Even if you’re not big on games or card tricks, it’s nice to have a deck on hand in case the occasion arises. For some, it’s about the material—water resistance, thickness, ease of shuffling, or overall feel. For others, design is of the essence, whether it’s the artwork, text, or dimensions. And in many cases, a set of two decks is ideal. The intended use of your deck of cards is key, according to William Kalush, executive director of Expert Playing Cards. Poker players or magicians may need a higher quality deck than recreational players of Go Fish. Without further ado, here are the best playing cards you can buy today. The material is ultra-strong yet flexible and resistant to cracks, tears, and scuffs. Not only that, but these cards are conveniently washable. You can rinse them off in the sink or wipe them down if they get a little sticky or grimy during a boisterous card game. Material: Cellulose acetate | Amount: 106 cards | Player Level: Adult Material: Paper | Amount: 104 cards | Player Level: All Material: Thermoplastic | Amount: 104 cards | Player Level: All Material: Paper | Amount: 54 cards | Player Level: Adult Material: Plastic | Amount: 108 cards | Player Level: All Material: Cardstock | Amount: 56 cards | Player Level: All Material: Plastic-coated paper | Amount: 648 cards | Player Level: Adult Material: Plastic | Amount: 52 cards | Player Level: All Material: Plastic-coated paper | Amount: 54 | Player Level: All Material: Cardstock | Amount: 104 cards | Player Level: All Material: Paper | Amount: 52 cards | Player Level: All Nowadays, you’ll also find lots of plastic playing cards, which might be noted as PVC (polyvinyl chloride), thermoplastic, or cellulose acetate in the product description. Plastic decks are typically washable and long-lasting, though they don’t always shuffle as easily as paper. “Plastic cards tend to be at least twice as expensive as plastic-coated cards,” notes Mike Kilbert owner of The Compleat Strategist in New York City. As the decks become higher quality, the price will increase. Kalush recommends spending between $5-10 for a quality deck of cards. He mentions, however, that this can greatly increase for collectors who are willing to spend more money to add to their stash.
Amount
A standard deck of playing cards includes 52 cards, sometimes with the addition of one or two jokers. This is enough for solitaire and some multiplayer games, but many card games call for two decks. Fortunately for this reason, lots of sets come with two decks.
Design
“You want the faces of the cards to be readable,” reminds Kalush. Cheaper decks may fade more quickly, making it difficult to differentiate between the numbers or suits. If you’re playing with kids, seniors, or anyone with vision issues, you may want to get a deck with large text. “If your deck is for children, you should probably choose the least expensive deck you can find,” says Kilbert. They will probably either lose some of the cards or they will nick the corners or spill drinks on them. Generally, think of the deck as a one-time use for the younger set."
Intended Use
Recreational cards players can opt for a slightly less expensive and lower quality set for everyday use. Casinos, poker players, and magicians who may be using their decks more often look for ones that won’t fade quickly and are thick and durable. “If you’re a magician, you want the cards to be very high quality with excellent edges to shuffle easily,” says Kalush.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Julia Fields, a lifestyle writer for The Spruce and The Spruce Crafts, covering all things surrounding toys, gifts, crafts, and the holidays. She’s also covered similar topics in other roles, including toy reviews, product roundups, expert-focused articles, and more. Cards will come in an outer box often covered by cellophane. “You want a box that won’t just wear out as soon as you start using the deck,” says Kalush. According to him, the best way to do this is to keep the cellophane wrap on your cards until you are ready to use them to avoid any humidity coming through. “Basically when they get too dirty to use, you have to change them out,” says Kalush. This could include the edges getting too dark or spotting on the cards that make it hard to see the number or suit. Routinely freshening up your cards can help them last long, says Kilbert. “Plastic cards should last for years as long as you refresh them periodically by dropping them a a solution of dishwashing liquid and drying them thoroughly,” he says. He also recommends owning two decks to switch between. Expert advice was provided by William Kalush, executive director of Expert Playing Cards and Mike Kilbert owner of The Compleat Strategist in New York City.
