Harry Potter Playing Cards: the 4 theory11 Hogwarts Decks
Harry Potter playing cards by theory11: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff decks compared, what each one includes and which to give.
In short
The official Harry Potter playing cards are made by theory11, an American playing card publisher that produces them under licence from Warner Bros. There are four editions, one for each Hogwarts house: Gryffindor in red, Slytherin in green, Ravenclaw in blue and Hufflepuff in yellow. Each one is a complete poker deck of 52 cards plus jokers, with the aces, court cards, jokers and tuck box illustrated with characters from the saga.
- What changes between them: the house colour, which sets the look of the deck and the foil details on the box.
- What they share: custom artwork featuring Harry, Ron, Hermione, Snape, Voldemort and Luna Lovegood, and a tuck box with gold foil and embossing.
- How to choose: by the house of the person who will use it, or all four together for a collection.
A Harry Potter deck of cards works for solitaire, rummy or poker, and it is also a piece of the wizarding world for anyone who grew up with the books or the films. In this guide we explain what the official theory11 Harry Potter playing cards are, what each of the four editions includes, how they are alike and how they differ, and which one to give depending on each person's house.
What are the official theory11 Harry Potter playing cards?
theory11 is a playing card publisher founded in 2007 in Charleston, South Carolina. It started as an online magic community and today publishes its own original decks as well as licensed decks from franchises such as Star Wars, Marvel and The Beatles. Its Harry Potter series is officially licensed by Warner Bros., which manages the rights to the wizarding world of the saga.
An officially licensed deck means the design has been approved by the owner of the characters. In practice, you can tell because the characters, names and crests are the ones from the saga, and the box carries the official trademarks.
The collection is made up of four separate decks, one for each Hogwarts house. They all share artwork created specifically for the series, covering characters and moments from the whole story, from the Philosopher's Stone to the Deathly Hallows. If you want to know more about the publisher, we compare it with other brands in Bicycle vs theory11 vs Tally-Ho.
| Feature | What it means |
|---|---|
| Publisher | theory11, officially licensed by Warner Bros. |
| Editions | Four, one per Hogwarts house: Gryffindor (red), Slytherin (green), Ravenclaw (blue) and Hufflepuff (yellow) |
| Contents | 52 cards plus jokers, with no gimmick cards and no double-backed cards |
| Illustrated cards | Aces, jokers and court cards (J, Q and K), designed from scratch with characters from the saga |
| Tuck box | Gold foil (metallic film applied with heat), foil details in the house colour, and embossing |
| Manufacturing | United States, FSC-certified paper, vegetable-based inks and starch-based coatings |
Which characters appear on the cards?
Instead of the usual kings, queens and jacks, the court cards feature characters from the saga. Among those named by the publisher are Harry with the Golden Snitch and his Nimbus 2000 broomstick, his friends Ron and Hermione, Voldemort with his yew wand, Snape in his Potions class with the textbook, and Luna Lovegood with her eye-catching glasses. The aces and jokers have their own illustrations too, and the box is part of the design.
The suits and corner indices are those of a standard deck, so you play exactly as you would with any poker deck. If you have questions about what makes up a deck, we explain it in how many cards are in a deck.
The four Hogwarts playing cards, house by house
In the books, the Sorting Hat assigns first-year students to the four Hogwarts houses according to their character. Each house is named after one of the school's founders and has its own animal and colours. theory11 dedicated a deck to each one, with the house colour as its signature.
Gryffindor playing cards, the red edition
Gryffindor is the house founded by Godric Gryffindor. Its emblem is the lion and its colours are red and gold. It is associated with courage, determination and chivalry, and Harry, Ron and Hermione belong to it, as does Albus Dumbledore.
The theory11 Harry Potter Gryffindor Red is the red edition of the series. It carries the shared artwork of the collection on the aces, court cards and jokers, and comes in a box with ornate gold foil work, red foil details and embossing. It is the deck of the main characters' house, the one usually chosen by those who identify with Harry and his friends.
Slytherin playing cards, the green edition
Slytherin is the house of Salazar Slytherin. Its emblem is the serpent and its colours are green and silver. It is associated with ambition, cunning and leadership. Snape was its Head of House for much of the story, and many of Harry's great rivals come from it.
