Knowledge base
Start with the question.
Follow the part of the project you are working on. Every answer is based on stated dimensions, practical constraints and sources that can be checked. New to this? Start here.
Search 12 topics and 42 common questions. Looking for a term? Open the A–Z glossary.
Topic
Play and keep score
Rules for the games you will actually play at home, plus calculators for darts finishes and snooker scores.
Topic
Sizes and getting it in
Compare table sizes, then make sure the table can reach the room and the light suits the ceiling.
Topic
Measure the room
Work from the playing area outwards, allow for the player, then check doors, radiators and the route in.
Topic
Choose a table
Compare bed materials, sizes and conversion systems without relying on invented scores or vague labels.
Topic
Snooker and billiards
Full-size snooker needs a very large room. Compare smaller tables honestly and learn the markings before you buy.
Topic
Set up darts
Get the height and distance right, protect the wall and light the board so practice is repeatable.
Topic
Table tennis, air hockey and table football
Plan for movement at the ends and sides, power for blowers, protruding rods and safe folding and storage.
Topic
Prepare the room
Deal with access, floor level, moisture, lighting and heating before heavy equipment arrives.
Topic
Rules of the game
Plain-English rules for snooker and English pool, so everyone at home plays the same game.
Topic
History and fun facts
Where snooker, pool, darts and table tennis came from, and some quick facts to impress your opponent.
Topic
Look after your table
Keep the bed level, the cloth fast and the balls clean, and know when to call a fitter.
Topic
Buy and get it delivered
Know what the delivery service includes, find the pinch points and check your rights before you pay.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Measuring
How much space do I need around a pool table?
Start with the playing area, not the cabinet, and add a full cue length of about 1.47 m (57–58 in) on every side. For a table with a 1.8 m × 0.9 m playing area, that is roughly 4.74 m × 3.84 m of clear space. Then check doors, radiators and furniture.
What room does a full-size snooker table need?
A full-size table has a playing area of about 3.57 m × 1.78 m. Add full cue clearance on every side and you need roughly 6.5 m × 4.7 m of clear floor. Many homes suit a smaller table better.
What if one wall is slightly too close?
A short cue (48 or 36 in) can deal with the odd awkward shot against one wall. If you would need it for many shots, choose a smaller table instead.
Should I measure wall to wall?
Measure the clear room dimensions at playing height instead: from radiators, skirting, window sills, pillars and furniture rather than bare walls. Allow for doors that open into the room.
How much space does table tennis need?
A full-size table is 2.74 m × 1.525 m, but players move well beyond its ends and sides. International competitions use far more space than any home, so give as much room at each end as you can and check the maker’s guidance.
Choosing
Slate or MDF?
Choose slate for a permanent room where long-term levelness and consistent ball roll matter. Choose MDF where budget, portability or an upstairs room matters more; keep it dry.
English or American pool?
English pool uses smaller tables, commonly 6ft or 7ft, with reds and yellows. American pool uses larger tables, commonly up to 9ft, with bigger balls and solids and stripes. Room size often decides it.
Telescopic or through rods on table football?
Telescopic rods do not stick out of the far side, so they are safer around children and need less space. Through rods feel more direct and are often preferred by regular players.
Are multi-game tables any good?
They save space and suit casual family play, but each conversion is a compromise in size, weight or materials. Check how the tops locate and where the spare parts are stored.
What does “7ft” actually mean?
Table sizes are nominal labels, not precise measurements. Compare the stated playing area and cabinet dimensions between products instead.
Setting up
How high should a dartboard be?
The commonly specified steel-tip setup is 1.73 m from the floor to the centre of the bullseye and 2.37 m horizontally from the board face to the oche. The diagonal from bullseye to oche, about 2.93 m, is a useful cross-check.
How do I protect the wall behind a dartboard?
Fit a surround to catch near misses, and add a backboard on plaster or painted walls. A cabinet adds storage but usually protects less wall.
My table rolls off — how do I level it?
Check the floor, then use a spirit level along, across and diagonally, adjusting the leg levellers a little at a time. Slate tables should be re-levelled by a fitter.
How do I look after the cloth?
Brush it after play, keep food, drink and chalking away from it, and cover it when not in use. On napped cloth, brush from the baulk end towards the top cushion.
How high should a pool table light hang?
High enough to clear cues and heads, low enough that the shades hide the bulbs. Many fittings hang roughly 75–90 cm above the cloth; follow the maker’s guidance.
Can I put a pool table upstairs?
Possibly, but slate tables are extremely heavy. Ask a structural engineer to assess the floor first, and use the retailer’s delivery and installation team.
