Pool Tables

A pool table is the classic centerpiece of a home game room, and choosing one comes down to three things: the size of the room, the size of the table and how often it will be played. Arcade Dad keeps a focused pool table range of two models, each $1,490: a professional billiards table with blue felt and leather pockets, and a 6-foot folding pool table with green felt and cues. This guide walks through sizing, room space, felt and home versus bar use so you can buy with confidence.

Choose the pool table that fits your room

Start with the space you have, not the table you want. The 6-foot folding pool table is the flexible option: it suits basements, bonus rooms and apartments where the room has to do more than one job, and it folds away when you need the floor back. It comes with green felt and cues, so you can start playing the day it arrives without buying extras. For many families it is the easiest way to add billiards to a home.

The professional pool billiards table with blue felt and leather pockets is built for a room that is set up for the game. Leather pockets catch the balls with a classic look and sound, and blue felt gives the room a modern, distinctive color. Choose it when the table will stay in one place and become the main attraction of a dedicated game room, and confirm its listed dimensions against your room before you order.

Both tables are the same price, so the decision is really about space and use. If the pool table will share the room with a TV, a sofa or other games, the folding model keeps your options open. If you have a dedicated room and want a permanent setup with a modern blue playing surface, the professional billiards table is the natural fit. If you are unsure, measure the room using the guide below, then call us to compare the two tables side by side.

Pool table sizes explained

Pool tables are usually described by their nominal length, most often 6, 7, 8 or 9 feet. The playing surface is a little smaller than the nominal size, because the rails and pockets take up part of the frame. Six-foot tables are the most compact common size and are popular for family rooms, kids and casual players. Seven-foot tables are a common choice in bars, eight-foot tables are a popular home size, and nine-foot tables are the size usually used for tournament play.

A bigger table is not automatically better. On a small table, balls are closer together and games move faster, which many casual players enjoy. On a large table, shots are longer and the game rewards more practice. If the room can comfortably hold a larger table, it will feel like a full billiards setup; if it is tight, a 6-foot table that leaves room for a full stroke will be played far more often than a bigger table that forces awkward shots.

How much room space a pool table needs

The table is only part of the footprint. Players need space to draw the cue back on every shot, including shots from the rail. A common guideline is to take the playing surface and add the length of a standard 58-inch cue plus a few inches of stroke room on every side, which usually means about five feet of open floor around the table. Measure from the edge of the playing surface, not the outside of the rail.

In tighter rooms, shorter cues of 48 or 52 inches can help, and occasional awkward shots near a wall are acceptable for casual play. Watch for doors, posts, low ceilings over the table and furniture that sticks into the cue path. Leave room for a cue rack and a spot to stand while waiting for a turn. If the math does not work for a fixed table, the 6-foot folding table lets you play when you want and reclaim the floor afterward.

A simple way to check fit is to mark the table's footprint on the floor with painter's tape, then add the cue zone around it. Walk around the outline holding a broom or a cue and try a few strokes from the corners and the rails. If you hit a wall or furniture on common shots, choose a smaller table, shorter cues or the folding model. It takes ten minutes and removes the guesswork before delivery day.

Felt, pockets and playing surface

The felt, also called cloth, decides how the balls roll and how the table looks. Green felt is the traditional billiards color and hides chalk well. Blue felt has become a popular modern choice, gives the room a fresh look and makes the balls stand out clearly. Either color plays the same; choose the one that matches your room. Brush the felt regularly, keep drinks off the rails, and cover the table when it is not in use to keep the surface clean and fast.

Pockets are the other visible difference. Leather pockets, like those on our professional billiards table, give a traditional look and hold the balls at each pocket until you collect them. Before every session, check that the table is level, because even a small tilt changes how balls roll. A flat, solid floor makes a real difference, so avoid thick carpet pads under the legs if you can, or level the table after it settles.

Home pool tables vs. bar and venue use

Home and bar tables are built for different jobs. At home, a pool table is played by family and friends, often in the evening and on weekends, so comfort, room fit and appearance matter most. Both of our tables are aimed at this kind of use. They suit basements, garages converted to game rooms, man caves and bonus rooms, and they pair well with a poker table, foosball table or arcade machine in the same space.

Bars and venues usually look for a table built for constant daily play, often with a coin mechanism to charge per game. Our current pool table range does not include a coin-operated model, so if you are outfitting a bar, call us to talk through your space before ordering. For event spaces, offices and rental properties, the 6-foot folding table is a practical option because it can be moved and stored between uses.

Set up your game room around the pool table

Once the pool table is in place, the rest of the room comes together around it. Hang lighting directly over the playing surface so every ball is evenly lit without glare or shadows, and keep the fixture high enough that it stays clear of cues on the backswing. Add a wall-mounted cue rack in a spot that does not cut into the stroke zone, along with a small shelf for chalk, a brush and the ball set.

Seating belongs outside the cue zone, so waiting players can watch without getting in the way. A bar-height table or a few stools along one wall works well. If the room is large enough, pair the pool table with a foosball table, a poker table or an arcade machine so more guests can play at once; just give each one its own clear space so games do not overlap and nobody has to pause a shot for a passing guest.

Buying a pool table from Arcade Dad

Both pool tables ship factory-direct, without a distributor markup, and shipping is free to the United States and Canada. Taxes and import duties are already included in the price, so there are no extra fees at checkout or at delivery. Orders ship in 3 to 7 business days and delivery takes 20 to 40 days door to door, with tracking. Before delivery, measure your doorways and stairs so the table can reach the room.

Each table is covered by a 1-year warranty for manufacturing defects and performance issues, and you have 30 days after delivery to request a return; we send the return label and instructions. Shop Pay installments and PayPal Pay Later are available at checkout. For help choosing between the two tables, call a real person at +1 (350) 900-3045, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM CT, or email info@arcadedad.com.