How Many Tiles Are in a Mahjong Set? American, Chinese and Riichi Compared

The number of tiles in a mahjong set depends on the style you play. An American set has 152 tiles, a Hong Kong or Chinese set has 144 tiles including the bonus flowers and seasons (136 without them), and a Riichi (Japanese) set has 136 tiles. All three share the same core of 136 tiles. They differ in what gets added. This guide shows what is in each set, how to check that yours is complete, how to set up and deal and how to keep tiles sorted while you are learning.

Tile counts at a glance

• American mahjong: 152 tiles, made of the 136 core tiles plus 8 flowers and 8 jokers.
• Hong Kong and other Chinese styles: 144 tiles, made of the 136 core tiles plus 8 flowers and seasons. Some groups leave the bonus tiles out and play with 136.
• Riichi (Japanese): 136 tiles, with no flowers and no jokers.

What is in the set

• Three suits: dots (circles), bamboo and characters. Each suit runs from 1 to 9 with four copies of every number, so 36 tiles per suit and 108 in total.
• Winds: East, South, West and North, four of each, 16 tiles in total.
• Dragons: red, green and white, four of each, 12 tiles in total.
• Flowers and seasons: 8 bonus tiles, used in American and many Chinese sets and left out of Riichi.
• Jokers: 8 tiles, used in American sets only.

Add it up: 108 suit tiles, 16 winds and 12 dragons make 136. Add 8 bonus tiles and you reach 144. Add 8 jokers on top and you reach the American total of 152. Many Riichi sets include a few red five tiles. These stand in for ordinary fives, so they are part of the 136 and not extras.

Reading the tiles

The suit tiles are simple to tell apart once you know the pattern. Dots show that many circles, bamboo shows that many sticks (the 1 of bamboo is often drawn as a bird), and characters carry a Chinese numeral with a second character beneath it. Winds are marked with a character or letter for each direction. In many sets, the dragons are a red character, a green character and a blank or framed white tile. Flowers and seasons are usually pictures, which is why they vary so much between sets.

How to check that a set is complete

1. Sort the tiles face up into piles: each suit, the winds, the dragons and the bonus tiles.
2. Count each suit. It should hold 36 tiles, four of every number from 1 to 9.
3. Count the winds and the dragons. There should be four of each.
4. Count the flowers, seasons and jokers if your style uses them. The pictures differ from set to set, so compare with the maker's tile list.
5. Add up the totals. You should reach 136 core tiles, plus the bonus tiles your style uses.

Some boxed sets include extras, such as blank tiles or spare jokers, which can push the total above the standard count for the style. Check the maker's tile list before deciding that something is wrong.

Why your set may not match the game you want to play

Sets are sold under many names, and the count on the box tells you which style the set was made for. A 144-tile set has no jokers, so it will not do for American play until you add 8. A 152-tile set has jokers that a Riichi game does not use, and Riichi players simply set the flowers and jokers aside. If you are buying or borrowing a set, count first and match the set to the rulebook you plan to follow.

Setting up and dealing

Shuffle the tiles face down, then build the wall. Each player builds one side as a row of stacks two tiles high, and the four sides form a square. The number of stacks per side depends on the set: 19 in American mahjong, 18 in a 144-tile Chinese set and 17 in a Riichi set. Pick a dealer and deal 13 tiles to each player, with the dealer taking a 14th. Rules for who deals first and how the dice are used vary by style, so follow your rulebook or card.

Keeping tiles sorted for practice and teaching

New players find it easier when tiles are sorted by suit and number, because it lets them see what sets they could make. Teachers often lay out one suit at a time to explain the numbers, then add the winds and dragons. Anything that keeps the tiles separated works: a tray with dividers, small bowls, or rows on a cloth. A board with labeled slots keeps the tiles in order and is easy to put away after a lesson.

If you want something for this, the mahjong tile organizer board is a lightweight plastic board with recessed slots labeled with symbols, numbers and letters, described for sorting tiles during practice, teaching and game preparation. Tiles are not included and the color is assorted and chosen at random; measure one of your tiles before you order. You can browse more in our Games & Hobby collection.