Guide · Home games
Poker chip values: what each color is worth and how many to give each player
Chips usually have no value printed on them, so at home every table decides. Here is the standard casino convention and a ready-made split for your home game.
3 min read · Updated on
In short
The most common convention is: white $1, red $5, blue $10, green $25, black $100, purple $500 and yellow $1,000. For a home game, the practical rule is to give each player about 100 big blinds in 4 colors, for example 2,000 in chips using 29 physical chips.
What each chip color is worth
White
$1
The smallest chip. Used for low blinds.
Red
$5
The workhorse of small home games.
Blue
$10
Not every set includes it.
Green
$25
The typical chip for medium bets.
Black
$100
For the big bets.
Purple and yellow
$500 and $1,000
Deep-stacked tournaments.
How many chips to give each player
- big blinds per player (ideal)
- 100
- big blinds per player (ideal)
- physical chips per player
- 25–35
- physical chips per player
- colors are enough
- 4
- colors are enough
| Color | Worth | Chips per player | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 10 | 10 | 100 |
| Red | 50 | 8 | 400 |
| Green | 100 | 10 | 1,000 |
| Black | 500 | 1 | 500 |
| Total | 29 chips | 2,000 |
How many chips you need by number of players
| Players | Chips in play (29 each) | Set that covers it |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 116 | 200-chip set |
| 6 | 174 | 200 or 300-chip set |
| 8 | 232 | 300-chip set |
| 10 | 290 | 300 or 500-chip set |
Tournament or cash game: the value changes
Tournament
Everyone starts with the same stack, the blinds go up on a timer, and the winner is whoever ends up with every chip. The chips are just points. How to run a home poker tournament.
Cash game
The blinds stay the same and players come and go as they please. Chips are worth whatever you agreed on when you bought them. How to play poker with friends.
Tips to avoid arguments
- One person hands out the chips and keeps count: the host, or "the bank".
- Stack chips by color in front of each player so everyone can see how much they have.
- When the blinds go up, trade the small chips for bigger ones ("color up") so the table does not get crowded.
- Push bets in one motion. If someone puts chips out in several tosses without saying "raise", it only counts as a call.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a white poker chip worth?
Usually $1, the smallest chip. In home tournaments it often stands for 10 or 25 because the blinds start higher.
How much is a black poker chip worth?
In the casino convention, $100. At home it is worth whatever your group agrees on; what matters is that everyone knows.
How many chips should each player get?
Ideally about 100 big blinds. With 10/20 blinds that is 2,000 in chips, which you can build with about 29 physical chips.
How many chips do I need for 6 players?
About 175 physical chips with the split in this guide. A 200-chip set covers it; a 300-chip set gives you room to spare.
Do poker chips have a standard value?
Only by custom, mostly from US casinos. There is no official rule, and every casino or home game uses its own.
The chips are sorted. Now sit down and play.
Once your game is set, practice real hands so you make better decisions with those chips. Free, and no real money.