How many tiles are in American mahjong?
An American mahjong set has 152 tiles: 108 number tiles in three suits, 16 winds, 12 dragons, 8 flowers and 8 jokers. A blank tile is a spare and is not one of the 152.
Last checked: 14 November 2026. Sources: public pages on the League rules. See how American Mahjong Coach is made.
The count of each kind
| Tiles | What they are | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Dots | 1 to 9, four of each | 36 |
| Bams | 1 to 9, four of each | 36 |
| Craks | 1 to 9, four of each | 36 |
| Winds | North, East, West, South, four of each | 16 |
| Dragons | Red, Green, White (Soap), four of each | 12 |
| Flowers | Eight tiles. All count as the same tile | 8 |
| Jokers | Eight tiles | 8 |
| Total | 152 |
Each player builds a wall of 38 tiles: 19 stacks of 2. Four walls make 152.
Many sets in the shops hold 160 to 166 tiles. The extra tiles are spare blanks, and some sets add 2 extra jokers. In the League rules a blank has no part in the game. It replaces a lost tile.
The three suits
Each suit has the numbers 1 to 9, and the set has four of each tile. Players say the number first, then the suit: "3 Bam", "7 Crak", "5 Dot".
Dots
A Dot tile shows that number of circles. The 1 Dot is one large circle.
Bams
A Bam tile shows that number of bamboo sticks. The 1 Bam is the exception: on most sets it shows a bird.
Craks
A Crak tile shows a Chinese number at the top and a red Chinese character below it. Most American sets print a normal number in the corner. Read the corner number. You do not need to read Chinese.
The winds
The set has four winds, and four of each: North, East, West and South. A wind tile shows a Chinese character and the letter N, E, W or S in the corner. Winds are the only tiles with a letter and no number. Players say "North", not "North wind".
The dragons
The set has three dragons, and four of each. Each dragon goes with one suit.
| Dragon | On a traditional set | Goes with |
|---|---|---|
| Red Dragon | A red Chinese character | Craks |
| Green Dragon | A green Chinese character | Bams |
| White Dragon, named Soap | An empty frame, or an empty face on old sets | Dots |
The White Dragon has a second job. It is the zero in a number such as a year. As a zero it has no suit.
The flowers
The set has 8 flowers. The pictures differ, but all 8 count as the same tile. More: How many flowers?
The jokers
The set has 8 jokers. Most joker tiles show the word JOKER. A joker can replace a tile in a group of three or more identical tiles. More: How many jokers?
Tiles that new players mix up
- The 1 Bam and a flower. The 1 Bam shows a bird. It has the number 1 in the corner.
- Soap and a spare blank. Soap has a frame, or a letter on some sets. A blank has nothing. A set has exactly four Soaps.
- Soap as a dragon and Soap as a zero. It is the same tile with two jobs.
- Flowers and seasons. The pictures differ. In the American game they are the same tile.
- The same number in another suit. A 3 Dot and a 3 Bam are different tiles. Say the number and the suit each time.
- Dragons across sets. One set shows a Chinese character, another set shows a picture of a dragon.
Tile art is not standard. Look at your own set before the first game, and sort all 152 tiles one time.
Practise it
Drill 1 shows each tile as a real set shows it, with no name on the tile. Level 1 asks for names. Level 2 asks you to find tiles. Level 3 asks for the counts on this page.
Related guides
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