How Many Cards are in a Deck of Cards? Why this Number?

How Many Cards are in a Deck of Cards?

In a standard deck of cards, the number of cards is 52 without the Jokers.  This is because there are 4 suits in a deck (Hearts, Clubs, Diamonds and Spades). Each of the 4 suits gets 13 cards. This means that 13×4 gives us a total of 52 cards.

In a deck with the Jokers, there are 54 cards, because there are 2 Jokers cards added to the deck. This is because the 2 Jokers are added to the total of 52 regular cards, to make 54 cards.

You can see a list of all 52 cards further down.

(Learn more about how a deck works at How Does a Deck of Cards Work?)

Types of Cards in a Deck

A standard deck of cards is divided and arranged by different types of cards which we will look at next.

Suits

There are 4 different suits.  The suits are:

• Spades
• Hearts
• Diamonds
• Clubs

See also: How Many Suits are in a Deck of Cards?

Values

Each suit has the same number of cards.  The number of cards in each suit is 13.  This includes the Ace through the King.  The Ace replaces the number 1 in a deck, then it is followed by the standard numbers of 2 through 10.  But instead of 11, 12, and 13, the cards are represented by the Jack, Queen, and King.

The values of all the cards in order are:

• Ace
• Two
• Three
• Four
• Five
• Six
• Seven
• Eight
• Nine
• Ten
• Jack
• Queen
• King

Although the Ace takes the place of the number 1, and is the lowest card numerically, in many card games such as poker, the Ace is the highest valued card, being above even the King.

Face Cards

The Jack, Queen, and King are typically called “face cards” since they have pictures of persons with faces.  This is in contrast to the number cards, which do not have pictures of people, but rather the picture of the suit repeated as many times as the value of the card is.

The Jack, Queen, and King are also sometimes called “court cards” because they are all royalty figures.

See also What is a Face Card in a Deck of Cards?

So, if we take 4 suits of 13 cards each, and we multiply 4×13, we arrive at 52, which is the total number of cards in a deck of cards.

There are some interesting connections between the number of cards and our modern calendar we will get to later.

Why Are There 52 Cards in a Deck?

I think the exact origin and reason are unknown, but there is something very interesting about a deck of cards, whether it was done on purpose or not.

A deck of cards is very close to a modern calendar.  There are 52 weeks in a year, which could correspond with there being 52 total cards.

Also, there are four different seasons in a year, summer, spring, fall and winter.  Likewise, there are four different suits in a deck of cards.  Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs and Spades.

Also, there are 13 cards in each suit.  This might correspond with the fact that there are 13 lunar cycles.  Also, a 13-month calendar has been proposed before.

And what is also interesting is that we have two cold seasons, Fall and Winter, which could be represented by the two black suits, Spades and Clubs.  And we also have two warmer seasons, Spring and Summer, which might be represented by Hearts and Diamonds as well.  You could also say that the two colors represent day and night.

Another eerie coincidence is that the number of total face cards or court cards is 12.  This equals the number of months in a year.

And finally, if you add up the numbers of all the cards, you arrive at 364!  That might have actually been the length of the calendar in previous times.  If you add one of the Jokers you get to 365, the number of days in the current calendar year.

All 52 Cards in a Deck of Cards

Here are all 52 cards in a full deck of cards sorted by suits.

Hearts

• Ace of Hearts
• Two of Hearts
• Three of Hearts
• Four of Hearts
• Five of Hearts
• Six of Hearts
• Seven of Hearts
• Eight of Hearts
• Nine of Hearts
• Ten of Hearts
• Jack of Hearts
• Queen of Hearts
• King of Hearts

Diamonds

• Ace of Diamonds
• Two of Diamonds
• Three of Diamonds
• Four of Diamonds
• Five of Diamonds
• Six of Diamonds
• Seven of Diamonds
• Eight of Diamonds
• Nine of Diamonds
• Ten of Diamonds
• Jack of Diamonds
• Queen of Diamonds
• King of Diamonds

Spades

• Ace of Spades
• Two of Spades
• Three of Spades
• Four of Spades
• Five of Spades
• Six of Spades
• Seven of Spades
• Eight of Spades
• Nine of Spades
• Ten of Spades
• Jack of Spades
• Queen of Spades
• King of Spades

Clubs

• Ace of Clubs
• Two of Clubs
• Three of Clubs
• Four of Clubs
• Five of Clubs
• Six of Clubs
• Seven of Clubs
• Eight of Clubs
• Nine of Clubs
• Ten of Clubs
• Jack of Clubs
• Queen of Clubs
• King of Clubs

How Many Cards Are in a Deck with Jokers?

