A good tarot card set contains 78 cards, a printed guidebook and a protective box; whether it suits you depends on card stock, finish and the language of the text.
If you want a calm, glare-free set to start with, the Borderless Vintage Tarot Light Edition is a good place to look.
Calm, glare-free set
Borderless 1909 illustrations in a matte finish
Borderless Vintage Tarot Cards — Light Edition, 1909 Classic Art
White 350 gsm card with matte anti-scratch lamination, borderless original 1909 illustrations and a 36-page printed guidebook in a protective box.
View this deckWhat Is in a Tarot Card Set?
A set is more than a stack of cards. The core is 78 cards, 22 Major and 56 Minor Arcana, plus a printed guidebook and a box that protects the cards. Every deck we sell ships with a printed guidebook.
Some products also come in larger packages with a velvet bag, a cloth or a wooden box. What exactly is in the package is listed on each product page, and you should read it there before you buy. For a full list of what belongs in a complete set, see our article what comes in a complete tarot set. This article therefore covers something else: how the sets differ from one another.
You notice those differences in daily use. Thick card sits steadily in the hand and shuffles well. A matte lamination reflects little under a reading lamp. A guidebook in your own language saves a lot of looking things up. That is what to check before you buy a tarot card set.
Five Things to Check Before You Buy
First, language. Many decks carry English card names, and the guidebook is not always in your language. If you read German, check whether the meanings are in German on the card, in the book, or in both. We cover German card names in a separate article: tarot cards in German.
Second, material. Card stock is usually given in gsm, which means grams per square metre. According to the product pages, our cards are 300 or 350 gsm, and a few products say only "thick cardstock". The higher the number, the firmer the card feels.
Third, finish. Matte laminated cards cause little glare and are pleasant to use, while foil cards come alive in the light. Both are protectively laminated. Fourth, size: all our cards are about 7 by 12 cm (roughly 2.75 by 4.7 inches), so they are the same size whichever set you choose.
Fifth, the artwork. Some decks show Pamela Colman Smith's illustrations from 1909, others build on her system and reinterpret it. The table in the next section shows which artwork each set uses.
Our Tarot Card Sets Compared
The table summarises what each product page states for six sets. Where a detail is not stated, it is left out on purpose.
| Set | Artwork | Card stock and finish | Text and guidebook | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| German Learning (sold in Europe) | Original 1909 illustrations | 300 gsm, matte lamination, velvety matte soft-touch box | Name, core meaning and keywords in German on every card, German guidebook in the box | Beginners who read German |
| German Edition (sold in Europe) | Original 1909 illustrations, borderless | Thick cardstock, matte anti-scratch lamination | No text on the face cards, 36-page German guidebook and an extended German e-manual after purchase | Readers who like the picture without writing |
| Borderless Vintage Light Edition | Original 1909 illustrations, borderless, warm earth tones | White 350 gsm card, matte anti-scratch lamination | 36-page guidebook covering all 78 cards, check the language on the product page | Calm, glare-free reading |
| Holographic Crystal Foil | Original 1909 illustrations | 350 gsm, holographic foil, anti-scratch lamination | Printed guidebook covering all 78 cards, upright and reversed | People who like cards that play with light |
| Moon Magic (matte) | Lunar reinterpretation of Pamela Colman Smith's system, some classic pictures simplified | Thick cardstock, matte anti-scratch lamination | 36-page guidebook covering all 78 cards | Moon motifs without a dark, gothic mood |
| Moonlight | Based on Pamela Colman Smith's system | Black 350 gsm card, gold rainbow foil, glossy anti-scratch lamination | Printed guidebook covering all 78 cards | Foil shine and gold |
All six sets include a box and a printed guidebook. The first two sets have German text on the card or in the book and are sold in Europe; the other four are available in all our markets.
For Beginners: An Illustrated Deck, or the German Learning Set
For most readers, the best start is an illustrated deck plus the free beginner course in your language, which every buyer receives. For German-speaking readers in Europe there is also the German Learning set (sold in Europe only).
