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Guide
How to Choose a Tarot Deck
Choose a tarot deck whose artwork you want to look at every day and whose structure matches the guides you will learn from. For most beginners that means a 78-card deck in the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition, with a picture on every minor card. After that, size, card stock, guidebook and theme are a matter of taste. Here is what to look for, how the main traditions differ, and when an oracle deck is the better fit.
The three big traditions
Rider-Waite-Smith (1909)
Drawn by Pamela Colman Smith for A.E. Waite and published by Rider in London. Every minor card shows a scene, which makes it the easiest deck to learn and the basis of most modern decks and books.
Tarot de Marseille
An older continental pattern. Its minor cards show arranged suit symbols, like playing cards, so they are read by number and suit.
Thoth
Designed by Aleister Crowley, painted by Lady Frieda Harris and published in 1969. Rich and esoteric, it suits readers who enjoy layered symbolism.
What to check on the box
Card count
Tarot decks have 78 cards. Oracle decks vary widely.
Guidebook
A small booklet or a full guidebook makes learning easier.
Size and card stock
Large cards show detail, smaller cards shuffle more easily in small hands, and matte stock shuffles more easily than gloss.
Borders and backs
A reversible back design hides which way up a card is, which matters if you read reversals.
Matching a deck to the reader
For a goth or witchy friend, look at dark-art decks. For moon lovers, try celestial decks. For a gentle daily habit, consider a soft-coloured or animal deck, or an oracle deck instead. A good test is to look at three cards, say the Tower, the Five of Cups and the Queen of Wands, and ask whether you can see a story in them. If the art speaks to you, you will pick the deck up more often, and that is how you learn.
Collecting decks
Many readers keep several decks: a workhorse for daily pulls, a beautiful deck for special readings and themed decks for the seasons. Limited editions and indie decks sell out, so collectors often buy them when they see them.
Looking after your deck
Shuffle on a cloth and store the deck in its box, a pouch or a wooden box. Keep it dry and away from food. Some readers 'introduce' themselves to a new deck by going through every card once, a pleasant tradition that also helps you learn the art. UK delivery is £3.95, free on orders over £40, and usually takes 2–5 working days.
A checklist before you buy
- Card size: standard is about 7 x 12 cm; smaller hands may prefer a mini deck.
- Card stock: thicker cards last longer; matt cards shuffle more easily than glossy.
- Guidebook: some decks come with a full book, others with a small leaflet.
- Illustrated minors: beginners usually find decks with pictures on every card easier.
- Box: a sturdy box or bag protects the deck.
Is it bad luck to buy your own deck?
There is a popular saying that your first tarot deck should be a gift. There is no old tradition behind it, and most readers buy their own decks. Choose the one you like.
Decks for beginners
Rider-Waite-Smith style decks are the most widely taught. Most books and online guides use its imagery, so learning on one makes it easy to follow along. Once you know the system, themed decks are easier to read.
Oracle decks as a companion
Many readers pull one oracle card alongside a tarot spread as a theme or message. Oracle decks have no fixed structure, so they are simple to start with.
Looking after a new deck
Shuffle gently to break in the cards, keep them in a cloth or box, and wrap them in silk or cotton if you like tradition. Some readers keep a stone such as amethyst or clear quartz on top.
The three main tarot traditions
Most decks follow one of three patterns. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck (1909) gave every card a picture and is the basis for most modern decks. The Thoth deck, designed by Aleister Crowley and painted by Frieda Harris, uses different names for some cards and rich astrological symbolism. The Marseille pattern, from 17th- and 18th-century France, has pictured major arcana but simple pip-style minor cards, like playing cards. Beginners usually find the Rider-Waite-Smith style easiest.
Mini, standard and large decks
Mini decks are portable and good for travel or quick daily draws, but small details can be hard to see. Standard decks suit most hands. Large or tarot-card-sized oracle decks show art beautifully but can be hard to shuffle; try the 'puddle' method of mixing them face down on a table.
Second and third decks
Once you know one deck, a second deck with different art shows the cards from new angles.
Decks in stock now
Real pieces in stock today, with current prices. Each product page lists size, materials and what is included.
Words worth knowing
- Major arcana: the 22 trump cards, from the Fool to the World.
- Minor arcana: the 56 suit cards: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.
- Court cards: the Page, Knight, Queen and King of each suit.
- Spread: a layout of cards with a meaning for each position.
- Reversal: a card that comes out upside down, read by some with a different meaning.
- Significator: a card chosen to represent the person asking.
- Querent: the person asking the question.
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Questions answered
What is the best tarot deck for a beginner?
A Rider-Waite-Smith style deck, because most learning material uses its imagery.
What is the difference between tarot and oracle cards?
Tarot has a fixed 78-card structure. Oracle decks set their own number of cards and meanings.
Can I use more than one deck?
Yes. Many readers keep several decks for different moods or questions.
Can I buy a tarot deck as a gift?
Yes. The idea that a deck must be given to you is folklore, and decks make lovely gifts.
Do I need to be psychic to use a new tarot deck?
No. Most readers use tarot as a tool for reflection: the pictures prompt you to think about a situation from new angles.
How long does it take to learn a new tarot deck?
You can read simple spreads within a week using a guidebook. Knowing all 78 cards by heart usually takes a few months of regular practice.
Should I cleanse a tarot deck when it arrives?
Many readers like to, by shuffling it thoroughly, leaving it in moonlight or passing it through incense smoke. It is a tradition, not a requirement.
Does the How to Choose a Tarot Deck guide make any health claims?
No. We describe spiritual and traditional uses as tradition and belief, never as health, medical or financial advice. For any health concern, speak to a qualified professional.
How much should a first tarot deck cost?
Most good beginner decks cost £15–£35. A deck with a full guidebook is worth a little extra.
Should I buy a deck with a guidebook?
For a first deck, yes. A guidebook gives you each card's traditional meaning while you learn, and you can compare it with our free card pages.
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