How to Pick the Right Tarot Deck: Rider-Waite-Smith, Thoth, Marseille and Modern Decks

Quick guide

Almost every tarot deck on sale today belongs to one of three families or borrows from one of them: the Rider-Waite-Smith deck of 1909, with a full scene on every card; the Thoth deck, painted between 1938 and 1943 and published in 1969, dense with astrological and Kabbalistic symbols; and the Tarot de Marseille, a woodcut pattern standardised in seventeenth and eighteenth century France with plain, unillustrated number cards. Most modern decks are Rider-Waite-Smith variants with new artwork, which is why beginners are usually steered toward that family. The right deck for you is the one whose images you can read without a book, whose cards fit your hands, and whose guidebook you will actually open. No deck is more “accurate” than another, because tarot does not predict events in any deck; the cards are a structured way to reflect and decide. This hub compares the deck families, explains what to look for in imagery, size, card stock and guidebook, gives a five-step method for choosing, and covers how to care for a deck once you own it.

The tarot aisle has never been bigger. A single online retailer lists thousands of decks: faithful reprints of century-old designs, cats in every suit, minimalist line drawings, lavish gilt-edged collector’s editions. Choice is wonderful until it stops you buying anything at all. This page is the hub for choosing and keeping a tarot deck on tarotreading.co. It is written to answer one question: which deck should I actually buy, and why? The answer turns out to depend on three deck families, a handful of physical details, and an honest look at how you will use the cards.

Where tarot decks come from

Tarot began as a trick-taking card game in northern Italy in the 1430s, with a fifth suit of allegorical trump cards added to an ordinary four-suit pack, as Britannica’s entry on tarot explains. The game spread into France and Switzerland, where printers produced woodcut decks in a shared pattern that became known as the Tarot de Marseille. Fortune-telling with the cards came much later, in the late eighteenth century, and the two decks that dominate modern reading were both made for that purpose in the twentieth century. Every deck you can buy today is a descendant of one of these three lines or a conscious reaction to them.

What is in the box

Anatomy of a tarot deck

22 Major ArcanaThe trump cards, from the Fool to the World. These are the images most people recognise and the ones that vary least between deck families.
40 number cardsAce to Ten in four suits. In Rider-Waite-Smith style decks each has a scene; in Marseille decks each shows only the suit symbols.
16 court cardsPage, Knight, Queen and King of each suit, or Princess, Prince, Queen and Knight in the Thoth system.
A guidebookAnything from a folded leaflet to a 300-page book. For a beginner this is often the most important item in the box.

Seventy-eight cards, four suits, two arcana: the structure is the same whatever the artwork.

The three deck families compared

The table sets the three historical families beside the main kinds of modern deck. The “best for” column is a generalisation, but it is the one most experienced readers would give.

Deck family	Origin	Number cards	Court cards	Distinctive features	Best for
Rider-Waite-Smith	London, 1909; drawn by Pamela Colman Smith for A. E. Waite	Full scenes on every card	Page, Knight, Queen, King	Strength is VIII and Justice XI; readable without a book; the source of most modern meanings	Beginners, intuitive readers, anyone following online guides
Thoth	Painted 1938 to 1943 by Lady Frieda Harris with Aleister Crowley; published 1969	Abstract designs with a keyword title such as Dominion or Virtue	Princess, Prince, Queen, Knight	Astrological and Kabbalistic symbols printed on the cards; renamed trumps including Adjustment, Lust, Art and Aeon; reversals rarely used	Readers interested in astrology, Qabalah and Western esoteric study
Marseille	French and Swiss printers, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries; a pattern rather than one author	Suit symbols only, no scenes	Valet, Cavalier, Queen, King	Woodcut style with flat colours; French titles; Justice VIII and Strength XI; number cards read by number and suit	Readers who like a historical deck and reading by number, suit and pattern
Modern Rider-Waite-Smith variants	1970s to today; thousands of titles	Scenes that follow Smith’s compositions with new art	Usually Page, Knight, Queen, King; sometimes renamed	Keep the 1909 meanings so any guidebook applies; artwork ranges from faithful recolourings to complete re-imaginings	Most readers; the safest first purchase after the original
Modern themed decks	1990s to today	Scenes built around a theme: animals, a culture, a film, a mood	Often renamed to fit the theme	Visual pleasure first; may drop or change traditional symbols, so meanings can drift from the guidebooks	Second decks, gifts, readers who already know the structure
Modern independent systems	2010s to today, often crowdfunded	Varies; some return to plain number cards	Varies	Creators design their own correspondences; the guidebook is essential	Experienced readers looking for something new

Two practical notes follow from the table. First, the number cards decide how hard a deck is to learn. A Rider-Waite-Smith style Five of Pentacles shows two people in the snow outside a lit window, and most people can guess the theme of hardship and help without a book. A Marseille Five of Coins shows five coins. The Marseille is not worse; it asks you to learn a method of reading by number and suit, which some readers prefer precisely because it leaves more room for their own interpretation. Second, the meanings on this site and in nearly every modern guidebook are Rider-Waite-Smith conventions, so a deck in that family will match what you read elsewhere.

