If you are sourcing mahjong sets for a retail line, a gift programme or an online store, the specification decisions you make at the sample stage will follow the product for its whole life. Four choices matter more than the rest.
Which rule set the tiles serve
Chinese mahjong runs on 144 tiles. Japanese Riichi uses 136. American mahjong adds jokers and a card of hands, which pushes the count higher. A set built for one market is not interchangeable with another, so confirm the destination market before artwork is approved.
Tile material
Acrylic gives a bright, uniform colour and a crisp engraved line at a lower cost. Resin is denser, warmer in the hand and takes deeper colour. Melamine sits between them. Material drives weight, sound and price tier, and buyers notice all three.
Tile size
The common range runs from 22 mm up to 30 mm measured on the face. Larger tiles read well on a shelf and suit older players. Smaller tiles travel better.
What comes in the box
Racks and pushers, dice, a wind indicator, a carrying case and an instruction sheet. Each addition raises cost and shipping weight, so decide early whether you are selling a playable set or a display piece.
Sample before you commit
Ask for a physical sample in the material and size you intend to sell. Photographs hide the two things that decide repeat purchase: how the tile feels and how the engraving reads under light.
If you are ordering for a private label, confirm MOQ, tooling and packaging in the same conversation as the tile spec. Those four numbers are what your landed cost is actually made of.