The theory11 Harry Potter Slytherin Green is the green edition. It shares the artwork on the aces, court cards and jokers with the others, including Snape teaching Potions and Voldemort with his yew wand, and its box combines gold foil ornaments, green foil accents and embossing you can feel to the touch. It is the deck sought after by those who feel they belong in Slytherin.
Ravenclaw playing cards, the blue edition
Ravenclaw is the house of Rowena Ravenclaw. Its emblem is the eagle and its colours are blue and bronze. It is associated with intelligence, wit and a love of learning. Luna Lovegood is the best-known Ravenclaw student in the saga.
The theory11 Harry Potter Ravenclaw Blue is the blue edition. The special cards feature characters and scenes from the whole story, including Luna herself with her glasses, and the outer box combines gold foil, foil details in the house colour and fine embossing.
Hufflepuff playing cards, the yellow edition
Hufflepuff is the house of Helga Hufflepuff. Its emblem is the badger and its colours are yellow and black. It is associated with loyalty, hard work, patience and a sense of fairness. Cedric Diggory, captain of the house Quidditch team and Hogwarts champion in the Triwizard Tournament, is its most remembered student.
The theory11 Harry Potter Hufflepuff Yellow is the yellow edition. Like the rest, it brings characters and moments from the story to the aces, court cards and jokers, from the first year to the final battle, and its box is decorated with gold foil, foil details in the house colour and fine embossing.
Did you know decks like these exist?
At heart, every deck has the same cards. What changes is everything else: the design, the finish, metallic inks or gilded edges. Take a look at our catalogue and bring your own style to the card table.
Browse our playing cards →
Comparison table of the four Hogwarts playing cards
The four editions share the same format, the same artwork on the special cards and the same build quality. What changes is the house they are dedicated to and its colour.
| Deck | Edition colour | House: emblem and colours | Tuck box | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gryffindor Red | Red | Lion; red and gold | Gold foil, red foil details and embossing | Anyone who identifies with Harry, Ron and Hermione |
| Slytherin Green | Green | Serpent; green and silver | Gold foil, green foil accents and embossing | Anyone who prefers Snape or Harry's rivals |
| Ravenclaw Blue | Blue | Eagle; blue and bronze | Gold foil, blue foil details and embossing | Anyone who feels close to Luna Lovegood |
| Hufflepuff Yellow | Yellow | Badger; yellow and black | Gold foil, yellow foil details and embossing | Anyone who values loyalty, like Cedric Diggory |
Which Harry Potter deck to choose as a gift
A Harry Potter deck of cards is a small gift that hits the mark when it matches the recipient's house. If you don't know which house they belong to, these tips help.
If you know their house
The simplest option is to give the deck of their house. For a fan, having their colour is part of the gift.
- Gryffindor red
- Slytherin green
- Ravenclaw blue
- Hufflepuff yellow
More details
All four have the same special cards, so no edition is more complete than another: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff.
If you don't know their house
Think about their favourite character. Someone who admires Harry or Hermione is usually a Gryffindor; someone who defends Snape, a Slytherin; someone who laughs along with Luna, a Ravenclaw; someone who remembers Cedric, a Hufflepuff.
- By favourite character
- Gryffindor as a safe choice
More details
If in doubt, Gryffindor is the main characters' house and the one most people recognise. More ideas in which deck to give as a gift.
For collectors
The four houses together make up the complete collection and look great on a shelf, with the four colours in a row. It is worth keeping the boxes and, if possible, the seal.
- All four houses
- Foil and embossed boxes
More details
There are more special editions in collector's playing cards and premium playing cards.
For family games
If there are fans of several houses at home, each person can have their own deck, and with two you can play the games that use two decks.
- One per person
- Two for Canasta or Continental
More details
Game ideas for little ones in card games for kids.
For magic enthusiasts
They are regular poker decks with no gimmick cards, so they are good for practising sleight of hand with a theme that suits Hogwarts.
- Any house
- Magic playing cards
More details
If the person is just starting out in card magic, you will find more options in magic playing cards.