What to look for in a deck

Once you have chosen a family, four physical details separate a deck you will use from one you will admire on a shelf.

Imagery you can read. Look at the Six of Swords, the Four of Cups and the Seven of Pentacles in any listing. If you can tell what is happening in all three without a caption, the artist has kept the storytelling. If the cards are beautiful but blank, you will be reaching for the book for a year.
Size that fits your hands. Standard tarot cards measure about 70 by 120 millimetres, already larger than playing cards. Oversized decks look impressive and are hard to riffle shuffle. If your hands are small, look for a “pocket” or “mini” edition; many popular decks have one.
Card stock you can shuffle. Thin, glossy stock sticks together and bends; very thick stock is stiff and tiring to shuffle. A matte or linen finish on medium stock is the easiest to handle. Reviews that mention “slippery” or “clumps” are telling you something.
A guidebook with real content. Many mass-market decks ship with a little white booklet of two lines per card. That is fine if you plan to use a separate book. If you want the box to be self-contained, look for a deck that comes with a proper companion volume, and read a sample page before buying.
Borders, backs and box. Borderless cards look modern but show wear faster. A reversible back design matters only if you read reversals and want the orientation hidden. A sturdy two-part box or a tin outlasts a tuck box by years.

A five-step method for choosing

Decide who the deck is for. A first deck for yourself, a reading deck for clients, a gift, or a collector’s piece are four different purchases. A client-facing deck needs clear, neutral imagery; a personal deck can be as strange as you like.
Pick the family. If you are learning, choose Rider-Waite-Smith or a close variant so that every guide you read applies. Choose Thoth if astrology and Qabalah already interest you. Choose Marseille if you want history and a number-based method. Treat themed and independent decks as second decks.
Look at twelve cards, not the box. Find a video walkthrough or a review that shows the whole deck. Check the three number cards named above, two court cards, the Tower and the Star. If any of them leaves you unsure what it depicts, move on.
Check the physical details. Confirm size, stock, finish and what kind of guidebook is included. If a listing does not say, that is itself a warning.
Buy one and use it for thirty days. Draw a card every morning for a month before you judge the deck or buy another. Most “wrong deck” feelings disappear by week three, and if they do not, you now know exactly what you want instead.

Notice what is not in the list. There is no step for waiting until a deck “calls to you”, and no rule that a deck must be gifted rather than bought. Both are folklore, and the second one was popularised by shops that wanted customers to buy two. A deck you chose on purpose, for a clear reason, will serve you better than one you waited for.

Three good first decks, by family

Without naming retailers or editions, which change constantly, here is the sensible shortlist most teachers would give. For the Rider-Waite-Smith family, the original deck in a standard-size edition remains the best teaching tool ever printed, and a borderless or recoloured version of it is a close second if the 1909 colours put you off. For the Thoth family, there is only one Thoth deck, in a few sizes; buy the standard size and the companion book, because the deck is not meant to be read without it. For the Marseille family, a modern restoration of an eighteenth-century pattern with clean printing and a short guide is the easiest entry point. In each case, spend your money on the standard edition and a good book rather than on a deluxe box.

Caring for a deck

A tarot deck is paper and ink. It needs the same care as a good paperback and nothing more exotic than that.

Keep it dry and out of direct sun. Humidity warps cards and sunlight fades them. A drawer or a shelf away from the window is ideal; the box it came in is usually the best home.
Shuffle gently. Overhand shuffling and the spread-and-swirl method are kinder to card stock than repeated riffle shuffling, which creases the spine of each card over time.
Wash your hands, not the cards. Clean hands prevent most grime. If a card picks up a mark, a soft dry cloth is as far as you should go; water and cleaning products damage the finish.
Rotate decks if you read often. Readers who do several readings a day keep two copies of the same deck and alternate them so neither wears out.
Replace, do not mourn. A well-used deck lasts years, but it does wear. When the edges fray and the cards will not lie flat, buy the same deck again. The meanings live in you, not in the paper.

You will also read advice about cleansing a deck with salt, smoke, crystals or moonlight, keeping it wrapped in silk, or never letting another person touch it. These are personal rituals, and if one helps you settle before a reading, there is no harm in it. None of them is necessary, and none of them changes what the cards can do. A deck cannot be contaminated by a friend’s hands, and it cannot be blocked or unblocked for a fee; anyone who tells you otherwise is selling something.

Common mistakes when buying a deck

Buying for the box art. The cover is one card, chosen to sell. Look at the Minor Arcana before you decide.
Starting with a themed or abstract deck. A deck that drops the traditional symbols will not match any guide you read, which slows learning badly.
Buying three decks at once. One deck used daily for a month teaches more than three decks admired on a shelf.
Paying for “accuracy”. No deck reads the future, so no deck is more accurate than another. Pay for printing quality and a good guidebook instead.
Believing the deck must be a gift. This is shop folklore. Buy the deck you want.

