For NMJL-style American mahjong, the standard playing inventory has 152 tiles: 36 Dots, 36 Bams, 36 Craks, 16 Winds, 12 Dragons, 8 Flowers and 8 Jokers.
Here is what each group is and how it behaves in play.
The full breakdown
| Tile | Count | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Dots | 36 | Also called Circles. Numbered 1–9, four of each. |
| Bams | 36 | Bamboo. Numbered 1–9, four of each. The 1 Bam is usually a bird. |
| Craks | 36 | Characters. Numbered 1–9, four of each. Often spelled "Craks"; "Cracks" is also common. |
| Winds | 16 | East, South, West and North — four of each. |
| Dragons | 12 | Red, Green and White — four of each. |
| Flowers | 8 | Fully interchangeable in American play. |
| Jokers | 8 | Wild, but only in groups of three or more. |
| Total | 152 | What a four-player game uses. |
The three suits
Dots, Bams and Craks are the backbone of the set. Each runs 1 through 9 with four copies of every number. Most hands on the card are built from runs and groups within these suits, and many require you to stay in a single suit.
Winds and Dragons
The four Winds — East, South, West, North — appear four times each. The three Dragons are Red, Green and White, also four each.
The White Dragon is called "Soap"
The White Dragon is often called Soap. It can also represent zero in certain hands on the annual card. Use the current card and rules to determine the required meaning in a particular hand.
Flowers
Eight Flowers, and in American play they are all equivalent. Sets often give each one different artwork, but mechanically any Flower can substitute for any other. This is different from several Chinese variants, where Flowers and Seasons are individually significant.
Jokers in NMJL-style play
The standard playing inventory includes 8 Jokers. Use the current rules and annual card for playing decisions.
A Joker can be used in a group of three or more identical tiles. It cannot complete a single or a pair. Check the current card and official rules for the hand you are playing.
Once a Joker has been discarded it is dead for the rest of the hand, so deciding when to let one go is a real decision, not a formality.
What about 160 and 166-tile sets?
A complete 160-tile package would contain the 152 playing tiles plus 8 extras; a complete 166-tile package would add 14. Verify the actual tile-type breakdown before treating either total as proof of completeness. See our box-count comparison. Counts also do not establish physical dimensions; check tile size and rack fit separately.
Written by Joker & Jade, a shop selling American Mahjong sets. The tile counts and rules above follow the standard American game.
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Editorial review: Joker & Jade, 25 October 2026. Playing-tile reference: the American Mah Jongg Association tile inventory. For NMJL-style playing rules and the current annual card, consult the National Mah Jongg League. About Joker & Jade.