The American Mahjong Set: What's Inside and What to Buy

Mahjong tiles have been made in China for well over a century, and the designs on them, from the bamboo sticks to the Chinese characters on the Craks, carry that history. The American version uses the same core tiles as a Chinese set and adds a few of its own, most importantly the jokers.

The 152 tiles at a glance

Every tile, with pictures

Here is every tile face in the set, grouped by type. Our drawings are simple on purpose. Real sets look fancier, and the art varies a lot from one maker to another, but the symbols are the same.

The three suits

Bams (bamboo) show sticks of bamboo. The 1 Bam is usually a bird, which surprises almost everyone the first time. Craks (characters) show the Chinese numbers 1 through 9 above the character for "ten thousand." Dots (also called circles) show that many circles. Most American sets also print a small number in the corner, which is a big help when you're starting out.

Winds, dragons, flowers, and jokers

The four winds are North, East, West, and South. The three dragons each belong to a suit: Red goes with Craks, Green with Bams, and White, nicknamed Soap, with Dots. White also works as a zero in hands built around the year. The eight flowers may all look different, but they all count as the same tile. The eight jokers are wild in groups of three or more. Read our joker rules for the details.

Want to learn them all? Our free tile quiz has flashcards and a timed mode.

Everything else in the box

Racks with pushers

American sets usually come with four racks, one per player. The rack holds your tiles upright so only you can see them, and the top ledge is where you show your exposed groups. Many racks have a pusher, a long arm that lets you slide your wall toward the center of the table.

Dice

You need two dice. They're used to pick who starts as East and to decide where to break the wall. See how to play American mahjong for how that works.

A way to pay

Many sets come with chips or coins for keeping score. Plenty of groups play for small change instead, and some just keep track on paper. Our payout calculator works with any of them.

What's not in the box

The card

The card of legal winning hands changes every spring and is sold by the National Mah Jongg League, not by set makers. Even a brand-new set won't include this year's card, so order it from nationalmahjonggleague.org. Then learn how to read the mahjong card.

A mat

A table mat is optional, but many players love one. It softens the noise of mixing tiles, protects the table, and makes tiles easier to pick up. A soft tablecloth works fine to start.

Can I use a Chinese or other Asian set?

Not quite as it comes. Many sets made for Chinese and other Asian styles of mahjong have 144 tiles or fewer and no jokers. Since jokers are part of almost every American game, you'd be missing an essential piece.

Some players adapt these sets by putting joker stickers on spare or blank tiles. Be careful about using the flower tiles for this: the American game needs all eight flowers too, so you'd come up short. You'll also usually need racks. Tile size and corner numbers can differ as well. If you love an older or heirloom set, it can be worth adapting. If you're buying new, an American set is simpler. Curious how the styles differ? See American vs. Chinese mahjong.

Tips for buying your first set

• Check the tile count. Look for "American" and at least 152 tiles. A few extra blanks or spare jokers are a bonus.
• Make sure it has 8 jokers. Some vintage sets have fewer, or none at all.
• Look for readable tiles. Corner numbers and clear, high-contrast markings make a real difference, especially if you wear reading glasses.
• Think about size and weight. Larger, heavier tiles are easier to handle and stand up nicely on a rack. Smaller ones are easier to carry to a friend's house.
• Check the racks. Four sturdy racks with pushers attached or included make setup much smoother.
• Consider the case. If you'll travel to game nights, a case with a good handle and secure latches helps a lot.
• Read recent reviews. Look for comments about chipped tiles, faded paint, or missing pieces.

Where to start looking

These Amazon searches are a quick way to compare sets, mats and racks. For the full list of what to buy, see our mahjong shopping list.