Five complete American sets from $150 to $300, each with 166 tiles and four racks with pushers.
By Lena MarshUpdated Oct 15, 2026 · 16 sets compared
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Buy the Yellow Mountain Huntington. It's a complete American set for about $173: 166 white tiles with all ten jokers, four wooden racks with magnetic pushers, and a tote to carry it to your game.
If you want to spend less, the Harbor Snow has the same tiles and the same kind of racks for about $150. If you want a set that looks good on a shelf, the Koi Fish set puts acrylic tiles in a wooden case for about $300.
All five come from Yellow Mountain Imports. It lists exactly what's in each box and has a customer service you can reach if a tile is missing; many cheaper brands have no working website at all.
The American game is played with 152 tiles: three suits of 36 (dots, bams for bamboo, and craks for characters), 16 winds, 12 dragons, 8 flowers and 8 jokers. A Chinese set has 144 tiles and no jokers, so you can't play the American game with it. If a listing says 144, keep looking.
American sets come with 152, 160 or 166 tiles. A 166-tile set is the 152 plus spares: eight more flowers, two more jokers and four blank tiles. Every set here has 166. (Which tiles you use, and why.)
You also need four racks with pushers, the arms that slide your wall to the middle. Every set here includes them. The one thing no set includes is the card: the National Mah Jongg League sells it on its website for $14, or $15 in the large size, and it changes every year (how to read it).
The best American mahjong sets, ranked
11 · Best overall
Yellow Mountain Imports Huntington American Mahjong Set
White tiles that read at a glance, wooden racks with magnetic pushers, and a tote.
You're a beginner, or you want one set for learning and hosting.
Skip it if
You want the lowest price for a full set. The Harbor Snow is about $20 less.
The Huntington has 166 white melamine tiles with striped backs (green on this listing): 10 jokers, 16 flowers and 4 blanks. The tiles are 1.2 inches tall. Four wooden racks have built-in pushers that attach with magnets, on top to store them and on the back to push the wall. A wind indicator, scoring coins, three dice and an illustrated booklet go in a zip tote of 21.7 by 10.6 inches.
It's also my pick for a mahjong gift, for a player who doesn't own a set yet.
What owners report
Owners call the tiles good-looking and well made. The few complaints are about customer service, a slow exchange and a lost package, not the set. Yellow Mountain takes returns within 30 days.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
No score sheets in the box.
The price moves between about $170 and $176.
What's in the box
166 tiles, 4 racks with pushers, wind indicator, coins, 3 dice, booklet, tote of 21.7 x 10.6 x 3 inches.
166 tiles10 jokersWooden racks
2
Best under $150
Yellow Mountain Imports Harbor Snow American Mahjong Set
The same complete kit as the pricier sets, for about $150.
You want a complete set at the lowest price from a maker you can reach.
Skip it if
You want an ivory or patterned look. These are plain white tiles.
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The Harbor Snow is the same kit for less: 166 white melamine tiles with 10 jokers, 16 flowers and 4 blanks, 1.2 inches tall, engraved with numbers and letters. The four racks are natural wood with magnetic pushers, and the set adds a wind indicator, pastel scoring coins, three dice and a booklet. Everything packs into a padded beige and blue canvas tote with separate pouches for the tiles and the racks, about 7.7 pounds in all.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
No score sheets in the box.
Owner reviews are still scarce.
What's in the box
166 tiles, 4 racks with pushers, wind indicator, coins, 3 dice, booklet, padded tote of 21.7 x 10.6 x 3 inches.
166 tiles10 jokersWooden racks
3
Best classic ivory
Yellow Mountain Imports Mojave American Mahjong Set
Ivory tiles and all-in-one racks in a light nylon case.
You want a padded tote with separate pouches for the tiles and racks.
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Off-white ivory tiles in scratch-resistant melamine, 1.2 inches tall, engraved with Chinese characters, numbers and letters. The four all-in-one racks are 18 inches long, with pushers that attach by magnet to the back for building walls and to the top for storage. Coins, dice, a wind indicator and illustrated instructions come in a light brown nylon case with a zip top and a pocket.
What owners report
It's one of Yellow Mountain's longest-running sets, with very few unhappy owners. Recent ones mention tiles with a substantial feel and solid racks with magnetic pushers.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Yellow Mountain doesn't list how many jokers the Mojave has. Count them when it arrives: you need at least 8.
The soft nylon case is light, but it protects less than a hard case.
What's in the box
166 tiles, 4 racks with pushers, wind indicator, coins, dice, instructions, nylon case of 21.7 x 10.6 x 3 inches.
