A standard American Mahjong set contains 166 tiles. That total breaks down into three suits of numbered tiles, honor tiles (winds and dragons), eight flower tiles, and eight Joker tiles that act as wild cards. If you are buying for a club or ordering wholesale, 166 is the number to specify.
American Mahjong Tile Breakdown (166 Total)
- Dots (also called Circles): 36 tiles (1–9, four of each)
- Bams (Bamboo): 36 tiles (1–9, four of each)
- Craks (Characters): 36 tiles (1–9, four of each)
- Winds: 16 tiles (East, South, West, North; four of each)
- Dragons: 12 tiles (Red, Green, White; four of each)
- Flowers: 8 tiles (interchangeable in American play)
- Jokers: 8 tiles (wild cards, unique to American Mahjong)
- Spare / blank tiles: a few extras in most sets for replacements
Why American Sets Include 8 Jokers (Chinese Sets Don’t)
Jokers are the defining twist of American Mahjong. They substitute for tiles in pungs, kongs, and quints, which is why an American set grows from the Chinese 144 to 166. They cannot complete a pair. This single rule change is what makes American Mahjong scoring so different from the Chinese game.
Dots, Bams, and Craks: What the Three Suits Mean
The three numbered suits are the backbone of every hand. Dots show circles, Bams show bamboo sticks, and Craks show Chinese characters. Each runs 1 through 9 with four identical copies, giving 36 tiles per suit and 108 numbered tiles in total.
Do You Need the Spare Tiles?
Most 166-tile sets ship with one or two blank spares so a damaged tile can be replaced without buying a whole new set. For clubs and recurring play, that small extra is worth having.
Looking for NMJL-compliant sets in bulk? Browse our American Mahjong tile collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Jokers are in an American Mahjong set?
Eight. A standard 166-tile American set includes 8 Joker tiles that work as wild cards.
Is American Mahjong 152 or 166 tiles?
166 is the full modern count, including the flowers and 8 Jokers. Some older references say 152 because they exclude spare tiles. For wholesale orders, specify 166.
Can I buy replacement tiles separately?
Yes. Most US suppliers, including us, sell individual replacement tiles and blank spares so you don’t have to replace an entire set.
What is the difference between American and Chinese Mahjong tile counts?
Chinese Mahjong uses 144 tiles and has no Jokers. American Mahjong adds 8 Jokers and 8 flowers (plus a few spares) for a total of 166.
