Most tarot decks contain 78 cards, but why this specific number? Discover how the structure of the tarot developed over time and why the 78-card deck became the modern standard.
If you’ve already learned that a standard tarot deck contains 78 cards, another question naturally follows:
Why 78?
At first, the number may seem oddly specific. Why not 52, like a standard deck of playing cards, or 100 cards instead?
The answer is not the result of a single design decision.
Instead, the familiar 78-card structure developed gradually as tarot evolved over several centuries. Understanding that history helps explain why most modern tarot decks continue to follow the same format today.
Was Tarot Always a 78-Card Deck?
Not necessarily.
The earliest surviving tarot decks appeared in fifteenth-century northern Italy. These decks already shared many of the features familiar today, including four suits and a group of additional illustrated cards that later became known as the Major Arcana.
However, surviving historical decks are not all identical. Some early examples are incomplete because cards have been lost over time, while regional variations also existed.
Rather than being established through a single official design, the structure of tarot gradually became more consistent through centuries of printing and use.
How Did the 78-Card Structure Develop?
Over time, a pattern became widely established.
Most traditional tarot decks came to include:
- 22 Major Arcana
- 56 Minor Arcana
Together, these formed the familiar 78-card deck.
The Minor Arcana itself was organised into four suits, each containing:
- Ace through Ten
- Four Court Cards
This structure remained remarkably stable as tarot spread across different regions of Europe.
Although artwork and symbolism changed from one deck to another, the overall number of cards generally remained the same.
Why Didn’t the Number Change?
One reason is continuity.
Once the basic structure became well established, later printers and artists generally chose to preserve it rather than redesign the deck completely.
When new tarot traditions emerged—including the Tarot de Marseille and later the Rider–Waite–Smith Tarot—they retained the familiar 78-card framework while introducing new artistic styles and symbolic interpretations.
This continuity allowed different tarot traditions to remain recognisably connected despite their visual differences.
Is There a Special Meaning Behind the Number 78?
Many people wonder whether the number 78 itself carries a hidden symbolic meaning.
Historically, there is no clear evidence that the earliest tarot creators selected 78 because of a particular mystical numerical theory.
Later writers and esoteric traditions sometimes explored symbolic interpretations of the number, particularly after tarot became associated with broader systems such as numerology and Kabbalah.
These interpretations form part of later tarot traditions rather than the documented origins of the deck itself.
Distinguishing between historical evidence and later symbolic interpretation helps us understand how tarot developed over time.
Do All Tarot Decks Have 78 Cards?
Not always.
Today, most traditional and modern tarot decks contain 78 cards because they follow the structure established by historical tarot traditions.
However, some contemporary artists choose to add extra cards or create alternative systems.
For this reason, not every deck contains exactly 78 cards.
Even so, the 78-card structure remains the most widely recognised standard and serves as the foundation for most beginner guides, books, and courses.
Why Is This Structure Helpful?
The 78-card structure creates a balance between two complementary parts of the deck.
The Major Arcana explores broad themes and significant life experiences.
The Minor Arcana focuses more often on everyday situations, relationships, challenges, and practical experiences.
Together, these two groups create a flexible framework that has remained useful across many different tarot traditions.
Although individual interpretations vary, the overall structure has remained remarkably consistent for centuries.
Why Does This History Matter?
Understanding why most tarot decks contain 78 cards reminds us that tarot did not appear fully formed overnight.
Instead, its structure developed gradually through centuries of use, printing, and artistic tradition.
The number 78 is therefore best understood as the result of tarot’s historical development rather than as evidence of a single hidden numerical design.
Recognising this distinction allows us to appreciate both the documented history of tarot and the symbolic traditions that later grew around it.
Continue Exploring
The familiar 78-card structure is only one part of tarot’s long history.
If you’d like to continue exploring, you may also enjoy:
Understanding how the structure of the deck developed provides a helpful foundation for exploring the individual cards and the traditions that shaped them.