How mahjong payouts work
Every hand on the card has a point value, usually printed in cents (for example 25 or 30). That value is what each losing player pays the winner, with a few common adjustments. Most tables use these rules:
| How the hand was won | Who pays | How much |
|---|---|---|
| On a discard | The player who threw the winning tile | 2 × the hand value |
| On a discard | Each other player | 1 × the hand value |
| Self-picked (drawn from the wall) | Every other player | 2 × the hand value |
| Jokerless | Everyone who pays | Their amount above, doubled |
| Wall game (no winner) | Nobody | Nothing |
A worked example
Say Sue wins with a 25¢ hand on a tile that Linda discarded. Linda pays 50¢ (double, because she threw the winning tile), and the other two players pay 25¢ each. Sue collects $1.00.
Now say Sue had picked that tile herself from the wall instead. Everyone pays double: 50¢ each, so Sue collects $1.50. If her hand was also jokerless, those payments double again to $1.00 each, for $3.00 in total. That is why experienced players get so excited about a jokerless self-pick.
Jokerless hands
A hand is jokerless when you complete it without using a single Joker. Because Jokers make hands easier, finishing without them earns a bonus, usually double. One common exception: Singles and Pairs hands. Jokers can never be used in singles or pairs, so those hands are always jokerless, and many tables don't give them the extra bonus. Tick the Singles & Pairs box in the calculator if your table plays it that way. Learn more in our guide to how Jokers work.
House rules: make the calculator match your table
Mahjong groups love their house rules, and payouts are where they differ most. Some groups pay a flat amount per game, some use chips instead of coins, and some still use older rules where East pays or collects double. Open House rules in the calculator and change any multiplier. Your settings and player names are saved on this device, so they will be there next week.
Other payment rules you may hear about at the table, which this calculator doesn't cover yet:
- Paying for a wrong call. If someone declares Mahjong by mistake and has already exposed their tiles, many tables have them pay a penalty.
- Paying for the table. Some groups make a player who discards a very obvious winning tile late in the game pay for everyone.
- Betting. A player who sits out a round may bet on who will win. House rules vary a lot here.
When in doubt, ask your host before the first hand. Nobody minds a new player asking how the group pays.
Keep a running tally for the night
After each hand, press Add to tonight's tally. The calculator keeps a running total for each player, plus a short history of every hand. At the end of the evening, everyone can settle up at once. Press Start a new night to clear it.
Where do hand values come from? From the card your group plays with. Each hand on the official card lists its own value. Our card reading guide explains how to find it, using our own practice hands.
