When you’re looking to get started in tarot, you might not have any idea what to look for to find the best tarot cards. Even if you’re experienced in the art of tarot, you might be looking around for something new.
Tarot is a deeply spiritual practice, and everyone wants something different for their tarot card deck. There are so many tarot card decks available out there that it’s impossible to sort through them all. This list has done the work for you. Below you’ll find 20 best tarot card decks with 4.5-5 star ratings in a variety of styles and traditions from both Amazon and Etsy. Come check them out!
If you’re curious (or in a hurry) here are our top picks:
| ✅BEST TRADITIONAL DECK: Original Tarot Cards Deck (available on Amazon) |
| ✅BEST MODERN DECK: Tarot Cats (available on Etsy) |
| ✅BEST FOR BEGINNERS: The Good Karma Tarot (available on Amazon) |
| ✅BEST VALUE $$$: Modern Witch Tarot Cards (available on Amazon; not a full 78 card deck) |
| ✅BEST ARTWORK: The Stolen Child Tarot (available on Etsy) |
Scroll to the bottom to see these cards in depth!
These best tarot cards below are separated into:
•Traditional Tarot Cards
•Modern Tarot Cards
•Cultural Tarot Cards
•Artistic Tarot Cards
What to look for in a Tarot Card Deck
If you’re a beginner, start here and learn some background info so you can know what to look for. If you’re not a newbie, skip ahead for the best tarot decks on the internet!
Rider-Waite Tarot
Sometimes called Waite-Smith, or Rider-Waite-Smith cards, this was the set of tarot cards published in 1909 that has set the standard for decks today.
Pamela Colman Smith is the artistic who illustrated these traditional decks under the direction of Dr. Arthur Edward Waite, who was a scholar of occultism. Her artwork is public domain, so you may see many publishers and producers that use her exact artwork, or maybe even modernize it.
Major Arcana
The Major Arcana are the 22 trump cards.
Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana are the suit cards, and there are 56 cards in this group.
78 Card Deck
When tarot decks include both major and minor arcana, they’ll have 78 cards. Sometimes there are bonus cards, so you may see decks that say 80 cards and have 2 bonus cards in the major arcana. Most of the cards below are 78 card decks.
Beginner’s Guide
Whether you’re a beginner or not, finding a tarot deck with a guide booklet is crucial for your success when you first start using your cards because each deck is slightly different. You want to get a good feel for your deck as you practice using them.
Quality
Many tarot cards available out there are printed cheaply. The printing may be blurry or discolored. The paper may be too thin.
Unfortunately, this comes with the territory. If you purchase a deck of cards that is $25 or less, you run this risk. However, a deck that is less than $25 may be a better starting place than buying an expensive deck. Keep this in mind that you may see reviews that discuss a poor quality in some of the less expensive tarot decks.
Can I buy my own first deck of Tarot cards?
It’s common, especially in certain spiritualities or religions that you’re supposed to be gifted your first set of tarot cards. So can you buy your own first deck of tarot cards?
Yes.
Don’t let old stuffy rules invade your own personal practices.
There’s a Tarot Deck for everyone
These 22 best Tarot card decks below are excellent for beginners and even more advanced tarot practitioners. I tried to include a few card decks of different types and styles.
However, these are only a small portion of the tarot decks that are out there. If you find a shop you like, or a style you like, go out there and look around. For example, there are tarot cards geared toward different pop culture icons, like Supernatural, or Nightmare Before Christmas Tarot Cards or even Disney Villain Tarot Cards (coming in July 2021). Whether you’re looking for something spiritual, artistic, or traditional, there’s something for you.
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The Best Tarot Card Decks
Best Traditional Tarot Card Decks
☆Original Tarot Cards Deck-Best Traditional Deck☆
Features:
‣78 cards
‣4.8″ x 2.9″ (small cards)
This is another digitized version of the Rider-Waite artwork. There is a small border and they feature thick paper. A booklet with description of each card is included.
