Pool is a lot of fun to play at the bar, and a pool table can make an excellent addition to your home game room. Before buying, be aware that pool tables come in different sizes and take up space. HB Home is here to help you understand the various pool table sizes available and determine which option best fits your game room's dimensions.
Understanding Pool Table Sizes
The pool table size you choose will influence how you play. Let's look at these dimensions and discuss what each option brings to the table.
Regulation Pool Table Sizes
These tables maintain a 2-to-1 ratio, like 8 feet by 4 feet or 9 feet by 4 ½ feet. Regulation tables, particularly the 9-foot option, are an excellent choice if you want to take your pool skills up a notch and train for tournaments — as long as you have the room for one in your home!
8-Foot Standard Tables
Standard pool tables measure 8 feet long and 4 feet wide, and they are the ideal option for home use. An 8-foot table provides the perfect playing surface for practicing essential pool skills.
Oversized Pool Tables: 8 ½ Feet
Oversized pool tables, also known as pro-8 tables, are slightly longer than standard tables, offering a length of 8 ½ feet. These tables are not as common, but the larger-than-standard size presents an appealing challenge for ambitious players.
Pub Pool Table Sizes: 7-Foot Bar Tables
You'll commonly see 7-foot tables in a bar or other public pool club. Bar tables measure 7 feet long and roughly 3 ½ feet wide. The smaller size makes it easier for bar owners to fit multiple tables in one room, meaning a 7-foot model can be the perfect choice for smaller home game rooms.
Standard Tournament Sizes: 9-Foot Power Tables
Some experienced pool players appreciate a challenge, and that's what a 9-foot table provides. These larger tables, measuring 9 feet long and 4 ½ feet wide, allow players to improve their power, as it takes a stronger stroke to send the ball across the surface. Nine-foot tables are the go-to size for many billiards tournaments today. Choose a 9-foot table if you have the space for it and want to feel in absolute control.
Calculating the Appropriate Pool Table Room Size
Now that you understand the pool table dimensions you can choose between, let's think about your game room's dimensions. You'll want to choose a table that fits your room as much as it suits your play style. The first step is ensuring your table selection is smaller than your room, but there's a little more to it.
Don't worry — it's pretty easy to calculate pool table space requirements. Follow these steps to measure the minimum room size for the table and cue you want to buy:
Measure the cue's length and double it.
Measure the playfield's width from each cushion's inner edge.
Add the width of the playfield to the pool cue's doubled length. The result is the total minimum room width you'll need.
Measure the length of the playfield.
Add the pool cue's doubled length to the length of the playfield, just like in step three. The result is the total minimum room length you'll need.
Here are the steps in action for a 58-inch pool cue and a standard 8-foot table with a 44x88 playing surface:
58 inches doubled is 116 inches.
The playfield width is 44 inches.
116 inches plus 44 inches is 160 inches. When we divide 160 by 12, we get roughly 13 feet, so your room will need to be at least 13 feet wide.
The playfield length is 88 inches.
116 inches plus 88 inches is 204 inches. This sum divided by 12 is 17 exactly, so your room will need to be at least 17 feet long.
Other Considerations
Keep in mind you'll need space to stand around the table — and even more to give yourself room to wind up your cue for each stroke. Any furniture or item taller than a player's hips can interfere with the butt of the pool cue when playing, and you'll need to create space for these items. Coffee tables, sofas and similar lower pieces of furniture are not a hindrance to the cue's movement, but they should be placed far enough away to give players room to walk freely around the table.
Free-standing or wall-mounted racks are another consideration. Additionally, the doors to the game room should be able to swing fully open and closed. You may also want to position the pool table near a window to maximize the benefits of natural light.
A Quick Breakdown of What Makes a Good Room for a Pool Table
To make things even easier, here's a breakdown of the room dimensions that can accommodate each table with each cue.
7-Foot Pool Table Room Sizes
48-inch cue: 11-by-14 feet
52-inch cue: 12-by-15 feet
58-inch cue: 13-by-16 feet
8-Foot Pool Table Room Sizes
48-inch cue: 12-by-15 feet
52-inch cue: 12-by-16 feet
58-inch cue: 13-by-17 feet
9-Foot Pool Table Room Sizes
48-inch cue: 12-by-16 feet
52-inch cue: 13-by-17 feet
58-inch cue: 14-by-18 feet
Line It All Up with a New Pool Table
Shopping for a pool table is exciting, and it'll feel amazing to play your first round at home. To recap, pool tables typically come in 7-, 8- or 9-foot options. When shopping, it's always wise to opt for a smaller table and a larger room when possible.
When choosing a room, you'll need one large enough to hold your table and provide extra space on either side for your cue. Remember that standard cues are 48, 52 or 58 inches long.
Another thing to consider is that you'll need plenty of space for furniture and to hang pool accessories like triangles, chalk, brushes and extra cues without knocking them off the walls during a game.
If you're looking for a pool table or accessories, HB Home is the best place to shop. We offer high-quality 7- and 8-foot pool tables and accessories that will put the finishing touches on your game room. HB Homes offers complimentary delivery and professional installation with each order, so purchase a pool table online today!
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