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How to Buy a Billiard Table

Purchasing a pool table can be a major investment, so it’s smart to know what you are getting into before you make the purchase. Here’s what you should consider before you set up your home game room.

Budget

Before you go out and buy that billiard table, you are going to have to know how much you are able to spend. The cheapest seven foot pool tables can run around five hundred dollars or even less, while high quality pro style nine foot tables can run into the thousands of dollars. You should also factor into your budget the cost of installation (if applicable) and any extra accessories you may want for your home billiards room.

Size

Billiards tables can run in multiple sizes, anywhere from seven feet up to and which one you should get can depend upon many factors. Firstly, are you looking for genuine pro style play, bar style play, or home recreational play? Most major pool tournaments use nine foot tables, most bars have eight and a half or eight foot tables, and seven foot tables are found exclusively in homes.

Also, what is the size of the game room where you are going to put the pool table? Smaller rooms may have some difficulty accommodating larger pool tables. To see if your room is suited for the pool table you want, refer to the chart below.

Slate

There are two decisions that you are going to have to make in regards to the slate. Firstly, are you going to get a genuine slate, or a slate imitation material like slatetron or accuslate? And secondly, if you are going to get a genuine hard rock slate, do you want to get the slate in three separate pieces or in one solid piece.

You should note that because slated tables are much heavier and higher quality, they usually cost a bit more than tables that have imitation slate. However, they have the greatest durability and closest to pro style play you can find.

Accessories

It takes more than just a pool table in order to play billiards. You also need at least a couple cues, a set of billiard balls, and a triangle. Most modern billiard tables that you can buy come with its own accessory kit. If yours doesn’t, or you just want to get something a little bit more personalized or of better quality, check out all the different kinds of cues, balls, and other accessories you can get for your billiards table.

Shipping

Billiard tables are often big, bulky items that can’t just be sent UPS. If you purchased a pool table that includes a real slate, then it will probably have to be shipped via freight. That means that after the table is shipped to the local distribution center, the freight company will have to give you a call in order to make an appointment for delivery. Because of the value and weight of billiard tables, they almost never can be delivered without you there.

Before you accept and sign for the billiard table, be sure to inspect it. If it appears damaged, it’s usually easier to just refuse the delivery and call the company you purchased the billiards table from for a replacement. If it mostly looks OK, but something seems a little fishy, you might want to sign it, but also note whatever was bothering you on the signature slip.

Installation

While a lot of lower end billiard tables come totally intact and can be played out of the box with just a little assembly, most pool tables require the expertise of the a billiard table professional to install both the slate and the pool felt. So if your billiard require requires this kind of installation, you may need to see who in your area can complete such an installation. Or, if think you are particularly handy and want to save some money on installation, you could always try installing it yourself.