For those of us just getting started or who want to build on their collection but don’t have $50 to spend on a new set each time… what are the best cheap Tarot decks?
Maybe decks that don’t FEEL cheap and are usable without falling apart after a few weeks? Broke college student needs recommendations! Good starter decks under $15 maybe?
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Great question! Because you really don’t need to go and spend a fortune to get started with the Tarot.
If you’re just getting started and want things a little easier while still future-proofing yourself with a deck that can last a long time, you might want to check out the beginners oracle deck thread.
Some of them are very reasonable and will last your entire Tarot reading career.
If you want something a bit more traditional and cheap, but something you’ll almost certainly wind up replacing if you get into it, then this is your budget option:
Comes with a guidebook and a little storage bag. Insane for the price.
It has the meanings printed on it and this is easily enough to get you started.
The only drawback is that if you do get into reading the Tarot you’ll probably end up replacing them at one point because you don’t need (or really want) the bog standard meanings printed on the card stock.
If you want to go a little beyond that, you can get some of the classic Tarot decks for less than $20 and you’ll never have to replace them.
I agree with @lovers-choice that you should go with a good Oracle deck for value. You’ll not get this level of deck for this price point with any other set.
Being honest I have spent $50+ on decks but I’ve been doing this for years and I only do that in rare situations for hard to find decks and because I collect them.
I don’t think any reader needs to spend anywhere near that.
The cheapest one listed so far was only a couple of bucks, and if you’re just going to use it once and throw it in the cupboard, then go with that.
If you can go around the $20 mark, then you open up so much more choice. Most of the decks on the main lists will last forever and be around that price.
Currently my favorite mass produced affordable deck is the Everyday Witch tarot! It’s nice after using decks drowning in symbolism.
Can I just say, I’m SO over decks where every single card has seventeen hidden symbols that require a PhD in Renaissance art history to decode? I get the depth, but sometimes I just want to pull a card without needing to consult three different reference books to figure out why there’s a pomegranate wearing a tiny crown in the corner. My other decks are beautiful but exhausting, there’s only so many times you can squint at a card thinking ‘is that snake eating its tail major or did the artist just really like snakes?’ The Everyday Witch is straightforward while still being meaningful.
Plus, it’s usually around $15-20, and the cardstock quality is decent, won’t fall apart like some of those cheap knockoffs. Perfect for a college budget.
The Thoth deck is what I’d recommend, though it’s a bit over budget at $20-30 depending on size. Quick backstory, when Crowley got Lady Frieda Harris to paint this deck in 1938, she thought it’d take three months. Took five years instead because she kept redoing cards to match what Crowley wanted. That’s why even the cheaper reprints today are decent quality.
I know it’s over your $15 limit but the extra money is worth it. Even the basic US Games version has good cardstock and the colors don’t fade. Plus, there’s a lot of symbolism packed in there if you’re into that. You might find it on sale or used for cheaper. Local metaphysical shops sometimes discount boxes that are a bit beat up.
I found some cheap decks at local metaphysical shops that have websites. A lot of them sell basic Rider-Waite decks for under $15, and you’re supporting a small business too.
Publisher websites can have good deals during clearances. U. S. Games sometimes marks down older printings when they need shelf space. I got on their email list and grabbed a $25 deck for $12 during one of their sales.
You can always make your own DIY Tarot deck.
If I really needed a deck on the budget, I could sit for a few hours one evening with a free version of Canva and print out everything I needed for a few cents worth of printer ink Doesn’t have to be perfect, it’ll still do the job.
Been in this exact spot during my undergrad days. The Universal Waite is honestly unbeatable at $12-14 - mine survived four years of daily pulls and dorm room humidity. U.S. Games Systems doesn’t mess around with cardstock even on their budget lines.
Quick tip that saved me tons: TarotMerchant has an “Under $10” section that’s not just clearance junk. Got a perfectly fine Morgan-Greer mini for $7 last month. Also, Five Below randomly stocks complete kits for literally $5. Not always there, but worth checking if you have one nearby. Barnes & Noble clearance in January is gold too - that’s when they dump all the holiday gift sets.
Pocket editions of RWS (Universal Waite Pocket or Radiant Pocket) often go for under $15 and are easy to carry around. They’re a decent option if you like the classic imagery.
If you want to try pip-style reading, the Fournier Tarot de Marseille or Tarot Español are usually in that price range. The cardstock on those is pretty sturdy too.
Check if your campus has an occult/witch club or hit up local metaphysical shops for swap nights and clearance baskets. Lots of communities have Buy Nothing groups where people give away decks too.
