What Are Standard Pool Table Dimensions?

Size does matter.

If you plan on getting a pool table for your home, you want to make sure you get one that fits in the space you have available.

But you also want a legitimate table, not some miniature version that drastically takes away from the gaming experience.

Luckily, there are several standard pool table dimensions.

Keep reading for a rundown of the standard pool table sizes and an explanation of how much space you need in your room to accommodate each one.

 

Standard Pool Table Sizes

Whether you want a table to improve your game or as a way to kill time, you want to make sure you get the right size for you.

But knowing the best pool table dimensions for your needs is not always easy. In general, the size that is best for you depends on your playing style, your experience, and the free spacer you have available.

Here are some common pool table sizes, along with how and where they are commonly used.

1. 7 x 3.5 feet: best for bars and small living spaces
2. 8 x 4 feet: best for intermediate pool players
3. 9 x 4.5 feet: best for professional tournaments

 

7 By 3.5 Foot Pool Tables

These are the standard sized pool tables used in bars, pubs, and homes with somewhat limited space.

A 7-foot pool table requires less effort to pocket the object balls, due to its smaller size.

One drawback is that the more limited space on a 7-foot billiard table means that hitting your opponent’s ball is a more common foul.

One way to deal with this is to minimize the cue ball’s movement on the table by using soft touches, instead of hitting the cue ball with a lot of force, causing it to topple off or scratch.

A scratch is the process of hitting or pocketing one of your opponent’s object balls before hitting one of your balls first. According to the international rules governing the game of pool, this is an offense that leads to a foul.

If you are a tall person, this table size might seem far too small. It is definitely not the best option if you are tall or if you plan to compete professionally.

Consider other options, like a 9-foot table, which offers more space and smaller pockets.

 

8 By 4 Foot Billiard Tables

With these pool tables, you’ll feel much more freedom than with a 7-foot pool tables. This size gives you much more room to perform trick shots.

This is the go-to pool table size for intermediate players that are not only playing for fun, but also as a way to improve on their techniques.

An 8-foot table compliments both 8-ball and 9-ball better than a 7-foot table. The additional space makes a huge difference. You are not limited to soft shots, in order to avoiding the cue ball jumping off the table.

Pockets are also smaller on this sized table. This makes the game feel more natural, especially when hitting the cue ball overly hard.

 

9 By 4.5 Pool Tables

The 9-foot pool table is also known as a pro table. It is big enough for professionals and very common in professional tournaments. Professional tables are generally made from slate instead of wood, which makes ones of this size incredibly heavy and expensive.

It’s best for players who fully understand the game’s ins and outs and the challenges it presents.

As the official table used for pool, the pockets of a 9-foot pool table are much smaller than those of the two table sizes mentioned above. Naturally, the bigger table also requires more space.

The game is much slower on a 9-foot table, as is to be expected. With so much more table space, it only makes sense it would take longer to pocket all the balls. Players also tend to take more time choosing, and lining up, their shots.

Plus, the extended length of the table requires total focus to make accurate shots.

If you’ve got enough space in your home, and you want to play pool professionally (or just want the same gaming experience as the professionals), then a 9-foot table is the best option for you.

 

Professional Pool Table Dimensions

Professional pool tables used during tournaments are typically 9 feet in length by 4.5 feet in width. At least that is the preferred pool table size in the US.

Most English pool tournaments use 7-foot pool tables. But they also tend to play different versions of billiard games.

While these are the standard billiard table sizes used during tournaments, it is very common to find 8-foot pool tables in pubs, bars, and clubs. In fact, it is the preferred pool table size in those locations.

Although professionals prefer 9-foot pool tables, these skilled players can easily play on any standard-sized pool table with maximum accuracy, thanks to their rigorous training and their understanding of what works where and when.

For home use, choose a table that works best for your situation. Consider factors like gameplay, available space, and expertise. A professional table is great, but might be too much for beginners.

 

Is Pool Table Height Relevant?

Yes, the height is more than relevant. It is vital, especially to intermediate and professional players.

The standard heigh of a pool table lies between 29 1/4 inches (74.3 centimeters) and 33 inches (83.8 centimeters).

This means there is some variation, but not a lot. If you’ve ever played on a table that is considerably taller or shorter than the average, you’ll understand why. It just feels completely different and changes the game.

The height of a pool table does not correlate with the other dimensions. In other word, a smaller table is not necessarily also shorter, and a larger table is not always taller.

Any size can have any height, as long as it is within the above-mentioned range. Naturally, this does not apply to non-standard sizes, like mini billiard tables.

As mentioned above, the standard pool table lengths are 7 feet, 8 feet, and 9 feet long. Any of these can be as short as 29 1/4 inches and up to 33 inches tall.

