Thick Rubber Mahjong Mat
A 30–36 inch square mat with a non-slip base and a felt-like top.
- Game
- Any set
- Tiles
- Not included
- Tile size
- Any; 36" (90 cm) mats take size 38–40 tiles with room
- Material
- Rubber base, flocked or felt top, bound edge
- Includes
- Mat, sometimes a carry tube
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
A mat is the accessory we would buy first, before racks or dice or a case. Tiles on wood or glass are loud, they slide when you build a wall, and they chip on the corners. A mat with a rubber base fixes all of that for the price of a takeaway.
Thickness is the specification to care about. Thin printed mats curl and slide; a mat around a quarter inch thick with a proper rubber base stays flat and stays put. The playing surface can be felt or a flocked finish — both are fine.
Size: 30 inches suits Riichi and Chinese size 32–36 sets; 36 inches is the comfortable choice for American sets with racks and pushers, and for anything size 38 and up.
What sets it apart
- Quietens the game — the difference between a late game and a complaint from upstairs
- Stops tiles sliding and protects corners from a hard table
- Rolls rather than folds, so it does not crease
Who should buy it
Every set on this site that is not an automatic table.
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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