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American mahjong tiles explained: all 152 tiles
American mahjong tiles come in a set of 152. Open one for the first time and it looks like a pile of beautiful puzzle pieces. This guide names every tile type so you can read your rack at a glance.
We focus on the American set (152 tiles) and note where other styles differ.
From the team: We love mahjong and teaching it, and tiles are where every beginner starts. Nobody takes in all 152 at a glance, so go one type at a time and use the corner numbers if your set has them.
A note on the photos: the stock photos on this page show Chinese-style tiles. An American set looks similar but adds eight jokers and, usually, small numerals in the corners.
The 152 American mahjong tiles at a glance
| Tiles | How many |
|---|---|
| Suit tiles: Bams, Craks and Dots, 1 to 9, four of each | 108 |
| Winds: North, East, West, South, four of each | 16 |
| Dragons: Red, Green and White, four of each | 12 |
| Flowers | 8 |
| Jokers | 8 |
| Total | 152 |
Other styles use fewer tiles: 144 in many Chinese and Hong Kong sets and 136 in Riichi (Japanese) sets. See the totals for each style below.
American mahjong tiles: the three suits
Most of the set is three suits, each numbered 1 to 9 with four copies of every tile. That is 36 tiles per suit and 108 in all.
| Suit | Also called | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Bams | Bamboos, sticks | Green (sometimes red) bamboo sticks; the 1 usually shows a bird |
| Craks | Characters, wan | A red Chinese character below a numeral character |
| Dots | Circles, coins | Round dots, counted from 1 to 9 |
Tip: American sets usually print small numerals in the corner of each tile, which makes the suits easier to read. Many Chinese and Hong Kong sets leave them off.
American mahjong tiles: winds and dragons
These are not numbered. They are the “honor” tiles.
- Winds (16 tiles): North, East, West and South, four of each. They appear in hands on the annual card, and the same four words name the seats at the table (East is the dealer).
- Dragons (12 tiles): Red, Green and White, four of each. The White dragon is blank (often with a frame) and is called “soap.” In some hands it also stands in as a zero.
Bonus tiles: flowers and jokers (American sets)
- Flowers (8 tiles): Decorated with flowers, plants or seasons, and sometimes numbered. In American mahjong all eight are interchangeable, and they belong to no suit. Any flower can stand in for any other.
- Jokers (8 tiles): Marked “Joker.” They can substitute for other tiles in groups of three or more, but never in a pair or a single. They cannot be passed in the Charleston.
Photo by Jason Leung on Unsplash
Totals for each style
| Total | Where you will see it | Breakdown |
|---|---|---|
| 152 | American mahjong | 108 suit tiles + 16 winds + 12 dragons + 8 flowers + 8 jokers |
| 144 | Many Chinese and Hong Kong sets | 108 suit tiles + 16 winds + 12 dragons + 8 bonus tiles (4 flowers and 4 seasons) |
| 136 | Riichi (Japanese) and any style played without bonus tiles | 108 suit tiles + 16 winds + 12 dragons, no bonus tiles |
Riichi sets often include a few special “red five” tiles in place of normal fives, so the count stays 136. To see how these styles compare as games, read American vs Chinese vs Riichi mahjong.
How to check you have the right set
If you want to play American mahjong:
- Count tiles: 152 total.
- Count jokers: you need 8.
- Check the flowers: 8 in total. They may be labelled with flowers, seasons or other pictures. All eight count the same in American mahjong, so a set with “seasons” tiles among its eight flowers is fine.
- Look for racks and pushers: each player needs a rack. The pusher is the arm that slides the wall out as you draw.
- Check tile size and readability. Big print and clear colors help a lot.
If you are shopping, buy a set made for the game you plan to play. American sets need jokers; Riichi sets do not.
Quick reference for reading your rack
- Sort by suit first.
- Within a suit, line up numbers in order.
- Keep winds, dragons and flowers in their own groups.
- Keep jokers visible at one end so you never forget them.
Sorting is not required, but most players do it, because it makes the tiles faster to read. Many beginners find it easier to learn the tiles by playing with a friend who can name them as you go.
Mahjong tiles FAQ
Why four copies of each tile?
Four of each is the traditional set. It is also why a quint (five of a kind) needs a joker: only four natural copies exist of any suit tile, wind or dragon. Flowers are the exception, since there are eight.
What are a pung, kong, quint and sextet?
Groups of three, four, five and six identical tiles. You will hear the first three constantly. The next guide shows how they are used in a game.
Are all sets the same?
No. The number of tiles varies by style (152, 144 or 136), and the tiles themselves vary from small travel size to large print. Pick tiles you can see and handle comfortably.
Are the pictures a cultural thing?
Yes. The tile designs come from Chinese traditions, and the names (like “Crak,” short for characters) reflect the game’s history as it moved to the United States.
Next steps
- Learn how the tiles are used in how to play American mahjong.
- Learn what happens before play begins: the Charleston explained.
Sources
Tile counts and the flower and joker rules follow the League’s published guidance as quoted by these sources. The League’s Mah Jongg Made Easy booklet is the authority.
- The Order of the Tile, American mahjong rules by ID (an independent rules reference built on the League’s rulebook; see T-1, T-2, T-3, T-4, T-5, S-2, S-5). https://orderofthetile.com/rules/
- Mahjong tiles. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahjong_tiles
- American mahjong. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_mahjong
- Mahjong. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahjong