Tiles, Racks & Red Flags: The real guide to buying a mahjong set

So you wanna buy a Mahjong set? Cute! But before you grab the first shiny box on Amazon, let me stop you. There are some truly tragic sets out there—flimsy racks, blurry tiles, plastic that feels like a Happy Meal toy. Hard pass. I only recommend tiles, racks, mats and Mahj goodies that I’ve actually played with or at least touched in real life). If it’s linked here, it’s passed the vibe check. I have included some budget-friendly options as well—but please note that they’re not the same as the luxe sets I use for teaching. Think “starter kit” vs. “forever set.”

What impacts the price? Be sure to understand if the tiles you are looking at are stamped or painted. Not all tiles are the same size, which means some of the accessories might not work with certain sets - some are taller and skinnier and others are chunkier. Are they made of acrylic or melamine? How traditional (or not) do you want your tiles?

What do you actually need? If you’re learning with me (hi, queen 👋), you’ll want an American Mahjong set. It’s the style I teach and play.

• Tiles – 160 tiles, including jokers (unlike the smaller 144-tile Chinese sets). We want sets with numbers that are easy to read and include jokers.

• Racks – They hold your tiles and make the game work. If mixing and matching, make sure you are checking the size.

• Dice – Most sets include them, but double-check. You’ll need them to start each hand.

• Mat – Not required. A mat makes shuffling smoother, keeps tiles from sliding, and saves your table (and your ears). Plus, pretty!

• NMJL Card (must-have) – The official scoring card from the National Mah Jongg League. And yes, their website is straight out of 1998.

There are so many beautiful tiles and fun/funky sets. You do you, but these are my recommendations based on experience playing and teaching:

• Start with these basics. Skip the gimmicky extras and invest in pieces that actually make the game fun and frustration-free.

• Look closely at the flowers - can you tell they are flowers? Are they confusing with the dots? This can make it harder to learn/play when you first get started!

• Make sure that the suit tiles are numbered (1-9). Note: Flowers might be numbered for other versions of the game (not needed for American Mahjong).

• Look for crisp, clean designs and engravings. Poor craftsmanship, like shallow or uneven markings, can distract from the game and detract from the set's appearance. You can absolutely use a stamped set, but you will want to read reviews to make sure they don’t peel or rub off.

• Find a set that you enjoy!

• My personal preference is to find tiles that honor the Chinese heritage and not too out there with design so that it is easy for friends to play on my tiles even if they are a different design from the set(s) they have used. Keep your tile guide handy for reference when others are learning your tiles.

I’ve listed some of my favorite products, promo codes, and some Amazon finds below. I’m happy to help you find the perfect setup for you! Not ready to call “Mahjong” on a set? Consider renting a set to practice, host some friends, and get a feel for what you like!

Heads up! Some of the links on this page are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. 💸 The best part? Many of these links come with a discount for you, too. Total win-win.