PROS: Overwhelmingly positive reviews, updated artwork, bright
CONS: There are some criticisms of the updated artwork.
MagicSeer Large Tarot Cards and Guidebook-Original Tarot Cards Deck,Tarot Card Set
Features:
‣78 cards
‣6.5 x 4″
These cards are an updated, no-borders version of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck with bright colors. It comes with a guidebook, and it has excellent reviews on Amazon.
PROS: Good deck to start learning, good for small hands
CONS: Criticism of the guidebook, quality of cards
MIRIYAN Classic Tarot Cards with Original Pamela Colman Smith Artwork
Features:
‣78 cards
‣4.8 x 2.9″
These cards have Pamela Colman Smith’s artwork with muted colors. (Not digitally updated.)
PROS: access to a website with card information
CONS: thinner paper, no booklet
Classic Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot Deck with Guidebook from Vieux Monde Express
Features:
‣Comes in full size and pocket size
These original Rider-Waite-Smith tarot cards are another standard deck with borders.
PROS: Available in 2 sizes, comes with a guidebook, free shipping
CONS: booklet has a few typos
Vintage Tarot Deck Rider Waite and Wooden Box 78 Cards with Guidebook by CraftCards Store
Features:
‣78 card deck
‣4.72 x 2.75″
‣cardboard or wooden box
This awesome deck of vintage style cards comes in either a cardboard box or optional wooden box. It includes a guidebook as well.
PROS: overwhelming positive reviews, free shipping, options
CONS: (none)
Best Modern Tarot Card Decks
☆The Modern Witch Tarot Deck (Modern Tarot Library) – Best Value!☆
Features:
‣56 card deck
‣small cards
These awesome, modern tarot cards are symbolic of the Rider-Waite cards with more modern, diverse characters. These cards have 11,000+ ratings with an average of 5☆s!
They are less expensive, but they also don’t have a full deck, and the guidebook is sold separately. You may be able to get a few dollars off this deck by going with Etsy.
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☆The Good Karma Tarot: With a beginner’s guide– Best for Beginners☆
Features:
‣78 card deck
‣128 page beginner’s guide book
While so many cards are modeled after the Rider-Waite cards, these have completely original art and stylings, making it a daring, yet fun choice for best tarot cards.
This awesome tarot card deck is great for beginnings, but is overall an excellent deck for anyone to use. It has no less than a 4 star rating on Amazon!
This Might Hurt Tarot Deck from This Might Hurt Studios
Features:
‣4.75″ x 2.75″
‣78 card deck
This Might Hurt Tarot Deck is absolutely one of the best tarot card decks online. It’s extremely high quality, and it comes with a box and a guidebook.
It has holographic edges for an extra cool look without detracting from the art on the cards.
Luna Somnia Tarot Deck with Book 78 Cards from Shores of Moon
Features:
‣4.75″ x 2.75″
‣78 card deck
This amazingly artistic and modern, gold and black tarot deck is one of the best around. It has an overall rating of 5 stars with amazing reviews.
Reviewers are impressed at the quality of this deck.
☆Tarot Cats, a 78 card cat fan tarot deck from BunnyDee – Best Modern Deck☆
Features:
‣78 card deck
‣4.75″ x 2.75″
Are you a cat person?
This best deck of tarot cards has almost perfect 5☆ reviews! It is sold by BunnyDee, a renowned Etsy shop with over 11,000 sales!
These cards have watercolor cat artwork and edges in gold. There isn’t a guidebook, so it may be geared toward someone with an established tarot practice.
The Tarot Cat cards were by far the best reviewed deck on this list!
Gothmancy Divination and Darkness Tarot Deck by Apervithium
Features:
‣78 card deck
‣larger than standard tarot deck
What stunningly beautiful tarot cards by Apervithium. It comes with a 120 page guidebook as well. These goth cards are dark with either gold or purple gold foil.
The paper and printing are both high quality and they have excellent reviews!
