Pearl Acrylic vs Melamine Mahjong Tiles: How to Choose

Short answer: Choose melamine if you want to pick the tile size (Mini, Classic or Large) and one of 7 back colors, or if you want a set and its bags to arrive together in one package. Choose Pearl acrylic if you want a pearl shimmer and a tile that is one solid pearl block, in a single size. On our sets, both materials have 160 tiles, the same art on most designs and the same four choices on the set page.

What melamine and acrylic actually are

Both are plastics, and both are used for mahjong tiles, but they are made differently.

Melamine is a hard resin made from melamine and formaldehyde. It is a thermoset: the material is pressed in a heated mold, and once it sets, heat will not soften it again. You likely know it from melamine dinnerware and laminate countertops.

Acrylic is the common name for PMMA, the plastic sold as Plexiglas and Lucite. It is a thermoplastic, which means it softens when heated and firms up as it cools. Plain acrylic is clear and takes color well, so it can be tinted, swirled or given a pearl finish.

That is about as far as the general facts go. Look up this comparison and you will find shops and gadget sites calling one material heavier, smoother or tougher, and they often disagree with each other. How a tile feels and wears depends on the maker, the grade and the finish, not only on the material name. So compare what a set page actually lists: the size, the finish, the back and what comes in the box.

How Invitanda's two materials compare

Our sets come in melamine and in Pearl acrylic. Here is what changes between them, taken from our own set pages.

The look

Melamine: full-color printed art on the face, and a back in the color you choose. On the 36 mm Large size, the colored back has fine vertical lines.
Pearl: full-color printed art on pearl-finish acrylic. Each tile is one solid block, with the same pearl on the front, the back and the sides, and a soft swirl you can see on every tile. The finish catches lamplight and the glow of tree lights.

If you want the table to look colorful and coordinated, melamine lets you choose the back. If you want the tiles themselves to shine, Pearl is the one.

Size and shape

Melamine comes in three sizes. Pearl comes in one.

Mini melamine (24 mm): 0.94 x 0.63 x 0.43 in
Classic melamine (30 mm): 1.18 x 0.87 x 0.55 in (30 x 22 x 14 mm)
Large melamine (36 mm): 1.42 x 1.10 x 0.71 in
Pearl: 1.38 x 0.98 x 0.43 in (35 x 25 x 11 mm)

Side by side, the Pearl tile has a shape of its own. Its face is almost as tall as the Large melamine tile, yet it is only as thick as the Mini. So a Pearl tile shows a big face on the rack while staying slim. The Classic is shorter and thicker. We do not list tile weights, so we will not guess at them here.

Reading the tiles

The art and labels are drawn the same way in both materials. On many of our designs, every numbered tile carries a corner number, often in its suit color, and the dragons, flowers and jokers are labeled in words. Each set page says exactly how its tiles read, and our Tile Key names every tile in several designs. If a player at your table wants the largest face to read, Large melamine is the biggest, with Pearl close behind in height.

Back colors

Melamine sets come in 7 back colors: Green, Blue, Ivory White, Pink, Purple, Deep Red and Yellow. Each set page suggests the backs that suit its art. One tip from our set pages: if your group plays with blanks, choose a colored back rather than Ivory White, so a face-up blank never passes for a face-down tile.

Pearl sets have a plain pearl back instead, the same on every Pearl set, so there is no back color to choose.

What comes with each set

Both materials offer the same four choices on the set page:

Tiles Only: the 160 tiles.
Tiles with Bag: the tiles and a plain knit bag.
Gift Set: the tiles and a knit bag with a name embroidered on it.
Host Set: the tiles, the name bag, trinkets, rack birds and dice.

Most of our sets hold 36 Dots, 36 Bams, 36 Craks, 16 Winds, 12 Dragons, 8 Flowers, 10 Jokers and 6 Blanks, and a few designs have 8 Jokers and 8 Blanks. Each set page lists its own count. Racks, pushers, a mat and this year's card are not included with either material, and dice come with the Host Set or as an extra.

The design swap works on both, too. Send a photo or just an idea, and we draw up to 5 tile designs, such as the joker, a wind or a flower. We email a proof first, and the swap prints only after you approve it.

Shipping and returns: the practical difference

Every set is printed to order, and our shipping policy lists the current times. The difference is in the packaging:

Melamine: the set and its bags ship together in one package, with one tracking link.
Pearl: the set ships on its own, apart from any bags or table accessories in the same order.

If you are sending a Gift Set straight to someone and want the tiles and the name bag to arrive together, melamine is the simpler choice.

Returns work the same way for both. A set printed as shown can be returned within 7 days of delivery, unused and complete. A swapped set and a bag with a stitched name are final sale.

Which one should you choose?

You already own racks

Start with tile height. Pearl tiles are 35 mm tall, the Classic is 30 mm and the Large is 36 mm. Measure your racks before you order. Our FAQ lists both materials in inches and millimeters, and if you are unsure, send us the measurements and we will check the fit first.

You want a gift that feels special out of the box

Pearl. The solid pearl tile and its shimmer are the whole idea, which suits a birthday, a bridal shower or a friend who loves a little sparkle. Browse the Pearl acrylic mahjong sets.

You want to match a mat, a room or a team color

Melamine, because the back color is yours to pick. Each melamine design also comes in three sizes, so a Mini set can go on a small table or in a weekend bag.

You host two tables

Mixed-up tiles are the classic two-table problem. With melamine, give each table a different back color, so a stray tile is easy to send home. With Pearl, every back looks the same, so use two different designs and keep each set in its own bag. Our guide on how to host an American mahjong night covers the rest of a two-table setup.

You fell for a design first

Most of our designs come in both materials. Start with all mahjong tile sets, find the art you like, then decide between the pearl finish and the back color and size choices of melamine.

Every design that comes in Pearl

Each design below is a full 160-tile Pearl set in pearl-finish acrylic.

Christmas: Christmas Lights, Christmas Nutcracker, Classic Christmas, Cozy Christmas, Holiday Plaid, Nutcracker Cocktail, Pink Nutcracker, Santa Christmas, Vintage Christmas.

Hanukkah, Halloween, fall and Valentine: Autumn Harvest, Gothic Halloween, Halloween, Hanukkah, Love Letters Valentine.

Gardens and florals: Blush Orchid Garden, Botanical, Chinese Garden, Crane Garden, Emerald Fig, Garden, Kirigami Garden, Luxury Garden, Pearls and Roses, Tortoise Lotus, Wild Peony.

Hobbies, parties and travel: Beach, Cocktail Party, Cocktail Social Club, Evil Eye, Football, Millennial Y2K, Paris, Pink Orange Cocktail, Ski, Tennis, Tennis Club, Tropical Rainforest, Vanity Glam, Wine.

Acrylic vs melamine mahjong tiles: common questions

Is acrylic or melamine better for mahjong tiles?

Neither wins in every way, and makers use different grades and finishes. On our sets, melamine gives you three sizes and 7 back colors, while Pearl acrylic gives you a pearl finish and a solid pearl tile in one size.

Are Pearl tiles heavier than melamine tiles?

We do not list tile weights, so we cannot say. What we can compare is size: a Pearl tile is 35 x 25 x 11 mm, and a Classic melamine tile is 30 x 22 x 14 mm.

Do Pearl and melamine sets have the same tiles?

Yes. Both have 160 tiles with the three suits, winds, dragons, flowers, jokers and blanks that American mahjong uses. The annual card is not included and is sold separately by its publisher.

Will Pearl tiles fit my racks?

Pearl tiles are 1.38 in tall and 0.43 in thick. Compare those numbers with your racks, or send us the measurements and we will check before you order.