Browse Mahjong Sets by Material

Explore American mahjong sets by tile material, from mid-century celluloid and catalin to melamine, acrylic, resin, and modern printed materials.

• 937 sets

  Acrylic

  Acrylic dominates the current American mahjong revival because it supports clear layers, saturated color, glitter, and printed or engraved faces. Sets vary widely in weight and finish, so construction details and tile dimensions still matter when comparing them.

• 237 sets

  Unknown

  These sets do not yet have a verified material in the source catalog. Product language, tile translucency, weight, molding seams, and close-up photos can often separate acrylic, melamine, resin, and other modern plastics; the unknown label preserves that uncertainty instead of guessing.

• 67 sets

  Melamine

  Melamine tiles are dense, opaque, durable, and common in practical modern sets. They usually have a solid, porcelain-like feel and crisp molded or printed faces, making them a long-running choice for starter and travel sets.

• 38 sets

  PLA

  PLA is a plant-derived thermoplastic widely used in 3D printing. Mahjong tiles made from PLA can support small production runs and custom forms; visible layer lines, lighter weight, and printed construction often distinguish them from molded acrylic or melamine.

• 13 sets

  Plastic

  Plastic is used here when a set is known to be synthetic but the exact resin family is not established. Mid-century injection-molded sets are often lighter and flatter than catalin, while modern examples may need maker documentation or close inspection for a more precise identification.

• 6 sets

  Catalin

  Catalin is a cast phenolic resin prized for rich butterscotch, amber, and marbled color. In American mahjong sets it is strongly associated with collectible mid-century tiles and racks; oxidation can deepen the surface color while protected areas remain lighter.

• 6 sets

  Foam

  Foam mahjong tiles are designed for light weight and, in some modern sets, play in or near water. Their soft or buoyant construction makes them easy to distinguish from traditional hard tiles, but also changes durability, sound, and handling.

• 2 sets

  Celluloid

  Celluloid, often marketed as “French ivory,” can show convincing ivory-like grain in a much lighter tile. American sets from the 1930s and 1940s often pair celluloid tiles with early racks and stamped or painted faces. Because celluloid is flammable and can deteriorate, careful storage and identification matter.

• 2 sets

  Resin

  Cast resin allows small-batch makers to create deep color, embedded effects, and unusual shapes without large-scale injection molding. Bubbles, pour variation, and hand-finished edges can be clues, although maker documentation is the safest identification source.