Best Poker Chips: Top Poker Chip Sets for Home Games

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Jan 18, 2024 12 min read Last updated Feb 01, 2024

If you are going to host a home game, one of your first steps is to acquire a durable chip set. The size and quality of a poker chip set varies, but it’s easy to find what you need. Whether it’s a plastic set for road trips or a ceramic set for your home, check out the list below for our best suggestions.

How to Choose a Poker Chip Set?

When you are choosing a poker set, consider several factors that are unique to your situation. If you are only going to use the set once or twice, consider one of the value options. If you plan on buying a set of poker chips that you will keep at your home, you may want to spend more for a higher quality set. Choosing the right poker chip case can help make any set last a long time.

How Much Should you Spend on a Poker Chip Set?

If you are looking for a plastic set to keep up at the cabin or in a drawer for a rainy day, you can expect to spend around $20-$30. If you are investing in a high-end set for your regular home game, you can expect to spend between $100-$200 on a ceramic set and carrying case.

The Top 3 Best Ceramic Poker Chip Sets

Ceramic chip sets offer the look and feel of casino poker chips and the durability to last you many years of home games. The ceramic material creates sets in dynamic colors that are easy to customize, and they will feel just like the real thing when your guests shuffle them. Check out our picks below for the best ceramic chip sets.

Premium Pick – Slowplay Nash Ceramic Poker Chip Set 500 ct. w/ Case

This set features blank clay chips of four different Art Deco-style colors so you can customize your game how you see fit. The durable is made of a polycarbonate shell so it will withstand a lot of travel, and you’ll be able to take this classy chip set anywhere.

Value Pick – Brybelly Ultimate 14-Gram Heavyweight Poker Chips 1000 ct. w/ Acrylic Case

This set of 1,000 comes with an acrylic display case that is easy to carry. For its price range, it offers the most value and the case is a nice touch. This set has an average score of 3.7 with over 500 ratings on Amazon.

PokerNews Top Pick – Versa Games 13.5g Poker Chips 500 ct. w/ Case

This clay set comes with 500 chips of seven different denominations and you can take it anywhere with its durable poker case. It carries an average score of 4.7 with over 900 reviews on Amazon.

The Top 3 Best Plastic Poker Chip Sets

A good plastic set can be good to keep around for a rainy day when the power goes out and recreation options are limited. They also make great counting tools for younger kids. Check out these options for a good plastic poker chip set.

Premium Pick – Lewtemi Poker Chips 300 or 600 ct. w/ Storage Case

This set of plastic chips can come in 300 or 600, and they come in four different colors with different denominations for your home game. They’re simple and durable, and you can get a lot of them for a small investment. This set has a 4.6 rating on Amazon with 26 reviews.

Value Pick - 300 Plastic Poker Chips w/ Storage Case

If you are looking for a cheap set of poker chips, you can’t beat this classic plastic style. They come in four different colors and stack easily into the provided storage case. This set has an average rating of 4.5 with 40 reviews on Amazon.

PokerNews Pick - Skylety Plastic Poker Chips 1000 ct.

When we are looking for plastic poker chips, we want a lot of them. This set comes with 100 chips in five different colors. It does not include a carrying case, but you can improvise with one of the featured cases further down. This set carries a 4.0 rating on Amazon with over 50 reviews.

The Top 3 Best Custom or Personalized Poker Chip Sets

Custom and personalized poker chip sets are available in a variety of options. Whether you are creating a custom set for your home game or using poker chips as a promotional item, check out these options for custom poker chip sets.

Premium Pick – Personalized Poker Set 300 ct. w/ Engraved Case

This set allows you to choose from 20 different design options to create a custom poker set that includes an engraved wooden carrying case.

Value Pick – 500 Custom Monogrammed Poker Chips w/ Case

This set comes with 500 poker chips with the initials of your choice and a durable carrying case. It’s a great value if you are looking for a simple set with a high quantity.