166 tilesAll-in-one racksLight case
4
A set that stands out on the table
Yellow Mountain Imports Harbor Mint American Mahjong Set
Mint patterned backs and a padded tote with pouches.
You want a set that stands out on the table, with backs you can tell apart from a friend's set.
Skip it if
You'd rather have a set with a long track record. It has only a handful of reviews so far.
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White melamine tiles with a mint geometric pattern on the back, and the same composition as the Huntington: 166 tiles with 10 jokers, 16 flowers and 4 blanks, 1.2 inches tall. Wooden racks with magnetic pushers, and a padded canvas tote with pouches.
What owners report
One owner received it without the dice, the wind indicator and the coins, and with one chipped tile.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
Count everything when it arrives: one buyer's box was missing the small accessories.
What's in the box
166 tiles, 4 wooden racks with pushers, booklet, padded tote of 21.7 x 10.6 x 3 inches.
166 tiles10 jokersMint backs
5
Best splurge
Yellow Mountain Imports Koi Fish American Mahjong Set
Acrylic tiles with koi backs in a felt-lined wooden case.
You want a set that looks good on a shelf, or a big present.
Skip it if
You carry your set to someone else's house every week. The wooden case is bigger and heavier than a tote.
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The Koi Fish set has 166 acrylic tiles with watercolor koi on the back, with 10 jokers, 16 flowers and 4 blanks, 1.2 inches tall. It comes in a felt-lined wooden case with a handle and brass latches. The four racks are wood, and the pushers are separate acrylic pieces rather than built in.
What owners report
One owner was disappointed: the koi print looked blurry, and the racks and pushers felt cheap, with pushers that bend. Another, happy with the set, found the tiles very light.
Flaws but not dealbreakers
The pushers are the weak point: separate acrylic pieces that can bend.
One owner found the acrylic tiles very light.
Measure the shelf
Wooden case of 19.9 x 12.4 x 3.3 inches.
166 tiles10 jokersWooden case
Tile size: is there a standard?
No League rule sets a tile size. Two common sizes are 30 x 23 x 13 millimeters and 30 x 23 x 16, and every set here uses the first: about 1.2 by 0.9 inches, half an inch thick.
What a full table costs
A complete set from this list runs $150 to $300. Add this year's card from the League, $14, and a mat to quiet the table, about $31 to $35. So plan on about $200 with the cheapest set, and about $350 with the Koi Fish.
How to choose
Count the jokers
An American set needs at least 8 jokers and 152 tiles. A set without jokers is a Chinese set.
Racks and pushers included?
Check before you compare prices. Every set here includes four, with pushers.
Melamine or acrylic
Melamine is the classic: solid and durable. Acrylic costs more and takes colorful prints.
Tote or hard case
A tote is light for carrying to games. A wooden case protects better and looks good on a shelf.
What I'd skip
Cheaper unbranded sets
Many cheaper 166-tile sets come from brands with no website or customer service behind them. If a tile is missing or a rack breaks, there's no one to contact.
Designer sets from $300 to $500
Small mahjong shops sell beautiful sets in this range. Check whether racks and pushers are in the box before you compare prices.
Any set with 144 tiles
That's a Chinese set, with no jokers. It won't play the American game.
How I picked
166 tilesRacks and pushers includedA maker you can reachA price for every budget
Each set here comes with racks and pushers, and from a maker you can reach if a tile is missing.
Save it for laterPin this guide and find it again when you are ready to buy.Save to Pinterest
Common questions
How many tiles are in an American mahjong set?+−
152 are used in play, including 8 jokers. Sets come with 152, 160 or 166; a 166-tile set adds spare flowers, two spare jokers and four blanks.
How much does a decent mahjong set cost?+−
A complete American set from a known maker costs about $150 to $180, and up to $300 in acrylic with a wooden case. Designer sets run $300 to $500.
What should I know before buying a mahjong set?+−
Check that it's an American set with jokers, that it includes four racks with pushers, and that you'll buy the year's card separately.
Is there a standard size for American mahjong tiles?+−
No League rule sets one. Common tiles are about 1.2 inches tall and 0.9 inch wide (30 by 23 millimeters), and every set here uses that size.
Can you play American mahjong with a Chinese set?+−
Not as it comes. A Chinese set has 144 tiles and no jokers, and the American card needs them.
The verdict
The set to buy
Get the Huntington: a complete American set with ten jokers, wooden racks with magnetic pushers and a tote, for about $173. Then add this year's card from the League.
