Tarot decks differ in three ways: the art tradition behind them (1909 classic, Marseille, Thoth or a modern style), the card finish (matte, foil, holographic or plastic-laminated) and the format (bordered or borderless, with or without meanings printed). Most guidebooks start from 1909 classic art, and so do we: if you are new, we recommend a 78-card deck with that art.
Our best seller in that group is the Holographic Crystal Foil Tarot, 78 cards of the original 1909 illustrations with a holographic finish on 350GSM art cardstock and anti-scratch lamination.
Our stock picks
Practicing? Here's where to start.
Holographic Crystal Foil Tarot Cards — 1909 Classic Art
Our Best Tarot Decks 2026 list is eight decks we keep in stock, each with 78 cards and a guidebook.
See this deckTypes of tarot decks by art tradition
Almost every tarot deck has the same skeleton: 78 cards, split into 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. What changes is the artwork and the symbolism built into it. This is the first thing to decide, because it determines which books, courses and guides will match your cards.
1909 classic art (Pamela Colman Smith)
This is the most widely used style. Pamela Colman Smith drew the illustrations in 1909, and the deck is often called by its publisher's name. Every Minor Arcana card shows a full scene, so you can read a card from the picture alone. Most modern guidebooks, courses and apps assume this system, which is why it is the usual recommendation for beginners. Several of our decks use this art, in different finishes. You can browse them in our Pamela Colman Smith tarot decks collection.
Tarot de Marseille
The Marseille system was codified in France in the 17th and 18th centuries and is older than the 1909 deck. Its number cards show repeated suit symbols rather than scenes, so you read them through number and pattern. It rewards readers who like a more traditional, structured method. Our Tarot de Marseille Vintage Edition is sold in the EU and UK only. For the full picture, see our Tarot de Marseille guide.
Thoth
The Thoth deck was painted by Lady Frieda Harris to designs by Aleister Crowley and published in the 20th century. It is dense with astrological, Kabbalistic and occult symbolism, and it renames and reorders some cards. It suits readers who already enjoy esoteric study. We do not make a Thoth deck, so we cannot offer one.
Modern art decks
Modern art decks keep the 78-card structure but replace the 1909 illustrations with a new artist's style, such as a single theme like the moon. If a new deck keeps the same card names and numbers, any standard guidebook will still work with it. Check this before you buy, because some artist decks change the suits or the card titles. Our Moon Magic Tarot is an example: moon-themed art on the same 78-card system.
Types of tarot decks by card finish
The finish does not change how a deck reads. It changes how the cards look under your lamp and how they feel in your hands. All of our decks are laminated. The finishes below differ in how that surface looks and feels.
- Matte: low glare, fewer visible fingerprints, a calm look. Our Borderless Vintage deck uses white 350 gsm card with matte anti-scratch lamination.
- Gold rainbow foil: metallic detailing that changes color as the light moves. Our Moonlight Tarot puts gold and rainbow foil on black cardstock.
- Holographic: a foil that scatters light across the whole spectrum, so each card shifts through blues, pinks, greens and purples as you tilt it. Our foil versus holographic comparison explains the difference in detail.
- Plastic-laminated: a protective plastic finish that wipes clean with a dry or barely damp cloth. It suits decks that are handled often. Our Pink Moon Tarot is the plastic-laminated option.
If you want to see the options side by side, the foil tarot cards and plastic tarot cards collections group them by finish.
Types of tarot decks by format
Borderless or bordered. A bordered deck has a white frame around each card. A borderless deck lets the artwork run to the edge, which looks more immersive. Some readers prefer the frame for its classic look. Our Borderless Vintage deck is printed without white borders.
Meanings printed on the cards. A learning deck prints keywords or a short meaning on each card, so you do not stop to open a guidebook. We make these in German and French for the EU and UK. Our English decks keep the artwork clean and include a printed guidebook instead.