Anyone buying a first tarot card set often asks the same thing: do I have to learn the meanings before I can read? With the German Learning set you do not have to learn them from the book alone. Every card carries its name and number, the core meaning in one sentence, four upright keywords, four reversed keywords and one question to think about. Everything is printed in German.
The hints on the card help from the first evening; the guidebook and the free course take you further. The printed guidebook is in the box, and every buyer also receives a free beginner course in their language. How to keep learning from there is described in our guide tarot cards with a guidebook.
The German Edition takes the other route. The face cards carry no text, the picture runs to the edge, and the interpretation comes from the German guidebook. It suits readers who prefer to give the cards their own words and do not want writing over the pictures.
Both sets are meant for European markets and are not shipped to every country. Check on the product page whether your country is served.
If You Want an Illustrated Set for Every Market
Not everyone needs printed text on the card. If you prefer to look up meanings in the book, or you already know the cards, the illustrated sets give you a wider choice. Two of them work well as a start: the Holographic Crystal Foil for anyone who likes a play of light, and Moon Magic, a lunar reinterpretation that simplifies some classic pictures, for readers who want lunar motifs in a matte finish.
Illustrated sets
Foil or lunar, with a guidebook and box
Holographic Crystal Foil Tarot Cards — 1909 Classic Art
Anti-scratch laminated sets with a printed guidebook and a protective box: holographic crystal foil on 350 gsm card, or a matte lunar reinterpretation of the classic system.
View this deck
Moon Magic Tarot Cards
Anti-scratch laminated sets with a printed guidebook and a protective box: holographic crystal foil on 350 gsm card, or a matte lunar reinterpretation of the classic system.
View this deckEvery card in the Holographic Crystal Foil shows a scene, and that makes reading easier even without printed text. For an overview of all kinds of decks, see the article types of tarot decks. A guidebook is included here as well, and every buyer gets the free beginner course.
As a Gift: Box, Bag and Guidebook
As a gift, a tarot card set convinces mainly through what is in the package. The cards sit in a protective box, a printed guidebook explains all 78 cards, and some packages add a bag or a cloth. The person receiving it can start straight away and does not need to buy anything else.
A simple question helps when you choose: does the person already read tarot? If so, the artwork counts, such as foil, moon motifs or a borderless picture. If they are just starting, the German Learning set with German text on every card suits a German reader better. More ideas are collected in best tarot gifts 2026.
We make no promise about value here: a tarot card set is something to use for reading, not a collectible with a guaranteed worth. What matters is that the person likes it and that it feels good in the hand.
Size and Build Quality
All cards are about the same size, 7 by 12 cm. They sit well in the hand and shuffle comfortably. The lamination resists scratches.
Especially with foil cards and black card stock it pays to keep the cards clean, in the box or in a bag. Storage tips are in the article on the tarot bag.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a tarot card set contain?
At least 78 cards, a printed guidebook and a protective box. All our sets come with a box and a guidebook. Some packages add a bag or a cloth.
Which tarot card set is right for beginners?
For most readers, an illustrated deck together with the free beginner course in your language, which every buyer receives. German-speaking beginners in Europe can also consider the German Learning set (EU only), because name, core meaning and keywords are printed in German on every card.
Is the guidebook in German?
With the German Learning set and the German Edition, yes. For the other sets the language of the book is not given in every product description, so please check the product page before you buy.
How big are the cards?
About 7 by 12 cm (roughly 2.75 by 4.7 inches). All sets have 78 cards, 22 Major and 56 Minor Arcana. The size is the same for every set in the shop.
Where can I buy a tarot card set safely?
Wherever you buy, check card stock, finish, language and contents, as described in this article.
A full tarot course in English comes with every deck.
If you would like to look around first, our tarot decks for beginners collection shows every set with a guidebook and a box at a glance.
Includes a free full tarot course in English
Includes a free full tarot course in English
