Many people who come to buy a pool table for the first table are surprised to learn that not all pool tables come in a standard size. There are actually four standard sizes that a gamer can get for their home game room. Which one you choose will be determined by your budget, the size of your house, and the style of play you like. To help you in your decision, here are the four main table sizes and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
7 foot pool table
The smallest is the 7 foot pool table. This is much smaller than what you normally find in pool halls and bars, and you will never find this size in pool halls. Since this size usually means that you are not getting a very high quality pool table, there are only three reasons why a person should choose this table. First of all, if you’re on a particularly tight budget and can’t afford a bigger table, this will be your best bet. Second, if you simply have a room that is too small to accommodate a larger table, then this should be your best table. And third, if you’re buying for kids who might have more fun at a smaller, easier table, then you should buy a seven-foot pool table.
8 foot pool table
If you walk into most game rooms and home bars, you’ll likely find an 8-foot table. It’s a popular size because they’re generally reasonably affordable, can fit most people’s spare rooms, and are simply easier to set up than larger nine-foot tables. You can even find this size in some sanctioned tournaments. If you want a good pool table that combines affordability with a high level of play, an eight-foot table is probably your best option. This is also an ideal option if you want something challenging and fun to play, but not as challenging as a nine-foot table.
8.5 foot pool table
This is probably the least common pool table size of the four. Eight-and-a-half-foot tables are ideal if you want something a little larger than you can usually find in your average home, but can’t fit or afford a nine-foot table.
9 foot pool table
If you really want to get what the pros play, then your first choice will have to be a nine foot pool table. It is the size used in most sanctioned pool tournaments, and the larger size presents a considerable challenge to any player. Another nice little perk of nine foot tables is that when you switch to playing an 8 foot again, like when you visit your local pool hall or visit a friend’s pool table, it seems much easier to play on it.
When deciding on the size of a pool table, remember that you will need to consider not only the size of the table in your game room, but also the length of the cues and the walking space in the game room. As a general rule of thumb, be sure to leave at least nine feet of space around the pool table in the room you have the pool table in.