Buying guide
Snooker tables for home: a spec-based buying guide
Choose the size first, then the construction. Most home snooker tables are a compromise between the game you want and the room you have.
Types of home snooker table
| Type | Suits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Tabletop or fold-down | Learning the game, occasional play, small rooms | Needs a sturdy, level table underneath; smaller balls |
| Freestanding MDF | Family play on a budget | Bed flatness over time; damp |
| Freestanding slate | A dedicated games room and serious practice | Weight, access and floor loading |
| Snooker dining table | A room that must also seat diners | Heavy tops; cueing space around the dining chairs |
Choosing the size
Snooker tables are sold by nominal length, from 6ft up to the full-size 12ft. Use the room checker to find the largest table your room can take with full cueing space.
Our snooker table sizes guide explains what changes as tables get smaller.
Specifications to compare
| Specification | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Playing area | Use this for room planning, not the nominal size. |
| Bed | Slate or MDF. For slate, check the number of pieces and the thickness. |
| Cushions | Cushion rubber and how it is fixed. Snooker cushions should rebound consistently along their length. |
| Pockets | Pocket size matched to the balls supplied. |
| Cloth | Napped cloth is traditional on snooker tables. Check colour and re-covering options. |
| Markings | The baulk line, D and spots should be marked to scale for the table size. |
| Weight | Assembled weight, for floor loading and delivery planning. |
Balls and accessories
- Balls: full-size tables use 52.5 mm balls. Smaller tables use smaller sets, so buy balls made for your table and pockets.
- Rests: a standard rest and a spider at minimum. A swan and extended rests help on larger tables.
- Cues: at least two full-length cues, plus a short cue if one wall is tight.
- Scoreboard: wall-mounted, outside the cueing zone.
- Care: a table brush and a fitted cover.
Delivery and installation
Slate snooker tables arrive in several pieces and are installed and levelled on site. Check the route in for every piece and confirm what the delivery includes. Use the retailer’s installation team.
For any suspended or upper floor, ask a structural engineer to assess it before you buy.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a table by nominal size without checking the playing area.
- Buying full-size balls for a smaller table.
- Forgetting rests, which you need for long shots on every size of table.
- Putting a tabletop model on a table that is not level or rigid.
Questions
Can I play pool on a snooker table?
Not properly. Snooker pockets and balls are a different size from pool ones, so pool balls don’t suit snooker pockets. You can use a snooker table for English billiards.
What is the smallest real snooker table?
Tables are commonly sold from 6ft. They use smaller balls and scaled-down markings. They play differently from a full-size table, but they are a good way to learn.
How this guide is written: from published specifications and standards. We do not claim hands-on testing or give product scores. Editorial standards · Affiliate disclosure.