In a deck of cards with the Jokers, there are 54 cards.  This is because there are 52 of the regular playing cards, plus two Joker cards.

See How Many Cards are in a Deck with Jokers?

How Many Cards are in a Deck Without Jokers?

Without the Jokers, we have our standard deck of cards which is 52 cards.  Four suits with 13 cards in each suit.

See How Many Cards are in a Deck Without Jokers?

How Many Aces are In a Deck of Cards?

There are 4 Aces in a deck of cards. This is because there are 4 suits in a deck, and each suit gets one Ace. The 4 Ace cards are the Ace of Spades, Ace of Hearts, Ace of Diamonds and Ace of Clubs.

Learn more at How Many Aces are in a Deck of Cards?

How Many Face Cards are in a Deck?

There are 12 face cards in a deck of cards. Each of the four suits gets one of each of the three face cards. The face cards are the Jack, Queen, and King.

Learn more at How Many Face Cards are in a Deck of Cards?

How Many Kings are In a Deck?

There are 4 Kings in a deck of cards. Each of the four suits gets one King each.

The 4 Kings are the King of Spades, King of Hearts, King of Diamonds, and King of Clubs.

Learn more at How Many Kings are in a Deck?

How Many Queens are In a Deck?

There are 4 Queens in a deck of cards. Each of the four suits gets one Queen each.

The 4 Queens are the Queen of Spades, Queen of Hearts, Queen of Diamonds, and Queen of Clubs.

Learn more at How Many Queens are in a Deck?

How Many Spades are In a Deck of Cards?

There are 13 spades in a deck of cards. Each suit gets one card of each of the 13 cards. This is the Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen and King.

Learn more at How Many Spades Are In a Deck of Cards?

How Many Hearts are In a Deck of Cards?

There are 13 hearts in a deck of cards. Each suit gets one card of each of the 13 cards. This is the Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen and King.

Learn more at How Many Hearts are in a Deck of Cards?

How Many Diamonds are In a Deck of Cards?

There are 13 diamonds in a deck of cards. Each suit gets one card of each of the 13 cards. This is the Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen and King.

Learn more at How Many Diamonds are in a Deck of 52 Cards?

How Many Clubs are In a Deck of Cards?

There are 13 clubs in a deck of cards. Each suit gets one card of each of the 13 cards. This is the Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, Jack, Queen and King.

Learn more at How Many Clubs Are in a Deck of Cards?

Common Questions

Are there 52 or 54 Cards?

In a deck that does not include the Jokers, the number of cards is 52. If you include the two Jokers, then the number of cards will be 54 cards in the deck.

Are Jokers included in the 52 cards?

Jokers are not included in the 52 cards. When Jokers are included, then the total number of cards is 54.

Why are there 54 cards in a deck?

When you include the two Joker cards, you get 54 cards instead of 52 cards. See more at How Many Cards are in a Deck with Jokers?

How Many Jokers are in a Deck of Cards?

There are two Jokers in a deck of cards. In a Bicycle deck of cards, there is one Guarantee Joker, (which is the colored Joker) and one black and white Joker.

What Comes After 10 in a Deck of Cards?

After all the numeric cards, ending with 10, come all the “face cards” or “court cards”, which are the Jack, Queen then King.

Do Jokers Count in 52 Cards?

Jokers do not count if you are referring to there being 52 cards in a deck.  This is the number of cards in a deck of cards without the jokers.

What is the Strongest Card in a Deck?

It usually depends on the game being played.  Most commonly the Aces are considered the highest cards in most games.  Also, in Poker, the Spades are the highest-rated suit.  So, the Ace of Spades is the highest-ranked or strongest card.

Final Thoughts on How Many Cards are in a Deck of Cards?

We have looked at the total number of cards in a deck of cards and seen that it is 52 without the Jokers.  With the Jokers, the number of cards is 54.

We have also looked at all the different cards, as well as why there might be 52 cards in a deck, and also some connections with a modern calendar!

You can read more about the Standard Deck of Cards here.

Video link: How many cards in a deck of cards? (Standard deck)