For keeping a budget deck in good shape, overhand shuffle instead of riffle, keep it in a cloth pouch (just use an old scarf), and maybe get a cheap corner-rounder or some fanning powder to prevent the edges from getting beat up.
When I was in college during finals on a ramen budget, I grabbed the Lo Scarabeo Universal Tarot Mini for $12 from a bookstore clearance bin. Used it every day for four months.
I’d shuffle it on the bus, do quick three-card pulls between classes, and full Celtic Cross spreads for people in my dorm. The cards never frayed or stuck together. The semi-matte finish didn’t glare under fluorescent library lights. Spilled tea on it once and wiped it with a damp microfiber cloth. The colors stayed bright, which I wasn’t expecting from a cheap deck. I trimmed the borders with a 5mm corner rounder to stop the edges from chipping and it made the deck feel nicer to hold.
Picked up some tarot decks from 5 Below recently. They’re $5 each which is pretty good for beginners who don’t want to spend a lot.
The card stock is better than I expected for the price. I’ve been using them daily and they haven’t fallen apart yet. Got a few different ones to practice with and they’re holding up fine so far.
Playing cards work pretty well if you’re on a budget. I got a deck for $5 at the drugstore and have been using it to practice. The suits match up with tarot - hearts are cups, spades are swords, diamonds are pentacles, clubs are wands. Tarot Guru has all the correspondences, so you don’t need to work that hard at it.
I’ve been saving for the decks I want while using these. Some readers just stick with playing cards anyway since they’re more straightforward for certain questions.
If you like RWS imagery and want something small and sturdy, the Universal Tarot Mini (Lo Scarabeo) often drops to around $12-14 and reads well. If you want a Thoth-based system with modern art, the Zillich Tarot in a tin sometimes shows up in that same range on remainder sites. My grandmother used to say, ‘Pick the deck you’ll actually shuffle.’ Would a tin you can toss in a backpack get more use than a full-size glossy deck?
If you look at local metaphysical Facebook groups, you’ll probably find people willing to gift you your first Tarot deck.
Have you looked at the Tarot of the Divine? It’s a bit over your budget at just under $20, but the extra few dollars might be worth it. The artwork is really nice and the cardstock quality is good, it’ll hold up well with regular use. I’ve been happy with mine.
I got the Herbal Tarot at Barnes and Noble for about $20. Been using it for years now.
Each card has a plant paired with it - like Justice with plantain, The Moon with lemon balm. Adds another layer when you’re doing readings. The cardstock is decent for a cheaper deck. I’ve shuffled mine a lot and they’re holding up fine. Since I’m into herbalism and plant stuff, having those connections works well for me. Made a wooden box for them since I carry them around a lot. For a $20 deck, the quality is good.
Yeah, most of my collection falls right in that budget range! Just pulled the Three of Pentacles this morning about collaborating on a tight budget, how fitting, right?
My go-to affordable decks that have held up well are the Everyday Witch Tarot and Modern Witch. Both under $15 and the cardstock is decent.
The Dreaming Way Tarot is another good one in that range. I also got the Mystic Mondays for like $12 on sale and use it a lot despite the low price. The Rider-Waite-Smith is obviously a classic starter that’s cheap, but if you want something with more personality, the Light Seer’s Tarot is usually around $14-15. The colors are nice and it doesn’t feel flimsy. Currently eyeing the Gentle Tarot, which should be in that price range too. Been on my wishlist for a while, I like the watercolor style.
Barnes & Noble has a decent tarot section if you’re looking for something in the $15-25 range. I read both tarot and runes and their budget decks have held up fine for me.
The Modern Witch Tarot is usually around $20 and shuffles well. If you want something under $15, the mini versions work. They’re small but you can still read them fine and they’re easy to carry around. The Everyday Tarot Mini is like $12-13 and comes in a tin. Honestly the cheaper cardstock is easier to shuffle when you’re starting out. Less stiff and you won’t worry about messing them up. My first deck was a $10 Rider-Waite from a bookstore and I still use it with my runes sometimes.
I use clear fixative spray on my cheap decks - the kind artists use. Keeps them from getting sticky and wearing out.
My $8 deck from 2019 still looks pretty good. Just spray it outside because the smell is strong at first. I also laminate the cards I use most since they take more wear.
I stepped away from tarot for a while and came back with the Light Seer’s Tarot. It’s usually around $20-25, so it misses your $15 target. The cardstock handles daily shuffling, and the art feels modern while still nodding to traditional imagery.
If your budget is firm, try used bookstores or online marketplaces. I’ve seen clean copies for about half the retail price. Light Seer’s works if you want something between classic and contemporary. If $15 is strict, used is probably the way to go.
