The Beatles Playing Cards: Editions and Other Music Decks
The Beatles playing cards by theory11: colour editions, Special Edition Black and White, Yellow Submarine, plus Rolling Stones, Elvis and Guns N' Roses.
In short
The most searched-for The Beatles playing cards are the ones by theory11, an American playing card publisher that makes them under official licence from the band. It is a complete poker deck with faces, court cards, back and box all drawn for the occasion, with nods to songs such as “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”, “Eleanor Rigby” and “Blackbird”.
- Colour editions: blue, green and orange (there is also a pink one). They share the same faces; the box and the back colour change.
- Separate editions: the Special Edition in black and in white, with gold foil on the box and the backs, and the Yellow Submarine deck, inspired by the 1968 animated film.
- Other musicians: The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Outkast and The Notorious B.I.G. (theory11), and Elton John, Guns N' Roses and AC/DC (Bicycle).
A deck of The Beatles playing cards is an ordinary poker deck in which the Fab Four take the place of the kings, the box recalls the uniforms from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and every card hides a reference to their songs. You can use it for poker, solitaire or any game played with a standard 52-card deck, and it also makes a gift for someone who has the records at home. In this guide we go through the Beatles playing cards we stock, how their editions and versions differ, and then the decks devoted to other bands and music artists.
What official music playing cards are
The officially licensed music decks on sale today come mainly from two houses:
- theory11: a US publisher that designs its own decks and licensed editions. Its music decks (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis, Outkast, The Notorious B.I.G. and Grateful Dead) are drawn from scratch, with an embossed box and foil (metallic stamping), and are made in the United States on FSC-certified paper.
- Bicycle: the classic brand of the United States Playing Card Company. Its music decks (Elton John, Guns N' Roses, AC/DC) use Bicycle card stock with the Air-Cushion finish, a very fine embossing that helps the cards glide when shuffling.
In both cases these are licensed products: the illustrations, logos and song references are authorised by the band or by whoever manages their rights. If you want to know how the two brands compare in handling and finish, we explain it in Bicycle vs theory11 vs Tally-Ho.
| theory11 | Bicycle | |
|---|---|---|
| Musicians | The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis, Outkast, The Notorious B.I.G., Grateful Dead | Elton John, Guns N' Roses, AC/DC |
| Design | Box, back and faces drawn for each deck | Court cards illustrated with the artist and a themed box |
| Box | Embossing and foil; on some, letterpress or velvet | Foil (gold, holographic or red depending on the deck) |
| Manufacture | United States, FSC paper | United States, United States Playing Card Company, Air-Cushion finish |
| Format | Poker | Poker |
theory11 The Beatles playing cards
theory11 released The Beatles deck in 2021 under official licence from the band, designed by the studio Mattson Creative. The colour palette comes from the marching band uniforms John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr wore on the cover of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which is why the deck comes in several colours, one for each uniform.
Box, back and faces were drawn from scratch. The four kings are the four Beatles, and throughout the deck there are references to songs such as “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”, “Eleanor Rigby” and “Blackbird”, which you discover as you look at each card. The box has multi-level embossing and foil details.
| Feature | What it means |
|---|---|
| Publisher | theory11, under official licence from The Beatles |
| Type of deck | Standard poker deck with its own faces, court cards and back |
| Court cards | The four kings are John, Paul, George and Ringo |
| Box | Multi-level embossing with foil, inspired by Sgt. Pepper's |
| Hidden details | Song references spread throughout the deck |
Colour editions: Blue, Green and Orange
The colour series came out in blue, pink, green and orange. All four share exactly the same artwork on the faces, so the difference lies in the colour of the box and the back. We stock three:
- theory11 The Beatles Blue: the blue version, with an embossed foil box and a blue back.
- theory11 The Beatles Green: the green one, with the same multi-level embossed box.
- theory11 The Beatles Orange: the orange one, with the same faces and the box and back in its colour.
If it is for playing, the colour does not matter: the cards are the same. If it is for a collection, people usually gather the colours of the series, and if it is a gift, the colour can match the uniform of the recipient's favourite Beatle.
The Beatles playing cards Special Edition: Black and White
The Special Edition was launched in 2025 in two versions, black and white, joining the colour editions. It follows the line of The Beatles deck, with original artwork on every card and the same song references, but reduces the palette to black and white and puts the gold foil centre stage: the Sgt. Pepper's-style box has multi-level embossing and gold, and the back of every card also has gold foil details.
- theory11 The Beatles Special Edition Black: the black version, with gold on the box and backs.
- theory11 The Beatles Special Edition White: the white one, with the same gold finishes.
If you are looking for “the beatles playing cards special edition”, “Black Edition” or “White Edition”, these are the two. As the foil is on the back of every card, they need more care than the colour editions if they are going to be used often.
The Beatles Yellow Submarine playing cards
The theory11 The Beatles Yellow Submarine is a different deck with its own design. It is inspired by Yellow Submarine, the 1968 animated film in which John, Paul, George and Ringo travel in a yellow submarine to Pepperland to free its inhabitants from the Blue Meanies.
