Guide to Poker Chips
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GUIDE TO POKER CHIPS
A decent set of poker chips is something most regular home poker players want. There are wide variations in the types and costs of poker chip sets. When money is not an object, a customized set of casino quality clay or ceramic chips is the way to go. But for most people, cost is an important consideration, thus purchasing poker chips is often a compromise between cost, quality and quantity. THE STANDARD CASINO POKER CHIP The poker chips you will most likely encounter in casinos are made from clay and, increasingly, ceramic. They are usually 39 mm in diameter, 3.5 mm thick and weigh about 10 grams. |
POKER CHIP COLORS As far as the color of chips goes, there are no official gaming chip color and denomination standards, unless mandated by local law or regulation. In the absence of that, each gaming establishment is free to select their own colors and corresponding chip denomination values. However, there are a few commonly observed ones within the gaming industry. The most consistently used gaming chip denominations are red ($5), green ($25) and black ($100). Other chip values, especially high denominations are more variable. See our Chip Colors & Common Chip Values for full details. |
TYPES and COMPOSITION of POKER CHIPS
Thin Plastic: Thin plastic poker chips are often available in solid red, white and blue colors. They are typically 39 mm in diameter, about 2.5 mm thick and weigh 2 grams or a little more. These chips offer no security features and, since they are widely and cheaply available, pose a huge potential risk if someone decides they want to sneak extra chips into a game. They are very cheap to buy ($3-4 per 100), they look cheap and people will think you are cheap if you use them in your home poker game. Do not even consider buying or using them.
Solid plastic: These chips more closely resemble a casino-style chip, are 39-40 mm in diameter, 3.5 mm thick and weigh around 7 grams. Solid plastic chips are serviceable and economical and are a reasonable entry level chip for casual players.
Drawbacks include limited color selections, lack of security features and that they tend to be slippery and so do not stack as well as other chips. But, they are very affordable as sets of 300 chips, including a carrying case, can be readily found in the toy departments of many stores at a cost of $20-30.
Plastic composite: These chips are composed of a plastic clay-like material infused with hard plastic resin. Notice the term "clay-like". They do not actually contain clay. Composition and quality of plastic composite chips varies widely. Plastic composite chips often have a metal insert which increases their weight to approximately 11.5 to 14 grams, so they feel more like a casino chip than does a plastic chip. On the other hand, the insert imparts a metallic sound that is unlike the sound of a casino grade chip. They are a reasonable entry level chip, are moderately priced (set of 500 for about $100 or so) and usually available in a variety of colors and patterns.
Clay and clay-composite: Clay poker chips are seldom seen anymore. Clay chips are too soft and fragile and have been almost completely replaced by clay-composite chips. Clay-composite are a mixture of clay and other materials (commonly plastic) that produces a strong, durable high quality chip. There are no industry standards regarding their clay content, but the ratio of clay to other components has a large bearing on the cost of these chips. Clay chips have an ever so slightly rough surface which makes stacking them easy. They are available in a variety of colors, patterns and styles and are customizable. Clay composite chips are probably the most expensive style chips.
Ceramic: These chips are made from a high density composite material that mimics the feel and sound of ceramic and produces a high quality, very attractive and durable chip. In addition, ceramic chips can be imprinted with graphics over their entire surface. Most of the chips found in casinos are ceramic chips. Ceramic chips are expensive, but probably no more so than clay chips. Like clay chips, they are available in a wide variety of color combinations and patterns and are customizable. At the casino quality chip level, ceramic chips are probably the best choice.
Before purchasing an expensive set of clay or ceramic poker chips, get a sample to make sure they meet your expectations. While some vendors may provide a sample for free, most often you will have to pay a few dollars. It is a little more money and time, but worth it.
Thin Plastic: Thin plastic poker chips are often available in solid red, white and blue colors. They are typically 39 mm in diameter, about 2.5 mm thick and weigh 2 grams or a little more. These chips offer no security features and, since they are widely and cheaply available, pose a huge potential risk if someone decides they want to sneak extra chips into a game. They are very cheap to buy ($3-4 per 100), they look cheap and people will think you are cheap if you use them in your home poker game. Do not even consider buying or using them.
Solid plastic: These chips more closely resemble a casino-style chip, are 39-40 mm in diameter, 3.5 mm thick and weigh around 7 grams. Solid plastic chips are serviceable and economical and are a reasonable entry level chip for casual players.
Drawbacks include limited color selections, lack of security features and that they tend to be slippery and so do not stack as well as other chips. But, they are very affordable as sets of 300 chips, including a carrying case, can be readily found in the toy departments of many stores at a cost of $20-30.
Plastic composite: These chips are composed of a plastic clay-like material infused with hard plastic resin. Notice the term "clay-like". They do not actually contain clay. Composition and quality of plastic composite chips varies widely. Plastic composite chips often have a metal insert which increases their weight to approximately 11.5 to 14 grams, so they feel more like a casino chip than does a plastic chip. On the other hand, the insert imparts a metallic sound that is unlike the sound of a casino grade chip. They are a reasonable entry level chip, are moderately priced (set of 500 for about $100 or so) and usually available in a variety of colors and patterns.
Clay and clay-composite: Clay poker chips are seldom seen anymore. Clay chips are too soft and fragile and have been almost completely replaced by clay-composite chips. Clay-composite are a mixture of clay and other materials (commonly plastic) that produces a strong, durable high quality chip. There are no industry standards regarding their clay content, but the ratio of clay to other components has a large bearing on the cost of these chips. Clay chips have an ever so slightly rough surface which makes stacking them easy. They are available in a variety of colors, patterns and styles and are customizable. Clay composite chips are probably the most expensive style chips.
Ceramic: These chips are made from a high density composite material that mimics the feel and sound of ceramic and produces a high quality, very attractive and durable chip. In addition, ceramic chips can be imprinted with graphics over their entire surface. Most of the chips found in casinos are ceramic chips. Ceramic chips are expensive, but probably no more so than clay chips. Like clay chips, they are available in a wide variety of color combinations and patterns and are customizable. At the casino quality chip level, ceramic chips are probably the best choice.
Before purchasing an expensive set of clay or ceramic poker chips, get a sample to make sure they meet your expectations. While some vendors may provide a sample for free, most often you will have to pay a few dollars. It is a little more money and time, but worth it.