Planning Poker Card Decks
The cards your team votes with shape how you think about size. This guide explains the most common planning poker decks and helps you choose the right one.
Why the cards matter
Planning poker estimates relative size, not hours. The values on your cards decide how finely the team can split that size. Too many close numbers and people waste time debating tiny differences. The right deck keeps the conversation focused on what actually matters: is this task small, medium, or large?
The Fibonacci deck
Values: 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89. This is the most popular deck. Each number is roughly the sum of the two before it, so the gaps grow as tasks get bigger. That spacing is the point. It reflects the fact that large tasks carry more uncertainty, so there is no use pretending you can tell a 21 from a 22.
The modified Fibonacci deck
Values: 0, ½, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 20, 40, 100. This rounds the higher numbers into cleaner figures, which makes big items easier to talk about. The ½ card is handy for tiny tasks that still need tracking. It is a good choice if your backlog has a wide range of sizes.
The T-shirt size deck
Values: XXS, XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL. Instead of numbers, the team sorts tasks into sizes like clothing. This works well early in a project, or for people who find numbers too precise. It keeps estimation quick and approachable, though it is harder to add up for forecasting.
Custom decks
Sometimes none of the standard decks fit how your team works. SprintVotes lets you build a custom deck with any values you like, whether that is your own number scale, a set of labels, or something playful for the team.
Which deck should you choose?
If you are not sure, start with Fibonacci. It is the most widely used and works for almost every team. Switch to T-shirt sizes if early discussions feel too focused on exact numbers, or build a custom deck once you know exactly what your team needs. You can try any of them in a free session.
Try the decks for yourself
Start a free game, pick Fibonacci, T-shirt sizes, or a custom deck, and vote with your team. No account needed.