Best American Mahjong Score Cards and Scorepads
Important clarification first: in American mahjong, “the card” means the NMJL hand card — scorepads are how you track the money. Here are the best ways to keep score.
Your Three Options
- Paper scorepads — the classic; cheap, disposable, satisfyingly analog.
- Laminated scoresheets with dry-erase markers — buy once, reuse forever.
- Scoring apps — automatic math, but phones at the table divide attention.
What a Good Scorepad Includes
- Columns for all four players with running balances.
- Rows labeled for hand value and win type (discard vs self-pick).
- A payment-rules reminder printed at the top.
- Enough sheets for a season of weekly games.
Our Picks
Best overall: a mahjong-themed scorepad with the payment rules printed on every sheet — the rules reminder alone is worth it. Best reusable: a laminated scoresheet plus fine-tip dry-erase markers, paired with our printable scoring cheat sheet. Best giftable: a scorepad-and-pen set bundled in a mahjong motif.
Do Not Forget the Real Card
Whatever you score on, every player still needs the current NMJL card for hands — see what the NMJL card is. Learn the math behind the sheets in how to keep score.
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