Size. Standard tarot cards are about 7 by 12 cm (roughly 2.75 by 4.7 inches), and our decks follow this size. Smaller and larger decks exist in general, but we do not sell minis.
Tarot vs oracle vs Lenormand
These are different card systems, and they are often mixed up. A standard tarot deck has 78 cards in a fixed structure. An oracle deck has no fixed structure: the number of cards, the themes and the meanings are set by its creator. Lenormand is a separate system of 36 cards with simple, concrete images, read in combinations. We do not make oracle-only or Lenormand decks. The difference is explained in full in our article on oracle cards versus tarot cards.
Because the systems differ, a guidebook for one will help you little with another. Make sure the deck you buy matches the books you plan to use.
Which type suits whom
This table matches each type to a reader and shows where it appears in our range. For a first deck, the Borderless Vintage Tarot, Light Edition is the one we point most beginners to: 78 cards of 1909 classic art with a matte finish and a printed guidebook in the box.
| Type | Who it suits | Our deck |
|---|---|---|
| 1909 classic art, matte | Beginners, anyone learning from books and apps | Borderless Vintage Tarot |
| 1909 classic art, holographic | Readers who want the classic art with a shifting finish | Holographic Crystal Foil Tarot |
| 1909 classic art, gold rainbow foil | Collectors and gift buyers who like metallic detail | Gold Rainbow Foil Tarot |
| Moon-themed art on the same system | Readers who want a cohesive lunar look | Moon Magic Tarot, Pink Moon Tarot |
| Gold foil on black cardstock | Readers who prefer a dark, glowing look | Moonlight Tarot |
| Plastic-laminated | Readers who handle cards often | Pink Moon Tarot |
| Marseille | Readers who like number and pattern, EU and UK only | Tarot de Marseille Vintage Edition |
| Thoth, oracle, Lenormand | Readers who want a different system | We do not make these |
Our stock picks
Practicing? Here's where to start.
Borderless Vintage Tarot Cards — Light Edition, 1909 Classic Art
Our Best Tarot Decks 2026 list is eight decks we keep in stock, each with 78 cards and a guidebook.
See this deckHow to pick your first tarot deck
Start with the system, not the finish. If you plan to learn from books, courses or apps, choose 1909 classic art, because most of them are written for it. Then choose the finish that fits how you will use the deck. Matte is calmer for long readings, foil and holographic are more striking, and plastic lamination is the easiest to wipe clean.
Check the basics before you buy: 78 cards, a guidebook in a language you read, and a maker you can identify. Our tarot cards for beginners guide walks through the first steps after you open the box. Our decks have a 4.9-star rating and more than 68,000 have been sold. Our guide on where to buy tarot cards covers how to check a seller.
FAQ
What are the main types of tarot decks?
The main types are 1909 classic art (Pamela Colman Smith), Tarot de Marseille, Thoth and modern art decks. They are also grouped by finish, such as matte, foil, holographic or plastic-laminated, and by format.
Which type of tarot deck is best for beginners?
A 78-card deck with 1909 classic art is the usual choice. Most guidebooks, courses and apps are written for it, and the scenes on the Minor Arcana cards help you read from the picture.
Is an oracle deck the same as a tarot deck?
No. A tarot deck has 78 cards in a fixed structure. An oracle deck has no fixed structure, and its creator decides the cards and meanings.
Does the card finish change how a deck reads?
No. Matte, foil, holographic and plastic-laminated decks read the same way. The finish changes the look and feel, such as glare, fingerprints and how easily the cards wipe clean.
How many cards are in a tarot deck?
A standard tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. The Minor Arcana are split into four suits of 14 cards. Oracle and Lenormand decks have different counts.
When you are ready to compare, our all tarot decks collection shows every deck we ship to the US, UK, EU, Japan, Canada and Australia. Several of our decks are also sold as sets with a velvet bag, reading cloth or wooden box; see the tarot accessories collection.