For a bigger gift
A deck can go together with other game gifts, such as a jigsaw puzzle or a Rubik's Cube, for someone who enjoys a challenge.
- Deck and puzzle
- Deck and cube
More details
More combinations in our gift guide.
More licensed playing cards
Harry Potter, Disney, Star Wars, Marvel, music and TV series, all in one section.
See themed decksFamily card games to play with a Harry Potter deck
The theory11 Harry Potter playing cards are complete standard decks, so they work for any poker deck game. With children, the characters on the court cards help them recognise the important cards. Some ideas:
- For the youngest: Pairs (Memory), War or Old Maid. You will find simple rules in card games for kids.
- For three to six players: President, Cheat or Hearts.
- For two: Gin Rummy and others we cover in two-player card games.
- On your own: classic Solitaire.
- With two decks: Continental or Canasta, where two different houses help separate the decks when gathering up.
- For a card night: Blackjack or a game of Texas Hold'em.
If you want more, the list of card games sorts them by number of players, and card games with a poker deck covers the best-known ones.
Other themed and licensed playing cards
theory11 has more licensed decks from film and TV franchises, such as Star Wars and The Mandalorian, which you can browse on its brand page. If animated films are more your thing, in Disney playing cards we go over the Mickey, Stitch, Princesses, Villains and The Lion King decks.
All licensed decks, from Harry Potter and other franchises, are gathered in themed and licensed playing cards.
How to look after a Harry Potter deck of cards
A Harry Potter deck is cared for like any paper deck, with a little extra attention because the box has foil and embossing.
- Keep it in its box: the box is part of the design, and the foil and embossing get marked easily if the deck is loose in a bag.
- Clean, dry hands: grease and moisture dull the colours and make the cards stick together.
- Away from sunlight and heat: direct light fades inks and foil, and heat warps the cards.
- One to play, one to keep: if it is for a collection, keep the seal intact and open another one for games.
How much does a deck of cards cost?
From €5 to over €100. The 52 cards and the rules stay the same; this is what changes.
 To play€5.95 |  Designer€12.95 |  Premium€17.99 |  Collectible€34.94 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical price | €5-9 | €9-15 | €15-30 | €30 or more |
| What sets it apart | Classic casino design | Artist illustration on back and faces | Special inks, embossing and foil on the box | Limited print runs and gilded edges |
| Who it is for | Games at home | Playing with something beautiful | Gifts or cardistry | Collecting and display |
| Example | Tally-Ho Fan Azul | theory11 Medallion | The Sandwich Series (Luncheon Meat) | Kings Wild LOTR Two Towers Gilded |
| See decks | See decks | See decks | See decks |
Frequently asked questions
Who makes the official Harry Potter playing cards?
The American publisher theory11, under official licence from Warner Bros. The cards are made in the United States on FSC-certified paper.
What versions of the theory11 Harry Potter deck are there?
Four editions, one per Hogwarts house: Gryffindor (red), Slytherin (green), Ravenclaw (blue) and Hufflepuff (yellow).
What is the difference between the four Hogwarts playing cards?
The house colour, which sets the look of the deck and the foil details on the box. The special cards, format and manufacturing are the same in all four.
Can you play games with a Harry Potter deck of cards?
Yes. They are complete poker decks of 52 cards plus jokers, with the usual suits and indices. They work for any standard card game.
Which characters appear on the cards?
Among others, Harry with the Golden Snitch and his Nimbus 2000, Ron, Hermione, Voldemort with his yew wand, Snape in Potions class and Luna Lovegood. They appear on the aces, court cards and jokers.
Is the Slytherin deck green?
Yes. The Slytherin edition is the green one, the house colour, and its box has gold foil with green foil accents.
Which Harry Potter deck makes the best gift?
The one for the recipient's house. If you don't know it, think about their favourite character, or choose Gryffindor, Harry's house. For a collector, all four together.
Do the decks include gimmick cards?
No. They are regular decks with no gimmick cards and no double-backed cards, although they are good for practising card magic.
If you love Harry Potter, a deck from your house is a simple way to bring the wizarding world to the card table. You can see all the publisher's decks in theory11 playing cards and the rest of our designs in playing cards.
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