Rules and scoring
How to Score Mahjong
Quick answer
Mahjong scoring depends on the style. In American mahjong, the card prints a value for each winning hand, usually 25 to 50 points. Only the winner gets paid, and the player who threw the winning tile pays double. In Hong Kong style, you count faan, or doubles. Most games need at least 3 faan to win.
At a glance
- Who gets paid: only the winner
- Hand values: printed on the card, usually 25 to 50
- Win on a discard: the thrower pays double
- Self-pick: all three players pay double
- No jokers: the value doubles (not for Singles and Pairs)
- Hong Kong: most games need 3 faan to win
How does American mahjong scoring work?
In American mahjong, the card tells you what each winning hand is worth. You score the whole hand, not single tiles.
The card is the list of winning hands from the National Mah Jongg League (NMJL). A new one comes out each year. Most hands are worth 25 to 50 points, and the 2026 card goes up to 75.
Only the winner gets paid. Many groups play for coins, so a 25-point hand is often worth 25 cents. See how to read the mahjong card.
Who pays the winner in mahjong?
The other three players pay the winner. The payment rules depend on how the winner got the last tile.
- Win on a discard. A discard is a tile a player throws away. The player who threw your winning tile pays double. The other two pay the card value.
- Win by self-pick. Self-pick means you drew the winning tile from the wall yourself. All three players pay double.
- Win with no jokers. A joker is a wild tile. A hand with no jokers is called jokerless, and its value doubles first. This does not count for Singles and Pairs hands, which can never use jokers.
| A hand worth 25 | Who pays what | Winner gets |
|---|---|---|
| Win on a discard | Thrower 50, others 25 each | 100 |
| Self-pick | All three pay 50 | 150 |
| Jokerless, on a discard | Thrower 100, others 50 each | 200 |
| Jokerless, self-pick | All three pay 100 | 300 |
How do you keep score in mahjong?
You can keep score with coins, chips or pencil and paper.
- Coins. Pay the winner after each hand.
- Chips. Use chips in place of money.
- Pencil and paper. Make a column for each player. After each hand, write what each player won or paid.
Many groups also use a "pie" to cap losses. It is often $3 to $10.
The NMJL card is your score card, since it lists every value. The 2026 card costs about $14, or about $15 in large print. Prices can change. The card is copyrighted, so there is no free official PDF. You can buy it from the National Mah Jongg League.
Playing for money? Laws vary by state, and this is not legal advice. See is mahjong gambling.
How does Hong Kong mahjong scoring work?
Hong Kong players count faan. Each faan roughly doubles the payout.
Most games need at least 3 faan to win, but tables can agree on a different minimum. Some ways to earn faan:
- Drawing the winning tile yourself: 1 faan
- A flower that matches your seat: 1 faan
- No flowers at all: 1 faan
The usual top limit is 13 faan, and many tables cap it at 8 or 10. Get the full rules in Hong Kong mahjong rules.
Ready to play for points?
Our American sets have 160 or 166 tiles, including jokers and spare tiles.
Questions people ask
Is there a mahjong scoring calculator?
You do not need one for American mahjong. The card lists each hand's value. You just double it when a rule says so.
Is there a printable mahjong scoring sheet?
It is easy to make your own. Draw a column for each player and write the points after each hand.
What happens if no one wins?
If the wall runs out first, it is called a wall game. No one wins the hand, so no one pays.
Does a dead hand still pay?
Yes. A dead hand has a mistake, such as the wrong number of tiles. That player stops playing but still pays the winner.
How do other styles score?
Chinese Official rules need at least 8 points to win. Japanese riichi counts han and fu, and every win needs a yaku, a scoring pattern.