Mahjong tile sizes, in millimetres and inches
Tile size is the first number in any mahjong spec, because everything else is built around it: the rack, the pusher, the case, the mat, the carton. Get it wrong by two millimetres and the set will not sit in its case.
The four common face sizes
| Type | Face (mm) | Face (in) | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| American | 36.5 × 25.4 mm | 1.4375 × 1 in | 160-tile sets; racks and pushers sized to this face |
| Chinese (common) | 36 × 26 mm | ≈ 1.42 × 1.02 in | 144-tile sets, mahjong parlours |
| Japanese / riichi | 26 × 20 mm | ≈ 1.02 × 0.79 in | Compact hands, 136 tiles |
| Travel / mini | 32 × 23 mm | ≈ 1.26 × 0.91 in | Sets where the case has to stay small |
Sizes vary a few tenths of a millimetre between makers. That is why we ask for a measurement rather than a name.
How to measure a set you already own
- Use calipers, not a ruler. A millimetre of error is the difference between a tile that slides into a rack and one that binds.
- Measure three tiles. Moulding tolerance means no two are identical; send the average of the three, not one reading.
- Measure the face, then the depth. Face is width × height on the printed side. Depth decides how the tile sits in the rack.
- Measure the rack opening too if you are matching an existing set. A 36.5 mm tile in a 37 mm slot rattles; in a 36.2 mm slot it does not go in.
Why the size is not cosmetic
American sets are played with racks and pushers. Both are cut to the tile face, and a pusher built for a 36.5 mm tile is slightly too deep for a 32 mm travel tile. The same applies to the case: a 50 mm gusset is generous for travel tiles and barely closes over a stacked 160-tile set.
If you are building a range, pick one face size and stay on it — the whole accessory line can then share tooling, and a buyer can move between your sets without rebuying racks.
What we make at each size
- American tile set — 36.5 × 25.4 mm standard, 32 × 23 mm travel, 1–4 layers, 160 tiles.
- Pushers and racks — 19, 20 and 21 inch, cut to the tile face.
- Playing mat — 800 × 800 mm or 845 × 845 mm for the table, not the tile.
Not sure which size your buyer wants?
Send a photo of the set with a ruler across the face, or the dims from the previous order. We will confirm what to make and flag anything that will not fit the racks before you commit to a sample.