Piatnik 100% Plastic, bridge sizePrice: About $15, roughly. Copag 1546 plastic, double deck · CopagPrice: About $25, roughly.
The best plastic deck
Two 100% plastic decks in a hard case. Washable and hard to bend, and a double deck is what Canasta and Spider need.
- Good for
- Canasta · Rummy · Game nights
- Skip it if
- You play a few times a year: a paper deck costs less and shuffles just as well.
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Our take
Two decks, a hard case, and cards made of 100% plastic. That is a very different object from a paper deck: it does not bend, it does not stain, and you can wipe it clean after a night with snacks. If you play Canasta or Rummy, which both need two decks, the double pack means you never hunt for a second set with a matching back.
Plastic feels different in the hand. It is a little slicker, so the first shuffle takes a moment to get used to, and the cards slide apart nicely when you deal. Players who deal many hands tend to prefer it after a week.
The price is higher than paper, but a plastic deck outlasts several paper ones. We recommend it for any table that plays often.
Test drive
Play one hand of Canasta with North as your partner against West and East. One hand takes a while, about ten minutes, and nothing is saved.
Keep reading
- Buying guide
Choosing a deck
Plastic or paper, poker or bridge size, how many decks you need, and the deck we recommend for each of our games.
- Basics
Anatomy of a deck
Fifty-two cards, four suits, thirteen ranks and a couple of jokers. What everything is called, and a few details you have probably never noticed.
- Basics
How to shuffle and deal
Three ways to shuffle, how many shuffles you really need, and the small table manners of cutting and dealing.
Quick answers
- Paper or plastic?
Paper shuffles with more grip and costs less. Plastic lasts for years, shrugs off spills and feels a little slicker. If you play every week, or with drinks nearby, go plastic.
- What size do I need?
Poker size suits most games and most hands. Bridge size is narrower, which helps when you hold thirteen cards or more.
- How many decks do I need?
One for most games. Canasta, Spider and some Rummy variants need two with matching backs.
Also consider
Back to the shelf →Piatnik 100% Plastic, bridge sizePrice: About $15, roughly. 
Bicycle PrestigePrice: About $25, roughly. Our house deck in plastic
Bicycle Canasta GamesPrice: About $12, roughly.