What Kind of Playing Cards Should Magicians Use?

With all of the different types of playing cards out there these days I end up getting the question all the time. What kind of playing cards should I be using? Paper or Plastic? Bridge Sized or Standard Poker Sized?

Personally, I almost always use cards that are produced by the US Playing Card Company. This is the company that produces Bicycle cards, Bee’s, Tally Ho’s, Aviator, and many more. It is the same company that many magic companies use to produce their own custom decks. The quality off all of these cards is high. They spread nice for a good amount of time, and they are nice and snappy. Pick one you like the look of and start practicing!

I have featured some of my favorite decks of cards on this page: http://52kards.com/cards

20 replies
  1. Alec
    Alec says:

    Personally, I love to use cards that are smooth yet firm, and have an eye catching look to them, that draws the audience in before they even see the trick

    Reply
      • Houston
        Houston says:

        I think the bridge size cards a great! and Highly under rated as being a great resource for magicians! It would be cool to see some Bridge size Gaff cards made! Its also worth noting that most casinos use bridge size cards for their poker games. Although they use KEM cards (which are hard to fan) they are definitely bridge sized!

        Reply
  2. Darien
    Darien says:

    I personally like stiff or firm, not to light yet not to heavy, attractive cards. I wouldn’t use plastic cards because they will chip but paper will still get dirty and nasty eventually.

    Reply
  3. Salvak
    Salvak says:

    I like to use cards from theory 11 because they hold up great, they have attractive backs and they have faces that are easy to read. But thats just my thought.

    Reply
  4. Michael
    Michael says:

    I’m sorry if this is slightly off topic (very slightly) but I’ve never had a bicycle archangels deck, though I want one. I’m assuming that, as a bicycle, control is good on them, and I heard they fan well. Would they be good for a beginner?

    Reply
    • kade
      kade says:

      I usually use Gatorbacks as performance cards. Fanning cards that are good include the bycicle tetra deck and the bycicle club tattoo deck. The blood spear deck is also cool.

      Reply
    • Travis
      Travis says:

      A beginner should probably stick with standard cards…I just say this because until I could really do the passes well, I ruined quite a few cards practicing. Us playing card company makes the best cards in my opinion. So bicycle, aviator, whatever, but the key words you wanna see are air cushion finish.

      Reply
    • Anonymous
      Anonymous says:

      the heck is a magic card???
      If you’re talking about other playing card besides bicycle, there is a difference in the stock of the card and the finish of the cards. Finishes like the B9 True linen finish from Cartamundi , or even crushed stock from different playing cards. All different kind of decks have different feelings and handling. Some decks are clumpier than others, some decks are smoother etc…. theres a lot of difference

      Reply
  5. Anonymous
    Anonymous says:

    the heck is a magic card???
    If you’re talking about other playing card besides bicycle, there is a difference in the stock of the card and the finish of the cards. Finishes like the B9 True linen finish from Cartamundi , or even crushed stock from different playing cards. All different kind of decks have different feelings and handling. Some decks are clumpier than others, some decks are smoother etc…. theres a lot of difference

    Reply

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