🀄️ How to Choose Your First Mahjong Set
So many tiles, so much confusion—until you know what matters
Choosing which mahjong set to buy can feel confusing for beginners. Between different tile counts, materials, and numbering styles, it’s easy to get lost. After playing with several sets over the past year, here’s what I’ve learned and what I wish someone had told me before my first purchase.
1. Decide Which Version You’ll Play
Different versions = different tile counts
|
Version |
Tiles |
Jokers? |
Notes |
|
Chinese (Classical / Official) |
144 |
❌ None |
Standard 144: suits (108) + winds (16) + dragons (12) + flowers/seasons (8). Most authentic. Pure, skill-based with no element of luck with jokers |
|
Hong Kong (HK Old style / Modern HK) |
136-144 |
❌ None |
TIle count depends on whether flowers/season are used. No jokers. Speed and memory matter more than wildcards |
|
American (NMJL) |
152-168 |
✅ 8 Jokers + 4 blanks |
Uses racks and a yearly “card” of hands. Completely different play style. The yearly NMJL card dictates which hands can use jokers. Jokers are vital in American mahjong. |
|
Singaporean |
148-152 |
✅ 4 Jokers |
Apart from the standard tiles, includes 4 animal bonus tiles (cat, mouse, chicken, centipede). |
|
Karachi style |
148 |
✅ Optional |
Uses 4 blanks as jokers |
|
Japanese (Riichi) |
136 |
❌ None |
No jokers or flowers/winds. Just suits (108) + winds (16) + dragons (12). Dora indicators mark tile worth bonus points. |
👉 If you’re playing “Karachi style,” a 144-tile set with 2–4 blanks is ideal you can ignore them or turn them into jokers when needed. However, even without the blanks, you can adapt by converting 4 of your flower tiles into blanks, if need be.
2. Arabic Numerals or Not?
3. Tile Size & Feel
|
Size Code |
Approx Tile Size |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
A1 |
~36 × 27 × 22 mm |
Extra-large tiles; thick, heavy, and luxurious. Ideal for 16-tile play or big hands. Great “click-clack” sound. |
|
A1 variation |
~33 × 25 × 19 mm |
Large, heavy tiles. Excellent tactile feel |
|
A2 |
~33 × 25 × 19 mm |
Standard full-size tiles. The most common size. It feels solid, stands upright easily and balanced for hand feel, and visibility. |
|
A3 |
~31 × 23 × 17 mm |
Slightly smaller and lighter, Fits older-style wooden racks. Easier to shuffle. |
|
A4 |
~28 × 21 × 16 mm (~1.1 × 0.8 × 0.6 in) |
Small and portable; fine for quick play but less stable when standing. |
|
A5 |
~25 × 19 × 15 mm |
Very small; mainly for travel or teaching, not serious play. |
4. Other Details to Check
5. Final Advice from Experience
However, in the end, knowing which mahjong set to buy matters less than finding people who love to play with you. And if you’re still wondering which set to buy, don’t overthink it, just start playing and make the one you have perfect for you.