.
What else comes in a set, beyond the tiles?
The tiles are the heart of it, but a complete set usually includes more. Contents vary by maker, so check any listing, but a typical American Mahjong set comes with:
- Racks, one per player, to hold your tiles upright and hidden. In American play these are essential, since you build and read a full hand on them.
- Pushers, which attach to or pair with the racks to push the wall of tiles into the center. Some sets include them, some sell them separately.
- Dice, usually two, used to determine the dealer and where to break the wall.
- A case or bag to hold everything.
- Sometimes betting chips or coins, depending on the set.
All together, a complete set usually weighs 6.5 to 16 pounds, depending mostly on the case. See how much a mahjong set weighs for the full comparison.
One thing that is usually not included: the card
American Mahjong is played using the National Mah Jongg League card, which lists every legal winning hand for the year. This card is almost never included with a tile set. It is published fresh each spring and bought separately, usually for a small fee. If you are buying a set to learn on, plan to pick up the current card too.
So how many tiles do you actually need to play?
To play standard American Mahjong you need the full 144 base tiles plus jokers. The extra jokers and blanks in a larger set are convenience and insurance, not requirements. If you are comparing sets, the number that matters is whether it has the complete 144 base tiles and enough jokers, not whether the headline count is 152 or 160.
If you are still learning the game itself, our guide on how to play American Mahjong walks through setup, the Charleston, and how a hand is won.
Frequently asked questions
How many tiles are in an American Mahjong set?
A standard American Mahjong set has 152 tiles: 144 base tiles plus 8 jokers. Many sets add extra jokers and blanks, so counts of 160 or higher are common.
What are the three suits in Mahjong?
The three number suits are Dots (circles), Bams (bamboo), and Cracks (characters). Each is numbered 1 through 9, with four copies of every number.
What are the blank tiles in a Mahjong set for?
Blanks are spares. They can be marked to replace a lost or damaged tile, and some house rules use them as extra jokers. They are not part of the standard 152-tile count.
Does an American Mahjong set include the NMJL card?
Usually no. The National Mah Jongg League card is published each year and bought separately. Most tile sets do not include it.
What is the difference between an American and a Chinese Mahjong set?
A Chinese set has 144 tiles and no jokers. An American set adds 8 jokers for 152 tiles, is played with the yearly NMJL card, and uses racks to hold each hand.
Why do some sets have 160 tiles instead of 152?
The extra tiles are almost always additional jokers and blanks, included as spares. The 144 base tiles are the same. A 160-tile set is typically 144 base tiles, 10 jokers, and 6 blanks.
Once you know what belongs in a set, choosing one is easier. If you want a set that travels, see our guide on choosing an American Mahjong travel set.