How to Hang Pool Table Light From Drop Ceiling (Step-by-Step Guide)

Do you want to hang the pool table light from the drop ceiling? But don’t know how to do it. Don’t worry; you landed in the right place. Here you will get an easy step-by-step guide for hanging the pool table light from the drop ceiling.

Wrap the pool table light in the wrapping sheet. Use the stud finder to locate where to drill holes in the ceiling for mounting. Mark where to drill holes using the marker and level. Drill holes with a drill machine into the ceiling and hang the pool table lights using toggle lock anchors or ceiling screws as appropriate for your light’s weight.

This is how you can easily hang a pool table light from the drop ceiling of your home. But, if you are a beginner and you know nothing about it. Here is a step-by-step guide for you. This guide will lead you to hang a pool light from the drop ceiling successfully.

How to Hang Pool Table Light From Drop Ceiling

Things You Will Need to Hang a Pool Table Light from Drop Ceiling

  1. Wrapping Sheet
  2. Stud Finder
  3. Marker
  4. Level
  5. Drill Machine
  6. Toggle Lock Anchors
  7. Molly Anchors or Ceiling Screws, depending upon the weight of the pool table light.

How to Hang Pool Table Light from Drop Ceiling? Step-by-Step Guide

So, here are the steps that you can follow:

Step #1: Wrap the Table

First, wrap the table’s entire slate with a plastic sheet because you will have to stand on the table to hang the light.

Step #2: Find the Joists.

Use a stud finder to locate the joists behind the ceiling. Find at least two joists. Joists are most commonly 16 inches apart in the center of the ceiling sheet. However, depending on the building codes when your home was built, they might be 24 inches apart. Find them above the center of the table and mark the joists with a marker.

If you don’t know anything about Joists:

Joists are beams on a wooden floor that are supported by other beams, or “joists.” Joists carry the weight of the floor and distribute it across the length of the building.

Here is a video that can help you find the Joists:

YouTube player

Step #3: Choose the screws

The most important part of this task is choosing the screws. It depends upon the weight of the light you have selected to hang. Use the toggle lock anchors if the pool light is heavier than 30 pounds. If the pool is lightweight, below 30 pounds, you can use ceiling screws.

Note: I would recommend you to use Toggle Lock Anchors. The toggle anchors work by expanding small arms behind the ceiling.

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This gives them additional strength. In a half-inch thick ceiling, the toggle anchor can hold up to 60 pounds. They have a special tip that allows you to screw it through the ceiling using a Philip head screwdriver.

Step #3: Drill in the Joists and Hang the Pool Table Light

Take the drill machine and drill the pilot holes for the recommended screws. Drill the holes according to the screws you have selected to insert.

For selecting Toggle Anchors:

If your light is heavyweight and you have chosen to insert toggle anchors, drill the holes a little wider. Insert the toggle anchors with a Philip screwdriver. Then take the hanging part of the pool light and insert the bolt into the part of the pool light and screw the bolt into the anchors. This will allow the toggle arm to grab hold behind the ceiling.

For Selecting Ceiling Screws:

If your light is light weighted, and you have chosen ceiling screws, then drill the holes according to their size. You can also confirm you hit the joists while drilling when you see wood debris as you remove the drill. For ceiling screws, mount its screw side into holes and hang the pool table light.

Step #5: Adjust the height of the light

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So, now you have to adjust the height of the light from the pool table. The ideal height of the light is 30 to 32 inches off the slate. So, there will not be too many shadows while playing pool.

Light will be hung properly on 32 inches off the slate. It will project the light properly down on the table at this distance.

Usually, the slate is 30 inches off the ground, so ideally, the bottom of the light should be 60 to 62 inches off the ground.

How big should a light be over a pool table?

Well, it depends upon the size of the table. For a standard 8 feet size pool table, a light between 40 to 60 inches is ideal. It will project the light properly on the entire playing surface of the table.

What type of light is best for a pool table?

In order to obtain the proper light on the pool table, CFL bulbs are the best. They consume less energy, last longer, and project equal light on the entire slate of the table.

Can we use X Clamps to hang the pool table light on the ceiling?

The pool table light is heavier than normal lights and may be difficult for X clamps to handle. But you can hang simple studio lights on X clamps because they are smaller and lighter than normal lights. They will work just fine.

Conclusion

So this is how you can easily hang pool table light from a drop ceiling. You can follow the steps given above and hang the pool table light in minutes. If you are facing any problems while following these steps, you can consult me by writing in the comment section below. I will reply to you within a few hours and try to solve the problem.

How to Hang Pool Table Light From Drop Ceiling

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