The 5 Best Playing Cards of 2021

A Playing Card Buying Guide

Written by

Updated 04/09/21

Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

Dice and three aces, close-up — Tom Hoenig / Getty Images

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Kem Playing Cards Poker Size-Standard Index Playing Cards at Amazon

KEM cards are considered the best in the industry, a standard in casinos and tournaments everywhere.

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Best Plastic:

Copag 100% Plastic Playing Cards at Copagusa.com

A great deal money-wise among the ranks of plastic cards, they’ll last through night after night of play.

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Best Durability:

DA VINCI 100% Plastic Playing Cards at Amazon

Designed to offer durability at a less expensive price, Da Vinci is maybe a little slicker in feel than most, but they still shuffle and play great.

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Most Iconic:

Bee Premium Playing Cards at Amazon

Most us will instantly recognize a set of Bee cards, with their distinctive diamond-pattern backs, as the cards of our childhoods.

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Best Bulk Option:

Brybelly Jumbo Index Plastic Coated Playing Cards at Amazon

These cards make a great gift thanks to their unique graphics.

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01

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A two-deck set made from plastic is a must for serious card players. KEM cards are considered the best in the industry, a standard in casinos and tournaments everywhere. Made of 100 percent cellulose acetate, they are flexible, strong, and they resist scuffs and breaks, all of which should ensure years of play from a single deck. They're even washable, so if they get sticky or dirty during a raucous game of cards, you can wipe them off and they'll be good as new.

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A two-deck set that is durable and washable, Copag is made from 100 percent PVC plastic. A great deal money-wise among the ranks of plastic cards, they’ll last through night after night of play.

03

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This two-deck set of 100-percent-plastic playing cards are made in Italy by Modiano. Designed to offer durability at a less expensive price, Da Vinci is maybe a little slicker in feel than most, but they still shuffle and play great. They also come with a lifetime replacement warranty for defects or damaged and missing cards.

04

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Most us will instantly recognize a set of Bee cards, with their distinctive diamond-pattern backs, as the cards of our childhoods. While they are a plastic-coated paper card, their price makes them a good option for practice and for beginner home players.

05

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Play a lot of poker? You might want to consider buying in bulk. These cards are made from a premium heavyweight German card stock made from real wood pulp and are plastic coated with Brybelly’s elite finish, which reduces glare and ensures durable and fluid play. They also make a great gift thanks to their unique graphics, featured on the cards’ backs and on the aces, jokers, and court cards.