How Many Cards Are in a Tarot Deck?
A standard tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards. The Minor Arcana is split into four suits of 14 cards each.
The 78 cards, step by step
Tap a block to see which cards it contains.
The Major Arcana: 22 cards
The Major Arcana are the “big” cards, numbered 0 to 21. They show major life themes and turning points, from The Fool (0) at the start to The World (21) at the end. A reading with many Major Arcana cards is often seen as touching on big, important matters. See all 22 in our tarot card meanings guide.
The Minor Arcana: 56 cards
The Minor Arcana are the “smaller” cards. They show the everyday events, feelings and choices in a life. There are four suits, and each suit has 14 cards:
- 10 number cards: Ace through Ten
- 4 court cards: Page, Knight, Queen and King
| Suit | Element | Theme | Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wands | Fire | Energy, ambition, creativity | 14 |
| Cups | Water | Emotions, love, intuition | 14 |
| Swords | Air | Thoughts, truth, conflict | 14 |
| Pentacles | Earth | Money, work, health | 14 |
| Total | 56 |
Some decks rename the suits (Coins for Pentacles, Staves or Batons for Wands, for example) or the court cards (the Thoth deck uses Princess, Prince, Queen and Knight). The structure and the count stay the same.
Tarot compared with other decks
| Deck | Cards | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tarot (standard) | 78 | 22 Major Arcana + 56 Minor Arcana |
| Playing cards | 52 (plus jokers) | Four suits, 13 cards each. No Major Arcana, three court cards per suit. |
| Oracle deck | Varies | No standard structure. Often 30 to 55 cards. |
| Lenormand | 36 | A separate card system, not tarot |
A few tarot decks add bonus cards, such as a blank card or an extra guide card, and some older tarot-style games used other counts. For learning, a standard 78-card deck is the best choice. See our best tarot decks for beginners guide for options.
Why the 78-card structure matters when you are learning
Most beginner books, courses and apps assume a 78-card deck. If your deck follows this structure, you can learn the Major Arcana first (22 cards) and then one suit at a time (14 cards each), which breaks the 78 cards into smaller steps. Our tarot for beginners guide guide shows how.
Quick check: how well do you know the deck?
How many cards in a tarot deck FAQ
How many cards are in a tarot deck?
A standard tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards. The Minor Arcana is split into four suits of 14 cards each.
How many Major Arcana cards are there?
There are 22 Major Arcana cards, numbered 0 to 21, from The Fool to The World.
How many Minor Arcana cards are there?
There are 56 Minor Arcana cards. Each of the four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles) has 14 cards: Ace to 10, plus Page, Knight, Queen and King.
How many court cards are in a tarot deck?
There are 16 court cards: four per suit (Page, Knight, Queen and King). Some decks use different names, such as Princess, Prince, Queen and Knight in the Thoth deck.
Do all tarot decks have 78 cards?
Almost all modern tarot decks do. A few add bonus cards, and some older tarot-style card games used different numbers. Oracle decks are not tarot and have any number of cards.
How many cards are in an oracle deck?
There is no standard number. Oracle decks often have between 30 and 55 cards, but they can have more or fewer. They have no fixed structure.
How many cards do you use in a tarot reading?
It depends on the spread. A single-card draw uses one card, and a three-card spread uses three. The Celtic Cross uses ten. You shuffle the whole deck each time.
Is a tarot deck the same as a deck of playing cards?
No. A standard deck of playing cards has 52 cards (plus jokers) in four suits. Tarot has 78, with an extra 22-card Major Arcana and four court cards per suit instead of three.
Keep exploring
- Start learning: tarot for beginners guide
- Pick a deck: best tarot decks for beginners
- All 22 Major Arcana: tarot card meanings
- Free yes or no tarot reading
Tarot is a tool for reflection and entertainment. It cannot predict the future and is not a substitute for professional medical, legal or financial advice.