The box, the back and all the faces were custom designed, with characters and scenes from the film in the psychedelic style of that animation. The brightly coloured outer box, featuring all four members of the band, has embossing and black foil details. It is made in the United States on FSC-certified paper, with plant-based inks and starch-based laminates.
The Beatles playing cards versions compared
If you are torn between several versions, this table sums up what changes from one to the next.
| Deck | Face design | Box and back | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Beatles Blue | Shared series artwork, with the Beatles as the kings | Embossed foil box; blue back | Blue colour |
| The Beatles Green | Shared series artwork | Embossed foil box; green back | Green colour |
| The Beatles Orange | Shared series artwork | Embossed foil box; orange back | Orange colour |
| Special Edition Black | Series artwork in black and white | Box with embossing and gold foil; back with gold foil | Gold on box and backs (2025) |
| Special Edition White | Series artwork in black and white | White box with embossing and gold foil; back with gold foil | Gold on box and backs (2025) |
| Yellow Submarine | Its own design based on the 1968 film | Colourful box with embossing and black foil | Characters and scenes from the film |
More licensed decks
Music, Star Wars, Disney, Harry Potter and other franchises, all in one section.
See themed decksDid 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 →
Other band and music artist playing cards
Besides The Beatles, theory11 and Bicycle have decks devoted to other bands and artists, from sixties rock to nineties hip hop. They are all poker decks you can play with.
The Rolling Stones playing cards
The theory11 Rolling Stones deck was made in collaboration with the British band, active since 1962. The band members feature on the court cards, shown performing live on stage, and the aces and jokers have their own illustrations too. It is made in the United States on FSC paper, and the packaging uses letterpress printing (in which ink is applied by pressure and leaves a slight impression on the paper).
Elvis Presley playing cards
The theory11 Elvis playing cards are an officially licensed product devoted to Elvis Presley. Box, back and faces were designed as a tribute and trace his career from his early years in Tupelo (Mississippi) to fame. The box combines multi-level embossing, hot stamping and pink and gold foil. It is made in the United States with FSC paper, plant-based inks and starch-based laminates.
Bicycle Elton John playing cards
The Bicycle Elton John deck has illustrations of the musician on the court cards (J, Q and K). The box is black, with metallic accents and a piano key motif in gold holographic foil. It is made by the United States Playing Card Company on recyclable FSC paper, with Bicycle's Air-Cushion finish.
Bicycle Guns N' Roses playing cards
The Bicycle Guns N' Roses deck is an official edition licensed by the band. The whole design starts from Appetite for Destruction, their 1987 debut album, and carries the cover imagery over to the court cards. The box has gold foil details and it is printed by the United States Playing Card Company, with Bicycle's usual card stock and handling.
Outkast playing cards
The theory11 Outkast deck was made in collaboration with Outkast, the Atlanta hip hop duo of André 3000 and Big Boi. The cards have custom illustrations of the two, with references to their albums and songs. What stands out most is the box, fully covered in red velvet with gold foil: the idea comes from the song “Red Velvet” and the gold chains they wore in the Stankonia era.
The Notorious B.I.G. playing cards
The theory11 Notorious B.I.G. deck is devoted to Christopher Wallace, known as The Notorious B.I.G. or Biggie Smalls. It was made with The Notorious B.I.G. Estate, which manages his legacy, and the design studio Gold Lunchbox. The back has gold foil, and throughout the deck there are references to songs such as “Juicy” and “Big Poppa” and to Brooklyn places linked to his life, such as Clinton Hill and Fort Greene. It is printed in the United States on FSC paper.
Bicycle AC/DC and theory11 Grateful Dead
The Bicycle AC/DC deck is the official deck of the Australian hard rock band: Angus Young and his guitar feature on the court cards, the design includes lightning bolts and song titles, and the box has red foil. It is currently out of stock.
The theory11 Grateful Dead deck pays tribute to the Californian band formed in 1965. The back has the Steal Your Face logo in the centre, surrounded by the band's terrapin musicians and dancing bears, and the box is printed in six-colour letterpress on paper with hemp fibres. It is currently out of stock.
Music playing cards at a glance
| Deck | Publisher | Style | What sets it apart |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Beatles | theory11 | British pop and rock | Box inspired by Sgt. Pepper's; several colours and editions |
| Rolling Stones | theory11 | Rock | The band on the court cards; letterpress |
| Elvis | theory11 | Rock and roll | Box with pink and gold foil |
| Elton John | Bicycle | Pop | Holographic piano keys on the box |
| Guns N' Roses | Bicycle | Hard rock | Based on Appetite for Destruction |
| Outkast | theory11 | Hip hop | Red velvet box |
| Notorious B.I.G. | theory11 | Rap | Gold foil back; Brooklyn references |
| AC/DC | Bicycle | Hard rock | Angus Young on the court cards (out of stock) |
| Grateful Dead | theory11 | Rock | Steal Your Face on the back (out of stock) |
Which music deck to give as a gift, depending on their taste
A band deck is a small gift that works best when it matches the music the recipient listens to. These pointers help you decide.
For a Beatles fan
A colour deck is the natural starting point: the four Beatles as the kings and song references throughout. If they already have one, the Special Edition or Yellow Submarine will not repeat it.