 

How Big Should A Pool Room Be?

Now that we know the different sizes of billiard tables and the type of situations and players for which each is typically used, let’s taker a quick look at the space needed to accommodate each pool table size.

A 7-foot table can easily fit in a small room. However, a 9-foot table requires a little more space to make the experience seamless. That is why the smaller tables are more common in homes. Pretty obvious, right?

 

Space Required To House A 7-Foot Table

A 7-foot table has a playing area of 38 inches by 76 inches. But even that is not enough to fully calculate the space required. You also need to take the cue sizes into account.

The standard space required when taking the pool stick into consideration is:

• 48-inch cue: requires a room with minimum dimensions of 11 feet and 6 inches by 14 feet and 6 inches
• 52-inch cue: requires a room with minimum dimensions of 11 feet and 11 inches by 15 feet and 2 inches
• 58-inch cue: requires a room with minimum dimensions of 12 feet and 11 inches by 16 feet and 2 inches

 

Space Required For An 8-Foot Table

8-foot tables are quite a bit larger than 7-foot tables. They offer more freedom, but also need much more space.

These tables are commonly found in bars and clubs where intermediate players sharpen their skills while competing with their mates.

These locations tend to have sufficient space for them, but that is not always the case in the home. Let’s take a look at the space requirements for an 8-foot table with different cue stick sizes.

• 48-inch cue: requires minimum dimensions of 11 feet and 8 inches by 15 feet and 4 inches.
• 52-inch cue: requires minimum dimensions of 12 feet and 4 inches by 16 feet.
• 58-inch cue: requires minimum dimensions of 13 feet and 4 inches by 17 feet.

 

Space Required For A 9-Foot Table

The 9-foot table is enormous in comparison to the other two and it requires much more space.

If you want to get a 9-foot table, here is how much free space you will need, taking the cue stick length into consideration.

• 48-inch cue: requires minimum dimensions of 12 feet and 2 inches by 16 feet and 4 inches.
• 52-inch cue: requires minimum dimensions of 12 feet and 10 inches by 17 feet.
• 58-inch cue: requires minimum dimensions of 13 feet and 10 inches by 18 feet.

 

How Far From The Wall Should The Pool Table Be?

This is a widely neglected aspect when choosing the size of a pool table for your home.

Picture a scenario where you’ve just bought a table that fits perfectly in your gaming room. But after setting it up, you can’t take a shot on one side, because the cue stick keeps hitting the wall!

Perhaps you’ve even seen the Seinfeld episode where they end up playing with a conductor’s baton, because their cue sticks keep punching holes in the wall.

In order to avoid bumping the cue stick into the wall every time you take a shot at the cue ball, you want 5 feet of space between the wall and the pool table.

On average, a cue stick is between 40 to 60 inches. 5 feet should be more than enough for you to move freely and take shots without worrying about hitting the wall behind you. It you only play with short cues, you could shorten this distance a bit.

Naturally, it is always best to place the table in the center of the room, to give yourself the same amount of space on every side.

 

Does The Type Of Game Dictate The Size Of The Pool Table?

Yes, it does. For example, playing 8-ball on a small pool table can prove a daunting task, especially if you prefer hard shots to soft ones.

You are much more likely to hit your opponent’s ball and incur a foul while playing on a small 7-foot table than on a larger 8-foot or 9-foot table.

Small pool tables are great for fun. Once you go professional, larger tables are far better. Only they have the available space to use your full arsenal of techniques, without being limited in any way.

 

Portable Pool Tables

If you are limited on space, a foldable pool table might be just what you are looking for. There are some great portable pool tables on the market that you can easily fold up and store away when not in use.

A foldable pool table can even act as a dining table, if needed, so you don’t even need to create a separate room for gaming.

These tables are gaining in popularity now that more people live in apartments that lack space for things like pool tables.

Apart from the ability to pack them away, another great thing about these tables is their portability. Not only can you easily move them around the house, but you can take them with you to a friend’s house or other location, too.

However, be sure to do your due diligence when choosing a foldable billiard table, because many of them are cheaply made and will not last nearly as long as a regular table. It’s worth paying as little more for quality.

 

Standard Pool Table Dimensions: Conclusion

Before getting a billiard table, take measurements of the space where you’ll be playing pool and make sure to consider the cue stick length. You want to avoid hitting the wall every time you take a shot.

The area should be enough for you to move freely around the table. Once you have the measurements, check what pool table size will be able to fit in the room without leaving you pressed against the wall and struggling to take a good shot at the cue ball.

Once you’ve got your measurements right and you know what size table will fit, buy the best pool table you can get within your budget. Then all that’s left to do is have a blast!