How Many Tiles in a Mahjong Set? 144, 152 and 160 Explained
The number of tiles in a mahjong set depends on which game it's made for. Here's the quick version:
- Chinese mahjong: 144 tiles, no jokers
- American mahjong: 152 tiles used in play, including 8 jokers
- Our American sets: 160 tiles, the full 152 plus spare tiles
What makes up the 152 American tiles
| Group | Tiles |
|---|---|
| Bams, Craks, Dots (1–9, four of each) | 108 |
| Winds (N, E, W, S ×4) | 16 |
| Dragons (Red, Green, White ×4) | 12 |
| Flowers | 8 |
| Jokers | 8 |
| Total | 152 |
Why buy a 160-tile set?
Tiles get lost under sofas and in tote bags. Spare tiles mean one missing piece never ends your game night, and some groups use extras for house rules. Every set in our American mah jongg collection comes with 160 tiles.
Can I play American mahjong with 144 tiles?
No. Without jokers you can't build most hands on the American card. If you're buying for American rules, make sure the set lists jokers.
Learn every tile in our mahjong tile names guide, then see how to play mahjong.