Frequently Asked Questions
Products & Materials | Choosing a Set | Gifting | How to Play | Care & Wholesale | Shipping
Products & Materials
Our tiles are hand-crafted from acrylic, giving them a substantial weight, a smooth finish, and a shine you won't get from standard melamine sets. Each design is hand-painted, so every set carries small details that make it one of a kind.
Acrylic tiles hold color and fine detail beautifully, so intricate artwork stays crisp and vivid, and they've got a glossy clarity that pops on the table. They also deliver that bright, satisfying clack our players are obsessed with — sharp and crisp every time you shuffle and rack. Melamine sets bring a heavier feel and a smooth, solid finish. If you want a set that doubles as a statement piece and sounds as good as it looks, acrylic's the one.
A standard American mahjong set includes 152 tiles, covering all the suits, honors, flowers, and jokers needed for the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card-based version of the game. Our sets ship with 160, which includes the full 152 you play with, plus 8 spares: 6 blank tiles and 2 extra jokers. Keep the spares tucked aside as backups in case a tile ever goes missing, and you're ready to play right out of the box.
Each of our tile sets comes with a game guide packed with helpful tips, rules, a tile guide, and even a playlist that coordinates with your tiles. Players will still need to have, or plan to use, an American mahjong playing card.
For the card itself, check out The Mahjong Press, our sister brand. Their cards are a modern, durable, easy-to-read take on the American mahjong card, built by the same team behind Miss Mahjong. They even make cover designs that match our tile sets, so your card and tiles look right at home together. There's also a starter card for kids and beginners who want fewer hands while they learn, and an accessible card with high-contrast colors and pattern-based suit indicators for players with color vision differences.
Just a heads up: The Mahjong Press has created its own hands, so they won't match the hands on the National Mah Jongg League card. Everyone at your table will want to play from the same card.
We design with readability in mind, choosing palettes and symbol contrast that aim to be easy to distinguish at a glance. If colorblind accessibility is a priority for your group, reach out before you buy and we're happy to point you toward our most legible designs.
Yes, we do! If you need replacement tiles, email our team at hello@missmahjong.com and let us know what you need.
Choosing the Right Mahjong Set
If you're new to the game, look for a set with clear, high-contrast tile faces and a companion rack to help you stay organized while you learn. Our Miss Classic collection is a popular starting point: it's hand-crafted, easy to read, and pairs well with our beginner-friendly racks and accessories.
American mahjong is played with a yearly NMJL card (or The Mahjong Press cards) that defines the winning hand combinations, and it includes jokers as wild tiles. Chinese mahjong (and its many regional variants) does not use a scoring card or jokers, and hand-building follows different rules entirely. Most of our sets are built for the American mahjong format, though we also offer expansion packs if you'd like to play other variants.
A complete set includes the three suits (Bams, Cracks, and Dots numbered 1 through 9), Winds, Dragons, 8 Flowers, and 8 Jokers, totaling 152 tiles. We also include 6 blank tiles and 2 additional Jokers (for a total of 10 Jokers). These additional 8 tiles are to be removed and stored as back ups in case you play with blanks as a house rule or if you lose a tile and need a substitute to complete your set. Our sets include the full tile count so you have everything required to play right away.
We have an entire article on how to choose the perfect mahjong rack! Look for a rack that's sturdy and sized to fit your tile dimensions, especially if you're using a larger acrylic set. For our tiles, you’ll want 19-20” long racks. Many players also like racks with a sloped design for easier viewing. Browse Our rack collection was designed to be a perfect fit for our tiles, so you won’t fit them sliding off the front of your racks.
Yes. Our travel and Miss Mini collections are designed for players who want the same hand-painted, artisan quality in a more compact, portable format. Perfect for trips, girls’ weekends, game nights away from home, or anyone who wants to play without hauling a full-sized set.
Mahjong Sets as Gifts
Players who already have a set often love accessories: a designer rack, a travel set, a mat, or a tile set in a new colorway or theme they don't already own. Our curated sets and accessory collections are built with this kind of upgrade in mind.
American mahjong is played with a yearly NMJL card (or The Mahjong Press cards) that defines the winning hand combinations, and it includes jokers as wild tiles. Chinese mahjong (and its many regional variants) does not use a scoring card or jokers, and hand-building follows different rules entirely. Most of our sets are built for the American mahjong format, though we also offer expansion packs if you'd like to play other variants.
Learning American Mahjong
American mahjong is played with a yearly scoring card that defines the winning hand combinations — the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL) card is the standard, though our sister brand The Mahjong Press offers their own modern alternative with matching cover designs, beginner-friendly options, and accessible formats for color vision differences.
Start by learning the tiles, the basic flow of a hand (the Charleston, drawing, and discarding), and how to read the card. Our beginner's guide walks through each of these steps in more depth.
Start with the tiles themselves: sorting by suit, color, and symbol is a great way for younger players to get comfortable before introducing scoring rules. For more tips, this article is a great resource! Our Little Miss Mahjong playing cards are designed with this kind of hands-on, kid-friendly learning in mind.
Many cities have active mahjong communities through local clubs, community centers, or social meetup groups. Searching for a mahjong club or group in your area is a great way to find local players, especially if you're new to the game and want to practice with others.
Care, Wholesale & Other Questions
Wipe tiles gently with a soft, dry or slightly damp cloth. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners or abrasive materials, as these can dull the finish or affect the hand-painted artwork over time. Store your set in its case when not in use to help protect it.
Yes. Visit our wholesale page for details on becoming a Miss Mahjong stockist, including our policies on pricing, branding, and online sales.
We're happy to help. Reach out through our contact page and a member of our team will get back to you.