Pool or billiards is an excellent way to add a bit of sophistication and entertainment to any room in your home. Not only are pool tables perfect centerpieces of any game room, but pool is an excellent game to play to keep guests entertained. If you are looking to purchase a pool table, you are going to want to decide what size you are looking for before narrowing down your options. After all, the pool table you end up purchasing needs to fit in the room you are intending to place it. Below, we will be going over some of the different things that you should be considering when you are sorting through options (see Best Pool Tables for Home for more information).
Pro Tip: Plan Ahead
You will need to plan ahead when you are looking to purchase a pool table. You want to measure out the room, measure the cue size, and figure out the various stances that you will be using throughout the course of play. You don’t really need to worry about the kind of game (see What’s the Difference Between Pool, Billiards, and Snooker), as they all use similar movements. This can give you a good idea of the size of the table you should be looking for. This is going to do wonders for narrowing down your options to avoid buying the wrong table.
Room Size
The main thing that is going to dictate the size of the table you should be looking at would have to be the size of the room you will be placing it. Therefore, you will need to come to terms with a location where you are intending to situate the pool table. Once you have come to terms with the location you will be placing it, you will have a much better idea of the sizes that you should be looking at and the spacing available. After all, you don’t want people hitting the walls with the sticks as they are playing. Thus, you need to consider the length of the cue sticks prior to choosing.
Related: Full-Size Foosball Table Dimensions
By measuring how much space you have between the walls and the cue sticks, you should be able to avoid dealing with a situation where the player has limited spacing to make a shot. You want to measure from every single corner of the room with a variety of angles to be sure that you won’t run into problems while playing.
Related: Read our article about Air Hockey Table Sizes and Dimensions
Play Style
Another thing you will want to consider when you are shopping around for a table would be the play style you have and the feel you want to create with the pool table. For instance, a 7-foot table is going to offer a much more personal feel. For anyone who is looking to re-create the same type of feel that a pool bar creates, they will likely be opting for a smaller 7-foot table.
You are generally going to find 7-foot tables when you are at bars as they have limited spacing. This is going to be much more crowded for those who are used to playing on larger tables. Therefore, if you have more room in the location you are placing the table, you may want to opt for something a little larger and possible on the higher end (see our picks for the best high end pool tables under $2000).
Budget
Another thing that you will need to consider when you are shopping around for a pool table would be the budget that you have to work with. Your total budget available for your pool table is a major consideration because the larger tables often cost more. Additionally, deciding between a slate vs. non-slate pool table is something else that will impact the cost of your table. Therefore, anyone on a budget is likely going to want to go after a smaller table. However, if you simply want to find the optimal table size for your space no matter what it will cost, you won’t necessarily be limited in the choices you can select. Additionally, if you are purchasing a used table, ensure you know how to tell if your pool table is made of slate.
Type
Keep in mind, that there are different types of pool tables that you can choose from if you are limited in spacing. For those who don’t necessarily have the largest room or who don’t have dedicated space for a pool table, you can choose a versatile pool table that can double as another game to better fill your game room. For instance, you can find tables that will offer dual functionality such as converting into a ping pong table or hockey. Getting a versatile pool table that can convert into another game at a moment’s notice can really be a good option for those that aren’t looking to fully dedicate a set amount of space specifically for a pool table alone.
This will allow you to get a pool table without necessarily having to dedicate your room specifically to it. This might make it so you have even more room to play with because you might be able to place your pool table in one of your larger rooms instead of being stuck with smaller rooms with less available space.
Wrapping Up
Overall, there is a lot that you have to consider when you are sorting through your options trying to find the right size table to get. By using the various criteria and tips above, you should be able to come to terms with the right size for your available space and budget.