PokerNews Top Pick – You’re On Deck Personalized Poker Chips

This custom set offers personalized poker chips and they’re shipped within 48 hours. You can add any photo you want to these black poker chips and they have a reliable 4.8 rating on Amazon with 160 reviews.

The Top 3 Best Poker Chip Cases

You will want to protect your investment with a quality poker chip case that is durable and easy to carry. Check out the options below for taking your chip set on the road.

Premium Pick - GSE Poker Chip Cases, 600pcs/1,000pcs Acrylic Poker Chip Case

Acrylic Chip Tray - Includes 10 acrylic chip trays and a poker chip carrier. The chip tray dimensions are 8.2" L x 3.1" W x 1.1". The inner-width of the chip tray is 70 millimeters, a perfect fit for chips of any thickness. Each tray holds 100 chips (It may fit 21 chips if using 3.3mm chips. Chips are not included).

Value Pick – Versa Games Deluxe Poker Chip Case

This popular pick has a 4.7 rating on Amazon with almost 300 reviews. It is made of aluminum and comes with molded wooden chip trays. It’s very durable and holds up to 500 chips with two decks of cards.

PokerNews Top Pick – Yuanhe Locking Carrier Case

This acrylic carrying case is clear and lockable. You can carry up to 600 chips in its provided plastic racks, and its compact size make it a great value.

History of the Poker Chip

Poker chip sets have become synonymous with the game of poker, embodying its essence of strategy, chance, and camaraderie. These iconic tokens have a rich history that traces back centuries, evolving alongside the game itself.

The origin of poker chips can be traced back to the early 19th century in the United States. In the early days of poker, players would use a variety of objects such as coins, gold nuggets, and even bones to represent their bets. However, as the game gained popularity and began to be played in saloons and riverboats across the country, the need for standardized betting units became apparent.

The earliest poker chips were made of a variety of materials including ivory, bone, wood, and clay. These early chips were often rectangular or oval-shaped and featured simple designs or markings to denote their value. However, as the demand for poker chips grew, manufacturers began to experiment with new materials and designs to create more durable and visually appealing chips.

One of the most significant developments in the history of poker chips came with the invention of the clay poker chip by John H. Winn in the late 19th century. Winn, a renowned gambling equipment manufacturer, revolutionized the industry by introducing chips made from a combination of clay and shellac. These clay chips were not only more durable than their predecessors but also had a pleasing weight and feel, making them ideal for use in the fast-paced environment of the poker table.

As the popularity of poker continued to soar throughout the 20th century, so too did the demand for high-quality poker chip sets. Manufacturers began producing chips in a wide range of designs, colors, and materials to cater to the diverse tastes of players. Clay composite chips became the standard in many casinos and poker rooms, prized for their durability and authentic feel.

In the 1940s, the renowned gaming supply company, Paulson, started producing top-of-the-line clay chips for casinos and private games alike. Paulson's chips quickly became synonymous with quality and prestige, setting the standard for excellence in the industry.

The introduction of injection-molded plastic chips in the 20th century further revolutionized the poker chip industry, making chips more affordable and accessible to players of all levels. Plastic chips were lightweight, durable, and could be produced in a wide range of colors and designs, allowing players to customize their poker chip sets to suit their preferences.

Today, poker chip sets come in a dizzying array of styles, materials, and price points, catering to everyone from casual players to high-stakes professionals. Ceramic chips, which offer vibrant graphics and customization options, have become increasingly popular in recent years, while high-end casinos still favor traditional clay chips for their superior quality and authenticity.

In addition to their practical function as betting units, poker chips have also become collectible items in their own right, with enthusiasts around the world seeking out rare and vintage sets for their beauty and historical significance.

The history of poker chip sets is a testament to the enduring popularity and cultural significance of the game of poker. From humble beginnings as improvised betting tokens to the meticulously crafted sets of today, poker chips have played an integral role in shaping the evolution of the game and remain an essential part of its allure and mystique.

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Las Vegas-based PokerNews Live Reporting Executive, originally from Chicago, IL

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