American 166-Tile Set with Racks
The standard American set: 152 playing tiles plus spares, 8 jokers, four racks, in a hard case.
We have not pinned this to a single listing we have checked by hand, so both buttons open a search for this type of set rather than one seller’s page.
- Game
- American (NMJL)
- Tiles
- 152 in play (166 in box, incl. spares)
- Tile size
- 1.2" × 0.9" × 0.6" (31 × 23 × 15 mm)
- Material
- Melamine or acrylic tiles, engraved and painted
- Includes
- 4 racks, 2–3 dice, wind indicator, bettor, carrying case
Tile dimensions are the common nominal figure for this type of set and vary by a millimetre or so between factories.
What this set actually is
This is the set most American mahjong groups play on: 152 playing tiles including eight jokers and eight flowers, plus spare jokers and blanks for a 166-tile box, with Arabic numerals on the craks and dots so new players can read a hand without memorising characters. The racks are the long plastic kind that hold thirteen tiles on edge and double as a pusher when you build the wall.
The case matters more than it looks. American sets travel to other people’s houses constantly, and a soft case lets tiles rattle against each other until the corners chip. The hard-shell case with fitted trays is the version to look for.
What this set is not: a Chinese set with a joker sticker on four tiles. Several listings describe a 144-tile set as "American" because it includes a few blanks. If the listing does not show eight jokers on top of the 144 standard tiles, it will not play the NMJL card.
What sets it apart
- All 152 playing tiles plus spare jokers and blanks — the eight jokers are what make it an American set
- Racks included, so you are not buying them separately in week two
- Standard 1.2-inch tiles fit every American mat and rack on the market
Who should buy it
Anyone starting American mahjong who wants the set a club would recognise.
Not sure this is the right one? Compare it against every other set or read our guide to choosing between them.
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