How Much Room Do You Need For A Pool Table? (Complete Guide)

Purchasing a pool table might be one of your best investments. The amount of fun you’ll have with your friends and family will far outweigh the cost. Not to mention the convenience of practicing your skills without having to go to the pool hall.

Avoid buying a pool table until you are sure that you have enough space for it. Pool tables, particularly slate ones, are difficult to transport once assembled, so getting it right the first time is crucial.

Don’t assume that you’ll have adequate space. To be sure, you should take some measurements beforehand. So, how much space do you require for a pool table?

The pool table room size is determined by the pool cues length and the table’s size that you’re planning to buy. The standard size for a pool table is 9ft, and it requires a room size of 14’-10” × 19’-0”. If you want a bumper pool table, you would need a room of 12’-5” × 13’-8” for a standard 57” cue.

room size for a pool table

To understand what room size for a pool table is required, read on further.

This article also covers cueing space, the height between the pool table and the ceiling, the distance between the pool table and the wall, and the typical pool table dimensions.

Requirements Of Room Size For Pool Table

Various sizes of pool tables are available in the market, and it’s easy to find one that fits the space you have in your house.

pool table placed inside a house
Source: legacybilliards.com

It’s essential to figure out how much space you would need to keep a pool table and which other factors need to be considered? From each side of the pool table, you should have ample space of several feet.

The pool table is sizable, and that’s why you need adequate space to make it work. For that, it’s necessary to understand the dimensions of the pool table and the cue to determine the exact pool table room size.

Begin by deciding where you’re planning to place the table. Map out the space by marking the ground. That would help you see how much space you will require on both sides of your pool table.

For example, for a 9ft pool table having a play area of about 100” × 59”, the room size is

18’-0″ × 13’-0” for a 58” pool cue. For a pool cue of 52”, the size of the room should be 17’-0”×13’-4”.

A pool table measuring 88”× 44” needs a room size of 17’-0”×13’-4” for a pool cue of 58”. For a pool cue of 52”, the room size should be 16’-0”×12’-4”.

watch this video to help you determine room size for your pool tables.

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Cueing Space

There should be adequate space around the pool table to let the player cue his shot from any angle or side.

cueing space in a pool table
Source: libertygames.co.uk

If you’re using a table with a full-size cue of 57”, the cueing room must be 5ft all around the playing surface of the pool table.

That way, the players can use a cue of 57” without coming in contact with the walls.

Remember that you measure for the pool cues around the pool table, not the pool table itself. The closeness of the cue’s handle to the wall determines how much players will enjoy playing the pool game.

The standard two-piece cues measure 58” in length. The room size gets determined by adding the pool table’s length to two times the length of the cue.

Standard Pool Table Dimensions

  • The 6ft British pool tables are usually seen in pubs, clubs, and homes.
  • The 7ft British pool tables are commonly seen in leagues and tournaments as they are full-size.
  • The 7ft American pool tables are the smallest out of all the American tables, but they are larger than the British ones.
  • The 8ft American pool tables are medium size and are perfect for homes.
  • The full-size 9ft American pool tables are standard ones and can be used for championships.

How Far Does A Pool Table Need To Be Away From The Wall?

If you’ve ever gone to take a shot and your cue collided with the wall, you know how annoying it can be.

More than a few shots have been destroyed, and a few games have been lost due to this terrible event. You can avoid that if you select the right pool table room size. But how far away from the wall does a pool table have to be?

The length of your pool cues mainly determines the distance between your pool table and the wall.

For example, if you’re using a 58-inch pool cue, you need to leave at least 58” between the table’s edge and the wall. It is, nevertheless, a good idea to give oneself more room if at all possible.

If you can leave yourself 5ft of room around your pool table, regardless of how long your pool cue is, you should be fine. That is assuming your pool cue isn’t more than 58” long.

Height Between A Pool Table And The Lights Or Ceiling

The pool table is never truly finished until it is lit up. Then, like a trophy on the wall or a stone inlay fireplace, it feels right at home.

Pool tables should be the focal point of your man cave, so they should have their own lighting. The light’s height should be between 32″ and 36″ from the table.

the height between a pool table and lights
Source: 10sorts.com

The purpose of a pool table light is to reduce shadows and illuminate the table and rail top. Remember that lights illuminate the area above and below the table, not the entire room.

If your table isn’t yet in place, you have the chance to place the lights at the correct distance in the first attempt. The distance from the ground to the bottom of the fixture should be between 60″ and 66″.

The nose trick is a better reference; the bottom of the lights should be about even with the player’s nose.

Related: How to Hang Pool Table Light From Drop Ceiling

Bumper Pool Table

If you want the same excitement and competitiveness as a full-size table, Bumper pool tables are an excellent choice. Even though they are smaller in size, you’ll still enjoy playing as much as you would on a standard pool table.

Bumper Pool Table
Source: pooltablesplus.com

For a 52-inch cue size, you need a pool table room size of 12’-5” × 14’-8”. For modern homes, this pool table is perfect.

Bottom Line

The room size for the pool table depends on the dimensions of the table and its cue length. In the meantime, you should also think about what you want to do with your old furniture when you replace it with the table.

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