Domino Sets and Sizes
A standard double-six domino set contains 28 tiles and 168 pips in total. A double-nine set has 55 tiles, a double-twelve 91, a double-fifteen 136 and a double-eighteen 190. The rule behind all of them is simple: a double-N set holds one tile for every unordered pair of numbers from 0 to N, which works out to (N+1)(N+2)/2 tiles.
Every standard set
| Set | Highest end | Tiles | Total pips | Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double-six | 6 | 28 | 168 | 2–4 |
| Double-nine | 9 | 55 | 495 | 2–6 |
| Double-twelve | 12 | 91 | 1092 | 2–10 |
| Double-fifteen | 15 | 136 | 2040 | 4–12 |
| Double-eighteen | 18 | 190 | 3420 | 6–14 |
The pip total is worth knowing because it is what you are playing for. In a double-six set there are 168 pips on the table; the seven doubles alone account for 42 of them, a quarter of the game concentrated in a quarter of the tiles you least want to be holding.
Which set should you buy?
- Double-six for two to four players and every classic game. If you own one set, this is it.
- Double-twelve if Mexican Train is the reason you are buying. It is the set the game is written for, and it seats up to ten.
- Double-nine as the compromise: big enough for six players and for Chicken Foot, small enough to fit an ordinary table.
- Double-fifteen and double-eighteen only for large standing groups. 190 tiles is a lot of table.
One practical note that has nothing to do with rules: on large sets the pip counts past nine become hard to read at a glance, which is why most double-twelve sets colour-code the numbers. If you are buying for a group with mixed eyesight, colour-coded tiles are worth more than the material they are made of.
Questions about sets
How many dominoes are in a set?
- A standard double-six set has 28 dominoes. Double-nine has 55, double-twelve has 91, double-fifteen has 136 and double-eighteen has 190. The formula for a double-N set is (N+1)(N+2)/2.
How many dots are on a full set of dominoes?
- A double-six set has 168 pips in total. A double-nine has 495, a double-twelve 1,092. Each number appears on N+2 tile ends, so the total is (N+2) × N(N+1)/2.
How many doubles are in a set of dominoes?
- One for each number, so seven in a double-six set (0–0 through 6–6), ten in a double-nine and thirteen in a double-twelve. They are the tiles that decide most rounds, because each one matches only a single number.
What size domino set do I need for Mexican Train?
- A double-twelve set, which gives thirteen rounds — one for each double from the 12-12 down to the double-blank — and seats up to ten players. A double-nine works for a shorter game with up to six, and even a double-six will do for a quick seven-round version.