Baizewick guide
Slate vs MDF pool tables: which is worth it?
Slate is worth it if you want the stable, level bed expected for serious play. MDF is lighter and cheaper, and much easier to move.
The short answer
Choose slate if the table will stay in one room for good, your players care about consistent ball roll, and professional installation is practical.
Choose MDF or another wood-based bed if budget, weight, an upstairs room or moving the table matters more to you.
Side-by-side comparison
| Slate bed | MDF bed | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Very heavy. Slate tables typically weigh 300–700 kg. Check the maker’s figure. | Much lighter, so easier to deliver and move. |
| Flatness over time | Stays flat and stable for many years. | Can sag or warp, especially in damp or changing temperatures. |
| Moisture | Unaffected by normal room humidity. | Sensitive to damp. Keep it in a dry, heated room. |
| Installation | A fitter assembles and levels it on site. | Often delivered assembled, or you put it together yourself. |
| Moving later | A job for professionals, who take it apart and re-level it. | A few people can usually move it. |
| Re-covering | You can replace the cloth many times. | Possible, but less common. |
| Cost | Higher, including installation. | Lower. |
One-piece and three-piece slate
Slate beds come as a single slab or in three sections. Three-piece slate is far easier to carry through a house. The fitter seals and levels the joins, so they don’t affect play.
A one-piece slate can be very hard to get into a typical UK home.
Floors and slate
A slate table puts all its weight through a few legs, so the load is concentrated. A ground floor on concrete is usually the easiest place for one.
On a suspended timber floor or any upper floor, ask a structural engineer to assess it before you buy. Baizewick does not give structural advice.
When MDF makes sense
- A family table for casual play, especially for children learning the game.
- An upstairs room where a slate table would be impractical.
- A rented home, or a room you may need to clear in future.
- A tight budget, where the alternative is no table at all.
Look for a solid frame, a decent levelling system and a reasonably thick bed. Keep the room dry and heated, and check the table is level every so often.
Questions to ask before you buy
- What is the bed made of, and how thick is it? If it’s slate, is it one piece or three?
- What does the assembled table weigh?
- Does the price include delivery, assembly and levelling, and to which room?
- What warranty covers the bed against warping?