The short answer: A standard set has 144 tiles: 108 number tiles (three suits, 1-9, four copies each), 16 winds, 12 dragons, and 8 flowers and seasons. American sets hold 152 with jokers. Riichi sets drop the flowers and run 136.
You open the box and a lot of tiles are staring back at you. Here’s exactly what should be in there, and why different sets count differently.
The breakdown of a standard 144-tile set
Almost every set in the world is built from the same four blocks:
- Number tiles: 108. Three suits (dots, bamboo, characters), nine ranks each, four copies of every tile.
- Winds: 16. East, South, West, and North, four copies each.
- Dragons: 12. Red, green, and white, four copies each.
- Flowers and seasons: 8.
- Total: 144 tiles.
How different variants change the count
The flowers are the variable. Here’s where the numbers split:
- American mahjong: 152. The full 144 plus eight jokers.
- Japanese riichi: 136. The flowers and seasons are removed.
- Older or regional sets: 142 or 148, depending on how many flower and season tiles they include.
- Count your set once before a game, especially if you bought it secondhand.
The flower tiles deserve their own page: how many flowers in mahjong. And if you want to start playing today, our how to play mahjong guide goes from the first draw to the win.
Related Questions
How many jokers are in American mahjong?
Eight, which brings an American set to 152 tiles. Jokers are wild and can stand in for any tile your score card requires.
What are the flower tiles in mahjong?
Four flowers (plum, orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum) plus four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter). They sit outside your hand and carry small scoring bonuses.
Why does my set have 142 tiles?
Usually one or two flower or season tiles went missing, or the set shipped without them. You can still play, but count the tiles before the game starts.