Want to know how to choose a tarot deck? This article will help you avoid some common mistakes people make when choosing their first tarot deck. At the end, I’ve incluced some other helpful tips.  I own dozens of tarot decks and I have made lots of mistakes along the way. No one wants to buy a deck they will never use. 

Avoid Pips Decks

First of all, let’s define a pip deck.  These types of decks don’t illustrate the tarot suits (Swords, Cups, Pentacles, and Wands).  When you are a new tarot reader, a visual cue will help you identify a card easier. Not to mention…faster!  I am a seasoned tarot reader and even I still prefer fully illustrated decks. Nobody has the patience to pause a reading and try to remember what the Nine of Pentacles is. 

Pro Tip

 You can find out whether or not any given Tarot deck only has pips by watching walkthroughs and reviews on YouTube.

Tarot Cards That Aren’t Labeled

This tip goes hand-in-hand with avoiding pip decks. Some tarot decks number and label each and every card (Ace of Pentacles, Ten of Pentacles, etc.) Some decks only use Roman numerals.  And others don’t use any labels or numbers at all. If you are just starting out, labeled decks are going to be much easier to use. You will waste a lot of time counting the number of Pentacles.

Pro Tip

Buy a deck that labels every card and doesn’t use pips and it will make the process of learning the cards much, much easier.

Picking the Latest Greatest Tarot Deck That Everyone is Talking About

Okay, confession time. I am completely guilty of this. I follow a lot of tarot readers on Instagram and YouTube and I will get tarot fever when I see a shiny new deck. However, I’ve been burned several times. This is a form of FOMO, but try to resist the temptation. The popular deck isn’t always the right deck for you.  Buying a tarot deck should be a very personal decision. Think of it as a Goldilocks situation. You want to find the one that is just right for you, not what everyone else likes. 

Case in point, I bought the Wild Unknown Deck. The illustrations are gorgeous and a lot of people love it. Unfortunately, I’m not one of them.  It’s a very shadowy deck, meaning it has some darker themes. I do a lot of readings on YouTube and most of them are focused on love, and this just isn’t a deck I use. So,  I reserve it for the fall of the year, the shadow season, when I want to do a deep dark reading on myself. Because of this, I hardly ever use it on camera. I usually try to buy decks that I can use any time of the year and in most situations. 

Not Choosing a Rider-Waite Style Deck

There are three major tarot systems (Thoth and Marseille are the other two), but the vast majority of tarot decks are Rider Waite style. If you choose another system, you are automatically limiting your options. And, in my opinion, if you are just starting out, this is the easiest kind of deck to work with. Once you have learned the basics, you might want to branch out to other tarot systems. There are literally hundreds of Rider Waite-style decks to choose from, so don’t feel like you have to pick the OG Rider Waite Deck by default. 

Pro Tip

Two Rider-Waite style decks that aren’t pips deck  I love and use several times a week are the Light Seer’s Tarot and the Modern Witch Tarot.  Both of these decks are cost-effective, too. They are roughly $20 each.

Choosing an Expensive Deck

 The cost of Tarot deck can vary wildly. The least expensive is around $10 and the most expensive I’ve seen is $75. I’m sure you could find decks that are even more expensive. But the average deck is roughly $20. If you are new to reading tarot, you might not even like it. So, go with a less pricey option. Once you figure out whether or not tarot is for you, then you can buy a more luxe deck. 

Relying on the Little Paper Booklet Inside

While you are choosing a tarot deck, pick yourself out a tarot guide as well. Most tarot decks include a little tiny paper booklet with tarot card meanings in them. These things are usually small, hard to read, and only include a few words on the upright and a reversed meaning for each card. You will get more use out of your tarot deck, if you get a guide with more comprehensive meanings(like love, health, career, etc.) along with it. 

Believing You Can’t Buy Your Own Tarot Deck

Can you buy your own tarot deck? There’s a common myth that you can’t buy your first tarot deck. It has to be given to you. But it isn’t true. I bought my first deck and many other tarot readers I know have purchased their first deck as well. If I had to wait for someone to give me one…well, I’d still be waiting. So, don’t worry about it, you have a green light to get your own deck. 

This is a Goldilocks situation, remember? You want to pick the perfect deck for you. Getting hand-me-down tarot cards isn’t necessary.

So, how do you choose a tarot deck?

Helpful Resources

Would you like a tarot reading of your own? You can order one here. 

I also have several tarot spreads, if you want to try one out. How Does He Feel About Me Tarot Spread

Does He Think About me Tarot Spread