October 21, 2026
How Many Tiles Are in an American Mahjong Set?
An American mahjong set has 152 tiles. That number surprises people who grew up with Chinese mahjong, which uses 144, and it confuses shoppers who see sets sold with 160 or 166 pieces. Here is exactly what is in a set, what each tile is called, and how to check that a set is complete.
The 152 tiles at a glance
| Tiles | How many |
|---|---|
| Bams (bamboo), 1 to 9, four of each | 36 |
| Craks (characters), 1 to 9, four of each | 36 |
| Dots (circles), 1 to 9, four of each | 36 |
| Winds: North, East, West, South, four of each | 16 |
| Dragons: Red, Green and White, four of each | 12 |
| Flowers | 8 |
| Jokers | 8 |
| Total | 152 |
The three suits
Bams show bamboo sticks; the 1 Bam is usually a bird. Craks carry the Chinese character for "ten thousand" with a number above it. Dots show circles, one to nine. Most American sets also print a small number in the corner of every suit tile, so you can read your hand at a glance even if you do not read the characters.
Winds and dragons
The four winds are marked N, E, W and S in American sets. There are three dragons, and in American mahjong each one belongs with a suit: the Red dragon goes with Craks, the Green dragon with Bams and the White dragon, nicknamed "Soap", with Dots. Soap can also stand for zero in hands that spell out a year.
Flowers
American sets have eight flower tiles. The pictures can differ from tile to tile, but in the American game all flowers count the same.
Jokers: what makes a set American
The eight jokers are the biggest difference from other styles of mahjong. A joker can stand in for a tile in a group of three or more identical tiles, but not in a single tile or a pair. A set without jokers is made for a different game, so check for them before you buy. Our American mahjong sets all include jokers.
Why do some sets have 160 or 166 tiles?
Sets sold as 160 or 166 pieces contain the 152 playing tiles plus extras, such as blank tiles or spare jokers, depending on the maker. Extras are handy if a tile is ever lost, and some groups use blanks in house rules. The listing should say what the extra tiles are; if it does not, ask before you order.
How to check that your set is complete
- Sort the tiles into suits, winds, dragons, flowers and jokers.
- Lay out each suit in rows of 1 to 9: you should have four complete rows per suit.
- Count four of each wind and each dragon, eight flowers and eight jokers.
If anything is missing when a new set arrives, tell the seller straight away. At Erafav, report a missing tile within 7 days of delivery and we will put it right; see our damage and missing pieces page.
Acrylic or melamine tiles?
Most American sets today are made of acrylic or melamine. Acrylic tiles are lighter and come in many colors, often in two to four layers that show a stripe of color on the side. Melamine tiles feel heavier and more traditional. Engraved designs, cut into the tile, last longer than designs that are only printed on the surface.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need all the extra tiles in a 166 set?
No. You play with the 152 tiles listed above. Keep the extras in the box as spares.
Are all eight flowers the same?
The artwork often differs, but in American mahjong any flower counts as a flower.
Can I play with a set that is missing a tile?
You can, but a missing tile changes the odds and the count of the wall. Use a spare or a blank in its place until you can replace it.
How many jokers should there be?
Eight. Some sets include a few extra jokers as spares; you still play with eight.
What else you need
Tiles are only part of the table. You will also want four racks with pushers, a mahjong mat, dice and the current year's card of hands, which is published by the National Mah Jongg League and sold by them. Our beginner checklist walks through all of it, and American vs Chinese mahjong sets explains the differences in more detail.