Poker Chips

DIFFERENT STYLES OF POKER CHIPS

Poker chips come in all different types, styles, weights and materials. Deciding what chip works best for you is a matter of personal preference. Hopefully, the guide below will offer some assistance in selecting the right chip for you.

What are common poker chips made of?

Clay Poker Chips

The use of "clay" when describing poker chips can be very misleading. In fact, you cannot find a poker chip that is made of 100% clay. 100% clay chips have not been produced since Las Vegas gained popularity in the mid 1900's. Today, most "clay" poker chips are made of part clay and part synthetic blends and composites. They are proprietary to the manufacturer and developed to stand up to the rigors and handling of today's players and casinos. One of the highly desired "clay" poker chips for the home market is the Paulson poker chip brand. Paulson produces poker chips for a large number of casinos around the world. "clay" poker chips have an almost gritty feel to them, and make an unmistakable sound we like to call the "clack."

ABS Composite Plastic

Most poker chips made for home play or casino party rentals are made of a cheaper, plastic composite material. This style of poker chip is manufactured through a compression or injection mold process. Over the last few decades, many manufacturers have further developed these chips by adding metal inserts inside of the molding to give the chips the sound and feel higher quality chips. While most ABS composite poker chips today are manufactured overseas, there are still a few U.S. based companies that provide these types of poker chips. These manufacturers can integrate security measure into each chip, which is great for casinos and casino rental companies. They also can manufacture full color custom designs or graphics on a chip.

Ceramic Poker Chips

Ceramic poker chips are an attractive alternative to "clay" poker chips. Ceramic poker chips are usually made of composite resins and/or plastics that are produced with heat and pressure, much like how other ceramic products are produced. These chips are cheaper compared to customized clay chips and can be printed in full color, including the edges. They are produced with the option of a matte or glossy finish. Ceramic poker chips make an unmistakable "clank" sound when the hit each other. Some casinos elect to use this type of chip instead of the "clay" chips.

What poker chip weights can I select?

Casino Grade Poker Chip Weight

There are some common misconceptions about poker chip weight. There is no standard poker chip weight, and one weight is not superior to another. Authentic casino grade poker chips are actually in the range of 8 to 10 grams per chip. A typical ceramic casino grade chip is right around 10 grams. Of course, chips that weigh less do not necessarily cost less. For casino grade chips for home play, expect to pay over $1 per poker chip. Lines such as Paulson cost over $1 per chip. These casino grade chips are generally marketed as "clay" or "ceramic" poker chips. See above for information on "clay" and "ceramic" poker chip descriptions.

11.5 Gram Poker Chips

In the last decade, the perception that 11.5 gram poker chips are standard casino chip weight has developed. This is not true. 11.5 grams happens to be a common weight of many available poker chips today. It also seems to be the standard of most tournaments. Most chips that are not casino grade are produced with a composite plastic. Many of them have an added metal insert to increase weight and create a real sound when "clanked" together. You can buy composite poker chips from any weight from 7 grams up to 14 grams. The ideal weight is of your own personal preference. Don't be fooled into thinking that 11.5 grams is the standard of a real "casino" poker chip.

Varying Weights and Colors

The market is currently flooded with composite poker chips, but often you will find the same poker chip selections from many retailers. You can select from poker chips weighing 7 grams, 8 grams, 10 grams, 12 grams, 14 grams and some in between. Keep in mind, there are also many suppliers that produce knock offs of the knock offs. Always purchase from a trusted name online. A chip is cheaper doesn't necessarily mean you getting a "good" deal,. Also be aware that poker chip weights can have some variance when dealing with composites. For example, we once weighed a composite chip on a high grade scale that was listed at 8 grams only to find it weighed 6.3 grams. The cheaper the chip, the higher the likelihood of variance. The same idea applies when choosing your color selections. Different batches of poker chips will have varying color hues. If you plan on "building" a set over time, you may find subsequent orders may have a darker or lighter hue than your first order. There is no way to exactly match one batch to the other given the production process of plastic molding. It may be beneficial to order a complete set at once to lower the chance your poker chips come from two separate production batches.