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MahjongSetGuide
Guide

The best mahjong set for a beginner

The best first set is not the cheapest or the prettiest. It is the one for the game you will actually play, with tiles you can read. Get those two right and nearly any set will do.

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Step one: which game?

  • Joining an American group or a club with a card: an American set with racks.
  • Learning with family who play Chinese, Hong Kong or Taiwanese rules: a Chinese 144-tile set.
  • Coming from Mahjong Soul or anime: a Riichi set with red fives.
  • No group yet: a Chinese 144-tile set plays the most rulesets and is the safest default.

What makes a set easy to learn on

  • Readable tiles: size 36 Chinese or standard 1.2-inch American tiles. Mini sets are hard to read while you are still learning the faces.
  • Engraved faces with strong colour, not faint printing.
  • Arabic numerals in the corner, if you are learning American — they are standard on American sets.
  • A mat. A beginner’s game involves a lot of rearranging, and tiles slide on a bare table.

Mistakes we see most often

  • Buying a 144-tile set to play American. It is eight jokers short.
  • Buying a Japanese-branded set without red fives for Riichi.
  • Buying a mini travel set as the only set. It is a great second set and a frustrating first one.
  • Buying a size 40 display set for a small table. Measure first.

What we would buy

For an unknown game, a standard Chinese 144-tile set in size 36 with engraved faces, plus a thick mat. For American, a standard American set with racks and pushers. For Riichi, a set with red fives and point sticks. Each of these is on our sets page with what to check in the listing.

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