How To Measure A Pool Table

It’s crucial to know how to measure your pool table when planning out the space you’ll need for the room it’ll be in or if you’re planning on purchasing a pool table cover. If you’re trying to re-felt your table, you’ll need to know how much material to buy, and if you’re using longer cues, you might need to allocate more space for your table.

To prevent you from accidentally measuring from the wrong end of the table, have GameTablesOnline guide you through your planning so you can get it right on your very first try.

How Pool Tables are Measured

Pool tables are not measured from one edge of the table to another. Instead, they are measured from the inside of the playing area, that being from one tip of the rail cushion to the opposite tip. The reason behind measuring your playing field instead of one end of the table to another is that manufacturers equip their tables with differently sized rails, which can make a particular table significantly bigger or smaller. Playing fields, however, are standardized into four sizes throughout the industry.

Take a measuring tape and measure the width of your table. The length of your pool table will always be twice as long as its width.

8′ Corona Pool Table

How Big Are Pool Tables?

There are four standard sizes of pool tables, them being the

  1. 6-Foot Table (45″ x 77″)
  2. 7-Foot Table (39″ x 48″ OR 40″ x 80″), also called Bar Size
  3. 8-Foot Table (44″ x 88″), also called Standard Size
  4. Pro 8-Foot Table (46″ x 92″), also called Standard 8-Foot Antique Size
  5. 9-Foot Table (50″ x 100″), also called Tournament Size

The Pro 8-Foot Table is the least common of the five sizes, and is typically only seen in older pool tables. If you’re at home reading this, chances are you own an 8-Foot Table, as that’s what’s commonly sold to homeowners. Professional pool players will typically own a 9-Foot Table in their home, to practice for competitions.

How Many Slates Does Your Table Have?

Measuring your pool table is essential to figuring out how you’re going to move it into your game room, and so is being able to determine how many slates your pool table has. Pool table slate generally comes as in individual slab as 1-Piece slate or three separate parts as 3-Piece slate.

READ MORE: 1 Piece vs. 3 Piece Slate Pool Tables

Pool tables manufactured from the early 1990’s to today are made from 3-Piece slate, as this type of slate is easier to move, replace, and level. Pool tables from the 1960’s to 1980’s house 1-Piece slate most of the time, and occasionally use 3-Piece slate. Finally, some of the oldest pool tables utilize 2- or even 4-Piece slate.

If you’re unsure when your pool table was manufactured, look underneath the railing on any side of a side pocket. Tables with 3-Piece slate have a separation underneath the railing, while 1-Piece tables do not. If you’re still unsure of how many slates your table has, remove the felt to fully view them.

Learning More About Pool Tables

Now that you can measure your pool table properly, you can better plan out the space that it will be in, so you can fully enjoy playing with it. If you’re in need more advice so you can properly maintain or play on your game table, Game Table Online has everything you need and more so you can get ready for the next championship.

More Tips

  1. The Proper Way to Level a Billiards Table
  2. How to Replace Pool Table Cushions in 1 Hour
  3. How to Move a Pool Table within Your Home
  4. How to Assemble a Billiards Table