Editorial standards
How we write and check our guides.
Baizewick is built on measurements you can check. This page explains where our numbers come from, how our tools calculate, how affiliate links work and how to tell us when we have something wrong.
Our principles
- Specifications, not impressions. Guides are written from published specifications, governing-body rules and manufacturers’ instructions. We do not claim hands-on testing where none took place.
- No invented scores. We do not publish star ratings, scores or “best ever” claims.
- Metric first. Measurements are given in metres or centimetres, with feet and inches alongside.
- Say what is uncertain. Where a figure is a planning value rather than a fixed standard, we say so and tell you what to check.
- Plain English. Short sentences, defined terms and a glossary for the rest.
How we research
Each guide starts with the questions people ask when planning a games room: will it fit, will it get in, what will the floor take, and what should I buy. We answer from the most authoritative source available, in this order:
- Rules and equipment specifications from governing bodies, such as the WPBSA for snooker and the ITTF for table tennis.
- Manufacturers’ published dimensions, weights and installation instructions.
- UK consumer guidance, such as cancellation rights under the Consumer Contracts Regulations.
- Established trade practice, clearly labelled as typical rather than required.
Product specifications change. Before you buy, always check the current figures on the maker’s or retailer’s own page.
Reference values our tools use
These are the planning values behind the room checker and our room-size tables. Nominal sizes describe a table class, not a specific model; check the maker’s stated playing area.
| Table | Playing area | Clearance per side | Source or basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6ft pool table | 1.83 m × 0.91 m | 1.47 m (cue) | Nominal size (planning value); check the maker’s stated playing area |
| 7ft pool table | 2.13 m × 1.07 m | 1.47 m (cue) | Nominal size (planning value); check the maker’s stated playing area |
| 8ft pool table | 2.44 m × 1.22 m | 1.47 m (cue) | Nominal size (planning value); check the maker’s stated playing area |
| 9ft US pool table | 2.74 m × 1.37 m | 1.47 m (cue) | Nominal size (planning value); check the maker’s stated playing area |
| 6ft snooker table | 1.83 m × 0.91 m | 1.47 m (cue) | Nominal size (planning value); check the maker’s stated playing area |
| 7ft snooker table | 2.13 m × 1.07 m | 1.47 m (cue) | Nominal size (planning value); check the maker’s stated playing area |
| 8ft snooker table | 2.44 m × 1.22 m | 1.47 m (cue) | Nominal size (planning value); check the maker’s stated playing area |
| 9ft snooker table | 2.74 m × 1.37 m | 1.47 m (cue) | Nominal size (planning value); check the maker’s stated playing area |
| 10ft snooker table | 3.05 m × 1.52 m | 1.47 m (cue) | Nominal size (planning value); check the maker’s stated playing area |
| 12ft full-size snooker table | 3.57 m × 1.78 m | 1.47 m (cue) | WPBSA full-size playing area, 3569 mm × 1778 mm |
| Full-size table tennis table | 2.74 m × 1.52 m | 1.50 m | ITTF playing surface, 2.74 m × 1.525 m; clearance is a planning value |
| 6ft air hockey table | 1.83 m × 0.91 m | 0.90 m | Nominal size (planning value); check the maker’s stated playing area; clearance is a planning value |
| 7ft air hockey table | 2.13 m × 1.07 m | 0.90 m | Nominal size (planning value); check the maker’s stated playing area; clearance is a planning value |
Full cue length: 1.47 m (4ft 10in). Standard full-length cue, 57–58 in
How the tools calculate
- Will it fit? room size checker
- Adds a full cue length to every side of a pool or snooker table’s playing area, and a practical playing clearance for table tennis, air hockey and table football. It then compares the result with your room, less any obstructions, and shows where a 48-inch or 36-inch cue would be needed.
- Delivery route checker
- Checks that the two smallest sides of an item fit each doorway and staircase. For a hallway corner it finds the longest item of that thickness that can be carried round on its edge, using the standard right-angled-corner calculation, with a small allowance for tilting towards the ceiling.
- Table light height calculator
- Adds your chosen shade gap to the table height, then the fitting’s depth, and subtracts the total from the ceiling height to give the suspension drop. It flags shades that sit above the shortest player’s eye level.
- Dartboard setup calculator
- Uses the commonly specified 1.73 m bullseye height and a 2.37 m steel-tip throw measured from the board face, then adds your board’s standoff from the wall so you can mark the floor from the skirting.
- Which table suits you?
- Matches your answers about players, location and games to table types, using the same weight, climate and space considerations set out in our guides. It suggests categories, not products.
Every tool runs in your browser. We do not store the measurements you enter.
Affiliate links and independence
Baizewick is free to read. Some links to retailers are affiliate links: if you buy, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate links are labelled and marked as sponsored. Commission rates do not decide what we recommend, and we never accept payment to include or rank a product. Read the full affiliate disclosure.
Safety advice
Slate tables can weigh several hundred kilograms. We give general planning guidance only, never structural or electrical advice. Use the retailer’s delivery and installation team, ask a structural engineer to assess an upstairs floor where appropriate, and use a qualified electrician for new wiring.
Corrections and updates
If you spot an error, an out-of-date figure or something unclear, tell us and include the page address. We check every report against the source, correct the page and update the date shown at the bottom of the guide. Substantive corrections are noted on the page and listed in our updates log.