Baizewick guide
Pool table room size: how much space do you need?
You need the table’s playing area plus a cue length of clear space on every side. Then allow for doors, radiators and furniture.
The rule: playing area plus a cue length on every side
A standard full-length cue is about 57–58 inches, or roughly 1.47 m. When the cue ball sits against a cushion, you need that much clear space behind it. You also need a little extra for the backswing.
So the room has to fit the playing area plus one cue length at each end and one at each side. Start from the playing area inside the cushions. The cabinet is wider, but you measure the cue from the cushion nose.
Shown for a 7ft table using planning values. Measure from obstructions, not walls, and check the maker’s stated playing area.
Room sizes for common pool tables
| Table | Playing area (planning) | Clear room with full cues | With a 48-inch cue at one end |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6ft pool table | 1.83 m × 0.91 m | 4.77 m (15ft 8in) × 3.85 m (12ft 8in) | 4.52 m (14ft 10in) long |
| 7ft pool table | 2.13 m × 1.07 m | 5.07 m (16ft 8in) × 4.01 m (13ft 2in) | 4.82 m (15ft 10in) long |
| 8ft pool table | 2.44 m × 1.22 m | 5.38 m (17ft 8in) × 4.16 m (13ft 8in) | 5.13 m (16ft 10in) long |
| 9ft US pool table | 2.74 m × 1.37 m | 5.68 m (18ft 8in) × 4.31 m (14ft 2in) | 5.43 m (17ft 10in) 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.
How to measure your room
- Measure the length and width at about cue height, which is roughly hip height. Don’t measure along the skirting.
- Note every obstruction: radiators, window sills, alcoves, pillars, built-in cupboards and door swings.
- Measure from the obstruction, not the wall behind it. A 10 cm radiator takes 10 cm off your clearance.
- Sketch the room on paper and mark where the table would sit. Check the middle of each side as well as the corners.
- Enter the clear length and width in the room size checker.
What to do if the room is slightly too small
A short cue of 48 or 36 inches works well for one awkward wall or a single pillar. If you’d need it along a whole side of the table, for lots of shots, choose a smaller table instead.
You can also move the table off-centre so the tight side faces something low you can cue over, such as a low sideboard. Keep anything breakable out of the cueing zone.
Things that eat into the space
- Doors that open inwards. Rehang the door to open outwards, or keep the table clear of its arc.
- Seating and bar areas. People watching need to sit outside the cueing zone.
- Cue racks and scoreboards. Mount them where a full backswing won’t reach.
- Low ceilings and lights. Overhead fittings must clear raised cues and the players’ heads.
Check the route in before you order
Measure every gate, door, hallway, stair turn and ceiling on the way to the room. Slate tables are extremely heavy, typically several hundred kilograms, and usually arrive in sections.
Use the retailer’s delivery and installation team. For an upstairs slate table, ask a structural engineer to check the floor before you buy.