The Moondust Tarot Deck 78 Cards Celestial from Tarra Soleil Co
Features:
‣78 card deck
‣4.75″ x 2.75″
With more minimal black, white, and gold designs, this Moondust Tarot card deck is gorgeous in its simplicity.
It comes with an instruction guide, linen bag, and a hand selected crystal. It has excellent reviews!
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Best Cultural Tarot Decks
Tarot of the Divine: A Deck and Guidebook Inspired by Deities, Folklore, and Fairy Tales from Around the World
Features:
‣78 cards
‣4.7 x 6.3″
With ethereal artwork and characters from folktales around the world, this tarot deck is a truly stunning choice.
Plus, it’s a very good price for a high quality deck. If you’re interested, there is a companion book of these folktales written by the same author as the tarot cards, Yoshi Yoshitani. Both book and cards deck have a minimum of 90% 5 star ratings! Reviewers remark on the beautiful aesthetics and high quality of these cards.
Tazama African Tarot Card Deck-Rider-Waite Tarot Deck
Features:
‣78 cards
‣Focus on African Diaspora and what it means to be African descent
A higher price point for these tarot cards shouldn’t dissuade you from checking these out! This best tarot card deck is described as exquisite, gorgeous, and stunning.
The artwork is brightly colored collage style with some Christian themes and African styles, patterns, and peoples. The cards are printed on high quality, thick cardstock and they’re easy to use. A guidebook is included.
Best Artistic Tarot Card Decks
The Cosmic Slumber Tarot
Features:
‣56 cards
‣3.5 x 5.5″
If you’re looking for an artistic tarot card deck, this is a great choice. The Cosmic slumber tarot deck features stunning painted imagery with bright and contrasting colors.
A guidebook comes with it which is described as provoking and intimate, very helpful for both new and experienced tarot practicers. Be sure to check out the reviewer images to see all the wonderful artwork in this one!
The Star Tarot: Your Path to Self-Discovery through Cosmic Symbolism
Features:
‣78 cards
‣Standard size
I like this deck (as a millennial) because it feels very retro, harkening back to 80s movies like the Neverending Story and The Labyrinth.
It comes with a thorough guidebook as well. The Star Tarot has fantastic reviews.
Light Seer’s Tarot: A 78-Card Deck & Guidebook
Features:
‣78 cards
‣2.75 x 4.75″
‣192-page guidebook
Contemporary and expressive, these best tarot cards of 2021 captures the essence of modern spiritual life.
If you read any negative reviews, just be aware: the original production of these cards in 2019 did have some quality control issues, including the paper they were printed on. Since last year, they have updated their production and print them on much more high quality paper.
A truly beautiful artistic choice when looking for best tarot cards!
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The Field Tarot
Features:
‣78 cards
‣96-page guidebook
The Field Tarot is a surprisingly different selection of artwork. Mostly minimalist and very textural, the different colors and textures on these cards really pop.
Although the size is not listed, they appear to be slightly larger than standard size. They come with a 96 page guidebook and have terrific reviews!
☆The Stolen Child Tarot 78 Card Deck from Monica L Knighton – Best Artwork!☆
Features:
‣78 card tarot deck
‣Downloadable guidebook
‣Large cards: 3.5 x 5″
The detail in the illustrations of these cards is beyond exquisite. Featuring nature-based images, the artwork is based on W.B. Yeat’s poem, “The Stolen Child”. They evoke feelings of sadness, hope, and nostalgia.
If you’re outside the U.S., the artist Monica Knighton offers a $5 code to help with shipping!
These are undoubtedly some of the best artistic tarot cards available!
Ethereal Visions Illuminated Tarot Deck from 13 Moons Magick
Features:
‣80 card deck
‣3.25 x 5.5″
‣48-page guidebook
Another best tarot card deck with awe-inspiring artwork, the Ethereal Visions Illuminated deck uses gold foil to accent the very Art Nouveau style.
There is no guessing with this deck, as you can view all of the cards in the product images.
This shop on Etsy has a whopping 54,000+ sales and 5 star reviews.
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