Key takeaways

Three families cover almost every deck: Rider-Waite-Smith (1909, scenes on every card), Thoth (esoteric symbols, published 1969) and Marseille (historical woodcut pattern, plain number cards).
Most modern decks are Rider-Waite-Smith variants, so that family matches nearly every guidebook and is the usual first choice.
Judge a deck by readable imagery, a size that fits your hands, shuffleable card stock and a guidebook with real content.
Choose on purpose: decide who the deck is for, pick a family, inspect twelve cards, check the physical details, then use one deck for thirty days.
Care is simple: keep cards dry, shuffle gently, wash your hands, and replace a deck when it wears out. Rituals are optional and change nothing about what the cards can do.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the best tarot deck for a beginner?

A Rider-Waite-Smith deck or a close modern variant. Every card has a readable scene, and nearly every guidebook and online resource uses its meanings, so what you learn transfers everywhere.

2. What are the three main tarot deck families?

Rider-Waite-Smith (London, 1909), Thoth (painted 1938 to 1943, published 1969) and the Tarot de Marseille (a French and Swiss woodcut pattern from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries). Most other decks descend from one of these.

3. What is the difference between Rider-Waite-Smith and Marseille decks?

Rider-Waite-Smith number cards show full scenes; Marseille number cards show only the suit symbols. Rider-Waite-Smith also swaps the positions of Strength and Justice. Marseille decks are read more by number, suit and pattern.

4. Is the Thoth deck good for beginners?

Usually not as a first deck. Its cards carry astrological and Kabbalistic symbols and several trumps are renamed, and it is designed to be read with its companion book. It suits readers already interested in Western esoteric study.

5. How many cards are in a tarot deck?

Seventy-eight: 22 Major Arcana, 40 number cards from Ace to Ten in four suits, and 16 court cards. The artwork changes between decks, but the structure almost never does.

6. Does my first tarot deck have to be a gift?

No. That is shop folklore with no basis in the history of the cards. Buy the deck you want, for a clear reason, and it will serve you well.

7. What size are tarot cards?

Standard tarot cards are about 70 by 120 millimetres, larger than playing cards. Many popular decks also come in pocket or mini editions that are easier for small hands to shuffle.

8. What card stock is best for a tarot deck?

Medium-weight stock with a matte or linen finish is the easiest to shuffle and the most durable. Very thin glossy cards stick together and bend; very thick cards are stiff and tiring to handle.

9. Do I need the guidebook that comes with a deck?

For a Rider-Waite-Smith style deck you can use any good general guidebook. For Thoth, themed or independent decks the companion book matters a great deal, because the creator’s correspondences may differ from the standard ones.

10. Are themed tarot decks good for learning?

They are better as second decks. Themed decks often change or drop traditional symbols, so the images stop matching the meanings in guidebooks, which slows learning. Once you know the structure, they are a pleasure.

11. Is one tarot deck more accurate than another?

No. Tarot has not been shown to predict events in any deck, so accuracy is not a property a deck can have. Choose for readable images, comfortable size, good card stock and a useful guidebook.

12. How do I know if a deck is right for me before buying?

Watch a full walkthrough and check twelve cards: the Six of Swords, Four of Cups and Seven of Pentacles, two court cards, the Tower and the Star, plus a few others. If you can tell what each depicts without a caption, the deck will be readable.

13. How should I store a tarot deck?

Dry, out of direct sunlight, and in its own box or a small pouch. A drawer or a shelf away from the window is ideal. Silk wrapping and special boxes are a matter of taste, not necessity.

14. Do I need to cleanse a new tarot deck?

No. Cleansing with salt, smoke, crystals or moonlight is a personal ritual. If it helps you settle, it is harmless; it does not change what the cards can do, and nobody can clear or block a deck for a fee.

15. Can other people touch my tarot cards?

Yes. Cards are paper and ink and cannot be contaminated by someone else’s hands. Many readers ask the person they are reading for to shuffle or cut the deck as part of the reading.

16. How long does a tarot deck last?

With daily use and gentle shuffling, several years. When edges fray and cards will not lie flat, replace the deck with the same one. The meanings you have learned do not live in the paper.

17. Should I use reversals with a Marseille or Thoth deck?

You can, but it is less traditional. Many Marseille readers read every card upright and rely on number and suit, and Thoth readers often use the surrounding cards for shading. Reversals are most closely tied to Rider-Waite-Smith guidebooks.

18. Should I buy a deluxe or collector’s edition?

Not as a first deck. Standard editions are easier to shuffle, cheaper to replace and identical in content. Spend the difference on a good guidebook.

Evidence note: The card meanings referred to on this page are traditions attached to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (1909) and the guidebooks that followed it, and the descriptions of the Thoth and Marseille families are of how those decks are designed and conventionally read. These are interpretive conventions, not findings. Tarot has not been shown to predict events or read another person’s mind, and no deck, edition or ritual changes that. Historical points about tarot’s origin as a card game in 1430s Italy and its spread through France come from Britannica. Questions about health, money, legal matters or safety belong with professionals rather than with any deck.