Baizewick guide
Snooker table sizes for the home
Home snooker tables range from compact 6ft models up to full-size 12ft tables. Whichever you pick, the room also needs cueing space around every cushion.
Snooker sizes at a glance
Snooker tables are named by their nominal length in feet. Full-size is 12ft, the size used in professional play. Its playing area is about 3.57 m × 1.78 m (11ft 8½in × 5ft 10in).
Smaller home tables keep roughly the same 2:1 shape, with smaller balls and pockets.
| Table | Playing area (planning) | Clear room with full cues | With a 48-inch cue at one end |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6ft snooker table | 1.83 m × 0.91 m | 4.77 m (15ft 8in) × 3.85 m (12ft 8in) | 4.52 m (14ft 10in) long |
| 7ft snooker table | 2.13 m × 1.07 m | 5.07 m (16ft 8in) × 4.01 m (13ft 2in) | 4.82 m (15ft 10in) long |
| 8ft snooker table | 2.44 m × 1.22 m | 5.38 m (17ft 8in) × 4.16 m (13ft 8in) | 5.13 m (16ft 10in) long |
| 9ft snooker table | 2.74 m × 1.37 m | 5.68 m (18ft 8in) × 4.31 m (14ft 2in) | 5.43 m (17ft 10in) long |
| 10ft snooker table | 3.05 m × 1.52 m | 5.99 m (19ft 8in) × 4.46 m (14ft 8in) | 5.74 m (18ft 10in) long |
| 12ft full-size snooker table | 3.57 m × 1.78 m | 6.51 m (21ft 4in) × 4.72 m (15ft 6in) | 6.26 m (20ft 6in) long |
These are planning values based on nominal table sizes. A real table’s playing area is usually a little smaller, so check the maker’s specification before you order.
Compact tables: 6ft and 7ft
Small snooker tables fit ordinary living rooms. They often come as fold-down or tabletop models.
They’re a good way to learn the game. The balls are smaller and the angles shorter, though, so they play quite differently from a full-size table.
Mid-size tables: 8ft to 10ft
These sizes suit a dedicated games room. You get a more realistic game, and the table still fits a large spare room, garage or garden room. Many are slate-bed and need professional installation.
Full-size: a reality check
A full-size table with full cueing space needs a room of roughly 6.5 m × 4.7 m. That’s larger than most UK living rooms, and you’ll want space for a scoreboard, a seat and a cue rack too.
Slate full-size tables are extremely heavy and come in several pieces. Check access and floor loading before you order. For any suspended or upper floor, ask a structural engineer.
What changes as tables get smaller
- Balls: full-size balls are 52.5 mm. Smaller tables usually use smaller balls, so buy a set made for your table.
- Markings: the baulk line, D and spots are scaled to the table.
- Pockets: pocket size is matched to the balls. If you mix sets and tables, potting becomes unreliable.
- Rests: you still need a rest and a spider for long shots, but shorter versions are fine.
Snooker or pool?
You can play billiards on a snooker table. Pool needs its own table, because pool pockets and balls are different. You can’t play a proper game of pool on a snooker table.
If your household mainly plays pub pool, a 7ft pool table will usually make more sense than a small snooker table.