- The Beatles Blue, Green or Orange
- Special Edition
- Yellow Submarine
More detail
Yellow Submarine suits someone who remembers the film, and the Special Edition Black or White suits someone who prefers a sober finish with gold.
For someone who grew up with sixties and seventies rock
The Rolling Stones with the band on the court cards, Elvis with his pink and gold box, or Grateful Dead for anyone who knows their bears and terrapins.
- Rolling Stones
- Elvis
- Grateful Dead
More detail
A touch that usually goes down well is pairing the Rolling Stones deck with one of The Beatles: two decks for games that need two packs.
For hard rock fans
Guns N' Roses with the world of Appetite for Destruction or AC/DC with Angus Young and his guitar. Both are by Bicycle, with its Air-Cushion finish.
- Guns N' Roses
- AC/DC
More detail
The AC/DC deck is currently out of stock; the Guns N' Roses deck works just as well for everyday play.
For hip hop fans
Outkast with its red velvet box or The Notorious B.I.G. with its gold back and Brooklyn references.
- Outkast
- Notorious B.I.G.
More detail
The Outkast box is velvet, so it is best kept away from dust if it is for a collection.
For piano players and pop listeners
The Elton John deck, with the musician on the court cards and piano keys on the box.
- Elton John
More detail
More ideas by profile in which deck to give and in our gift guide.
For collectors
The edition, the box and the condition are what count. It is worth keeping the box and, if possible, the seal.
- The Beatles Special Edition
- Beatles colour series
- Outkast
More detail
There are more special editions in collectible decks and all the theory11 decks on the theory11 brand page.
Card games to play with a music deck
All these decks are standard poker decks, so they work for any game played with a poker deck. Some ideas:
- A poker night: Texas Hold'em, with the poker hand rankings close by for beginners. More ideas in poker night at home.
- For three to six players: President, Cheat or Hearts.
- For two: Gin Rummy and others we cover in card games for two.
- On your own: classic Solitaire.
- With two decks: Continental rummy or Canasta, for example with two Beatles colours.
- For 21: Blackjack at home.
If you want more, our list of card games sorts them by type, and games with a poker deck covers the best known ones.
More licensed decks: Star Wars, Disney and Harry Potter
The music decks are part of our themed and licensed decks section, alongside film, TV and cartoon decks. If your household has fans of other sagas, we have guides like this one:
- Star Wars playing cards: Light Side, Dark Side and Mandalorian, also by theory11.
- Harry Potter playing cards: the four Hogwarts houses.
- Disney playing cards: Mickey, Stitch, Princesses and Villains.
How to look after a music deck
They need the same care as any paper deck, with a little extra attention if they have foil or you want to keep them in good condition.
- Keep it in its box: on these decks the box is part of the design, with embossing, foil or velvet that mark easily.
- Clean, dry hands: grease and moisture dull the colours and make the cards stick.
- Away from sun and heat: direct light fades inks and foil, and heat warps the cards.
- Extra care with the Special Edition: on the Black and White, the gold foil is on the back of every card and loses its shine with friction. For regular play, the colour editions are more practical.
- If it is for a collection: keep the seal intact or buy two, one to open and one to keep.
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 The Beatles playing cards?
theory11, a US playing card publisher, under official licence from The Beatles. The deck came out in 2021, designed by the studio Mattson Creative.
What is the difference between The Beatles Blue, Green and Orange playing cards?
Only the colour of the box and the back. The faces are the same in all the colour editions, with the four Beatles as the kings and references to their songs.
What is The Beatles playing cards Special Edition?
A 2025 edition in black and in white with gold foil on the box and on the back of every card. It follows the line of the colour series, but with the palette reduced to black and white and gold accents.
Is the Yellow Submarine deck the same as the other Beatles decks?
No. It has its own design, inspired by the 1968 animated film, with box, back and faces drawn specially and a box with embossing and black foil.
Can you play with Beatles or other band playing cards?
Yes. They are all complete poker decks, with the usual suits and indices, and they work for any game played with a standard deck.
Which Guns N' Roses deck is the Bicycle one?
The Bicycle Guns N' Roses, officially licensed by the band, with a design based on Appetite for Destruction, their 1987 debut album. It is made by the United States Playing Card Company and its box has gold foil.
Which other bands have their own playing cards?
Besides The Beatles, we stock decks of The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley, Outkast and The Notorious B.I.G. by theory11, and Elton John and Guns N' Roses by Bicycle. The AC/DC and Grateful Dead decks are currently out of stock.
What deck should I give a Beatles fan who already has one?
If they have a colour one, the Special Edition in black or white or Yellow Submarine will not repeat the design. If they have the Special Edition, another colour from the series adds to the collection.
A deck from your favourite band is a simple way to bring music to the card table. You can see all the theory11 decks in theory11 playing cards, the Bicycle decks on their brand page, and the rest of our licensed designs in themed and licensed decks.
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Keep exploring
- Star Wars playing cards
- Harry Potter playing cards
- Disney playing cards
- Which deck to give
- Bicycle vs theory11 vs Tally-Ho
- Games with a poker deck
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