Room size calculator
How the calculation works
Room length = playing surface length + 2 × (cue length + 30 cm)
Room width = playing surface width + 2 × (cue length + 30 cm)
Why the playing surface and not the outer size of the table? Because what counts is where the cue ball can be. When it's touching a cushion, the back of your cue extends a full cue length from that point, and you need about 30 cm (1 ft) more behind it for a comfortable cueing action.
Most adult cues are about 58 in (147 cm) long. With the backswing room, that adds about 3.5 m (11 ft 7 in) to each dimension of the playing surface.
Table sizes compared
| Table size | Used for | Playing surface | Minimum room |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft | English pool | about 1.52 × 0.76 m (60 × 30 in) | 5.1 × 4.3 m (16½ × 14 ft) |
| 7 ft | English pool | about 1.83 × 0.91 m (72 × 36 in) | 5.4 × 4.5 m (17½ × 14½ ft) |
| 7 ft | American pool, heyball, carom, Russian pyramid | about 1.98 × 0.99 m (78 × 39 in) | 5.5 × 4.5 m (18 × 15 ft) |
| 8 ft | American pool, heyball, carom, Russian pyramid | about 2.24 × 1.12 m (88 × 44 in) | 5.8 × 4.7 m (19 × 15½ ft) |
| 9 ft | American pool, heyball, carom, Russian pyramid | 2.54 × 1.27 m (100 × 50 in) | 6.1 × 4.8 m (20 × 16 ft) |
| 9 ft | Snooker | about 2.64 × 1.32 m (104 × 52 in) | 6.2 × 4.9 m (20½ × 16 ft) |
| 10 ft | American pool, carom, Russian pyramid | 2.84 × 1.42 m (112 × 56 in) | 6.4 × 5.0 m (21 × 16½ ft) |
| 10 ft | Snooker | about 2.97 × 1.49 m (117 × 58½ in) | 6.5 × 5.0 m (21½ × 16½ ft) |
| 12 ft | Snooker, Russian pyramid | 3.57 × 1.78 m (140½ × 70 in) | 7.1 × 5.3 m (23½ × 17½ ft) |
Exact playing surfaces vary slightly between manufacturers and between games, especially for 7 and 8 ft tables. Always check the specification of the table you're buying.
Sizes by table type
| Table type | Sizes |
|---|---|
| American pool | 7, 8, 9, 10 ft |
| English pool | 6, 7 ft |
| Snooker | 9, 10, 12 ft |
| Carom billiards | 7, 8, 9, 10 ft |
| Heyball | 7, 8, 9 ft |
| Russian pyramid | 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 ft |
Which size should you choose?
- Limited space? A 6 or 7 ft English table, or a 7 ft American bar box, fits most large rooms or garages, especially with a couple of shorter cues for shots near the walls.
- The best all-round home table: an 8 ft American table gives a proper game without needing a huge room.
- Serious practice for tournaments: a 9 ft American or heyball table, or a 12 ft snooker table if snooker is your game. They need a dedicated room.
- Playing English pool in leagues? Practise on a 7 ft English table with the right pockets and balls.
Tips for fitting a table in a smaller room
- Use shorter cues: keeping a 48 or 52 in cue for shots close to the wall can save up to 50 cm on each side.
- Mind the pinch points: a pillar, door frame or sofa near only one corner may only affect a few shots. You can live with that at home.
- Remember the doors and stairs: tables are heavy and arrive in pieces, but the slate sections are large. Check you can get them into the room.
- Check the floor: slate tables are heavy. A full-size snooker table can weigh well over a tonne, and even an 8 ft pool table often weighs several hundred kilos.
- Light it properly: hang the light so it evenly covers the whole playing surface, high enough not to get in the way of your head and cue.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common pool table size?
For homes, the 8 ft American table. In bars, the 7 ft bar box (American pool) or the 7 ft English pool table in the UK and Ireland. Professional American pool is played on 9 ft tables.
How much room do I need for an 8 ft pool table?
About 5.8 × 4.7 m (19 × 15½ ft) with standard 58 in cues and room for your backswing. You can manage with less space if you use a shorter cue for shots near the walls.
How much room do I need for a 7 ft pool table?
About 5.5 × 4.5 m (18 × 15 ft) for a 7 ft American bar box, or 5.4 × 4.5 m (17½ × 14½ ft) for a 7 ft English pool table.
How big is a snooker table?
A full-size snooker table is 12 × 6 ft, with a playing surface of 3,569 × 1,778 mm. You need a room of about 7.1 × 5.3 m (23½ × 17½ ft) to play it properly. Smaller 9 and 10 ft snooker tables need less.
Is a 9 ft pool table too big for a home?
Not if you have the space: it needs a room of about 6.1 × 4.8 m (20 × 16 ft). If your room is smaller, an 8 ft table is usually the better choice.
Does the table size include the rails?
Table sizes like "8 ft" are approximate names. What matters for room size is the playing surface, measured between the cushion noses. The outer size of the table is larger.