If you've just been invited to your first game and someone said "bring a set," this is the page to read before you buy anything. The short version: American mahjong uses a different set than the game played in most of the world, and the wrong one will leave your table short on tiles and missing jokers.
The one-paragraph history
Mahjong was born in China in the 1800s and spread worldwide in the 1920s. In the United States the game evolved its own rules: jokers, the Charleston (a structured tile exchange before play), and an annual card of winning hands published by the National Mah Jongg League since 1937. That version — American mahjong, or "mahj" — was kept alive for decades by Jewish-American women's clubs and is now played everywhere from Houston to Boston.
What makes a set "American"
| American | Chinese / Hong Kong / Riichi | |
|---|---|---|
| Tile count | 166 (152 + 8 jokers + blanks/spares) | 136–144 |
| Jokers | 8, essential | None |
| Flowers | 8, all interchangeable | 8, seasons and flowers |
| The card | Yes — new hands every year | No |
| Racks | 4 racks, usually with pushers | Rarely used |
| Tile markings | Western numerals on craks and bams are common | Traditional characters only |
The tell: if the listing doesn't say "166 tiles" and "jokers," it isn't an American set.
What to check before you buy a set
- 166 tiles, 8 jokers. Non-negotiable.
- Tile size. Standard tiles are about 1.2"–1.3" wide. Bigger "jumbo" tiles exist and are easier to read, but they need oversized racks and don't fit standard bags.
- Engraved vs. printed. Engraved (carved and painted) tiles last decades. Printed tiles wear at the edges.
- Case. Soft cases are lighter for travel; hard aluminum cases protect better in a car trunk.
- Racks included? Most sets in the $60–$80 range include four basic racks. Many players upgrade these first.
We don't sell complete sets (yet). Long-running importers and the big marketplaces sell reliable 166-tile sets from about $60; designer brands sell hand-painted sets from $300 up. Either works at the table.
The accessories that actually matter
This is where most players end up spending, and where we live.
- Racks with pushers. The pusher is the bar that slides out to build and push the wall. Built-in pushers make setup faster and keep the wall straight. See racks & pushers.
- A non-slip mat. Quiets the shuffle, stops tiles sliding, protects the table. 32" square fits standard card tables. See mats.
- A card holder. Keeps the League card upright instead of folded under your rack.
- Dice and a wind indicator. Two dice, a marker for East. Always missing.
- A bag that fits racks. Most set cases don't fit four 18"–20" racks. A matched bag set solves it.
Where to learn
Buy the current card from the National Mah Jongg League (it's the only place it's sold), then find a teacher or club: the American Mahjong Association and Mahjong 4 Friends both keep directories, and most areas now have beginner classes. Our How to Host a Mahjong Night guide covers the table, the food and the flow once you're ready to host.
Parlor & Tile is independent and not affiliated with the National Mah Jongg League.