How Much Room Do You Need For A Pool Table?

The game of pool has become a very popular game and due to it’s rise in popularity, pool rooms have become a very popular addition to many private homes but in private residences, you may have problems with space management. If you’ve never had a pool table in your home before, it can be difficult to determine how much space you need to put a pool table in a room.

When putting a pool table in bars and clubs, there’s typically ample space to place a pool table without worrying too much about the room dimensions. However, adding a pool room to homes, especially those that were not part of the original home plan is a whole different story. You may have to start with a series of measurements of the table, then the pool cue, standing room, stool space, etc.

The biggest issue in creating a pool table room or a game room with a pool table is definitely spacing and having enough room to set everything up. It is this aspect of the process that needs expert handling, and we are here to help you out with just that. Yes, with a tape measure and some good planning you can figure out how much space you need, but why do that when you can get the answers right here?

Available Pool Table Sizes

Pool Table Size	Table Dimensions	Playfield Dimensions
Bar or 7 Ft Pool Table	3.5′ x 7′	38″ x 76″
8 Foot Pool Table	4′ x 8′	44″ x 88″
9 Foot / Professional Pool Table	4.5′ x 9′	50″ x 100″

Before we get into how much room we need, let’s cover the different sizes of pool tables available.

1. Table size in foot: 3.5′ × 7′

This table is 3.5 feet wide and 7 feet long, giving us a playing area of 38″ × 76″. This table is typically the size table found in bars or clubs.

2. Table size in foot: 4′ × 8′

This pool table is 4 feet wide and 8 feet long, thus giving us a playing area of 44″ ×88″. This is the standard size pool table for private residences.

3. Table size in foot: 4.5′ × 9′

This is the table size used by professionals in tournaments that you see on ESPN. It is also often called Regulation Size Pool Table. However, any table that has a length twice its breadth/width is also called a regulation table. This is one of the reasons behind mix-ups among interested players.

Nonetheless, this 4.5 foot wide and 9 foot long table grants players with a playing area of 50″ ×100″.

However, do not go jumping to calculations just yet, because before you do so, you need to consider something important. Naturally, when thinking of creating a billiard room, the first thing that pops into everyone’s mind is the size of the pool table and how much space it will take up. While that is a factor you do need to consider, what you really need to calculate is the space that will be taken up by your table and your pool cues.

Note: The typical 2 piece cues are 58 inches in length. They can be longer or shorter, but that is the length that is most commonly used.

It goes without saying that your pool cues take up space outside of the table as you move about and shoot. A part of your cue could be on the table but the rest will be outside, occupying a length of the room. At this point, you need to make sure that, in addition to being able to wield the cue freely, your cue-end is not likely to hit any walls situated behind you.

Undoubtedly, the more space you have left behind the cue-butt, the better your shots will be and the more you will enjoy the game. So, in order to make that happen, when you are thinking of setting up a billiards room, the pool table room dimensions should be twice the length of a cue added to the length of the table. The same rule will apply to the width of the room. This will give you the minimum pool table room size needed.

This info is what you use to choose a room, if you already own a pool table. In any other case, let the dimensions of your room and the size of your cue dictate what sized table you should get. For some it may be better to buy a smaller pool table rather than not having enough room to play.

The Minimum Room Size You Will Need Based On The Size of Your Table

Pool Table Size/Name	Pool Table Dimensions	Pool Table Room Dimensions
7 Foot Pool Table (Bar)	3.5′ x 7′	13’1″ x 16’2″
8 Foot Pool Table	4′ x 8′	13’4″ x 17′
9 Foot Professional Pool Table	4.5′ x 9′	14′ x 18′

Here, we are talking about the first scenario (where you already own a table). In this case, we can help you out easily, giving you the least amount of pool table room size required for the three table sizes we mentioned previously.

• For the 3.5 foot by 7 foot table, the room size you want is 16’2″ × 13’1″. This will give you an actual playing surface of 39″ ×78″.

• A 4′ ×8′ pool table needs a room size of 17′ ×13’4”. The real playing surface available to you, in this case, will be 44″ x 88″.

• The pool table room dimensions for a 4.5 foot by 9 foot pool table are 18′ x 14′. This regulation size pool table grants an actual playing surface area of 50″ x 100″.

Bear in mind that these dimensions are the most suitable ones for each table size – the minimum you would need to play a game of pool with ease. Anything less is likely to cause discomfort and affect your game negatively. Extra room though is always welcome!

The Perfect Pool Table Size Based On Your Room and Cue Size

This is the second scenario where your room and cue size will determine which table you should get. The cue length that we have used for reference here is a 58 inch 2 piece cue which, as we had mentioned earlier, is the standard cue size.

Now, for this part, let us consider an example.

Suppose your potential billiard room is 16’8”×14’ or 200 inches in length and 168 inches in breadth (after conversion). The length of the cue is 58 inches. This is the length that will be occupied by the cue from all sides of a pool table. It is also the minimum length that should be kept between the walls and table edges.

Moving on, when this length is first doubled (giving 116 inches) and is then subtracted from the length of the room (200 inches), what remains is 84 inches. Similarly, when these 116 inches are subtracted from the breadth of the room, what remains is 52 inches. The diminished lengths and widths of the room give us the length and width available for the table itself (which, in this case, is 84 inches in length and 52 inches in width).

Finally, within these dimensions, the 3.5 by 7 foot table will be the best fit because the others will be rather too large.

In this way, you can understand whether the room can be turned into a billiards room.

Point to be noted: if you use a shorter cue, the principles will be the same. However, you will not need as much space.

If you can’t find a place with enough space in your house, it may be worth considering an outdoor pool table. Outdoor pool tables are made to withstand the natural elements while providing a great game of pool.

Seating Room

Having enough seating room around your pool table to put bar stools is also an important factor. I wouldn’t say this is as important as making sure your cue fits for each shot on the table. This is because if your cue fits in every position, then bar stools should have no problem fitting. However, guests may have to move when a player takes a shot near them.

In order to avoid this, you can use the measurement method of doubling the length of the cue, as explained above, or you can measure the stick length and add on the added length needed for each bar stool. Seating bar stools in the corners of a room are most efficient because those spots will be the furthest from the table.

Conclusion

All of these measurements and dimensions may not be appropriate for everyone. It may happen that you realize with the way you play, you do not really have to keep a full 58 inches from the wall. It all really could differ from person to person, depending on comfort, body build, and much more. Stick with what is comfortable and beneficial for you, and you should be good to go!