How do I level a table?
Use the table’s levelling system and a spirit level. Slate tables are levelled by the fitter during installation. Levellers cannot fix an unsuitable or unstable floor.
The room
Is a garage suitable for a games room?
Often, if you deal with moisture, floor level, warmth and light first. Investigate leaks and condensation, and check whether the conversion needs Building Regulations approval.
How should I light a pool or snooker table?
Light the whole playing surface evenly without glare in players’ eyes. Hang fittings high enough to clear cues and heads.
Can I put a games table in a loft?
Only in a properly converted loft. Unconverted loft joists are often designed only to carry the ceiling below. For any heavy table upstairs, ask a structural engineer to assess the floor first.
Can a garden room be a games room?
Yes, if it has a solid, level base and stays dry and warm. Power usually needs a new circuit installed by a registered electrician, and planning limits can apply.
Does an air hockey table need its own socket?
Most powered tables need a nearby socket for the blower and any electronic scorer. Avoid trailing leads across walkways and use a qualified electrician for new outlets.
Rules and play
How many points is each snooker ball worth?
Reds are worth 1. The colours are yellow 2, green 3, brown 4, blue 5, pink 6 and black 7. Pot a red, then a colour, and repeat until the reds are gone.
What happens after a foul in English pool?
It depends on the rules you play. Traditional pub rules usually give the opponent two visits; blackball rules usually give ball in hand. Agree before you start.
My cue keeps miscueing. What should I check?
Check the tip first: it should be domed, scuffed and chalked, not flat or shiny. Then check the cue is straight.
What should I upgrade first on an old table?
Level it, clean the cloth and balls, and fit a cover before spending on bigger jobs such as re-covering.
Darts
How far is the oche from the dartboard?
For steel-tip darts, 2.37 m (7ft 9¼in) measured along the floor from the face of the board, not the wall. Soft-tip distances vary; 2.44 m (8ft) is common.
What is the highest checkout in darts?
170: treble 20, treble 20 and the bullseye, which counts as a double. Seven scores between 159 and 169 cannot be finished in three darts.
What is the best darts game for a group?
Killer works well for three or more players, and around the clock suits beginners and children. Cricket is a good tactical game for two.
Steel-tip or soft-tip darts at home?
Steel-tip darts on a bristle board are the classic setup. Soft-tip boards are safer for children and often score automatically.
How do I stop darts damaging the floor?
Lay an oche mat or a rubber mat under the board and along the throwing line, and fit a surround to catch darts that miss.
Games-room flooring →Spare bedroom games room →Keeping the noise down →Oche mat →
Table tennis, air hockey and table football
How big is a full-size table tennis table?
2.74 × 1.525 m, with the playing surface 76 cm from the floor. Allow generous space behind each end for players to step back.
Is table tennis played to 11 or 21?
To 11, and a game must be won by two clear points. Serve changes every two points, and every point from 10–10.
Indoor or outdoor table tennis table?
Indoor tables give a better bounce but must stay dry. Outdoor tables have weatherproof tops and suit garages, patios and garden rooms.
How much room does an air hockey table need?
Allow clear space all round, and most of all at the two ends where the players stand. Plan the table near a socket so the blower lead does not cross a walkway.
Are telescopic rods safer on table football?
Yes. Telescopic rods slide into themselves instead of sticking out of the far side, which is safer around children and in tight rooms.
Planning several games
Can I fit a pool table and a dartboard in one room?
Often. Keep the dartboard lane clear of the pool table’s cue zone. With full cues all round, a 7ft table and a dartboard lane side by side need roughly 6.1 × 4.1 m as a planning value.
What games fit in a small room?
Table football and a dartboard need the least floor. A dartboard is narrow but needs about 3.5 m of length, so it suits a long wall or a single garage.
What is the best floor for a games room?
A flat, firm floor. Low-pile carpet or a hard floor with leg cups suits pool tables, sports vinyl suits table tennis, and darts needs an oche mat.
Buying and delivery
What delivery service should I ask for?
Find out whether delivery is kerbside, room-of-choice or includes installation. Measure every pinch point on the route in and tell the retailer about stairs and tight turns.
What should I check on a second-hand table?
Check the bed, cushions and cloth, and budget for dismantling, transport, re-covering and professional re-levelling. Confirm the slate type and the number of pieces.
Can I return a table bought online?
UK consumers can normally cancel most online purchases within 14 days. Bespoke or personalised items may be exempt, and return delivery costs can apply. Read the retailer’s terms before ordering.
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