Snooker
Snooker tables at home: sizes, rests and floor loading
Full-size snooker needs a very large room, so most homes choose a smaller table. Pick the size your room can take, then check the floor.
Full-size proportions; balls drawn larger for clarity. The maximum break is 15 reds × (1 + 7) = 120, plus the colours 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 27, making 147.
Score and play
Snooker points remaining calculator
Count the points left on a snooker table and see whether the player behind needs snookers, and how many, from the scores and balls left.
GuideSnooker rules and scoring, explained simply
A plain-English guide to snooker: ball values, the order of play, fouls and penalties, free balls, snookers and how a frame is won.
Plan the room
Snooker table sizes for the home
Compare 6ft to full-size snooker tables, see the room each size needs and understand the trade-offs of a smaller table.
GuideGames-room lighting: pool tables, darts and table tennis
Light a pool or snooker table, a dartboard and a table tennis area evenly, without glare or shadows, with practical mounting guidance.
GuideLoft and upstairs games rooms: what to check first
Check floor strength, access, headroom and heat before putting a games table in a loft, spare bedroom or upstairs room.
Choose and buy
Snooker tables for home: a spec-based buying guide
Choose between tabletop, freestanding and dining snooker tables, pick the right size and check the bed, cushions, delivery and accessories.
GuideSlate vs MDF pool tables: which is worth it?
Slate or MDF? Compare the weight, levelness, play, price and installation of slate and MDF pool tables, and find out which bed suits your room.
Buying guidePool and snooker cues: what to look for
Choose a cue by game, length, weight, tip size, wood and joint type, and know how many cues a home table really needs.
Buying guidePool and snooker table accessories: the complete checklist
A checklist of the cues, balls, rests, covers, lights and care items a home pool or snooker table needs, and what to check for each.
Set up and play
Snooker rules and scoring, explained simply
A plain-English guide to snooker: ball values, the order of play, fouls and penalties, free balls, snookers and how a frame is won.
GuideRest, spider and swan: which snooker rest to use
Understand the standard rest, spider, swan and extended rests, when to use each, and what a home snooker table needs.
GuideHow to level a pool table
Check and level an MDF pool table step by step, understand when a slate table needs a fitter, and know when the floor is the problem.
Look after it
Pool and snooker table care: cloth, cushions and balls
Keep a home pool or snooker table playing well with simple routines for brushing the cloth, cleaning balls, covering the table and spotting wear.
GuideCue care: straightness, warping and re-tipping
Look after a pool or snooker cue: check it is straight, store it so it does not warp, and replace a worn tip step by step.
GuideUpgrade your home pool or snooker table: what to do first
A practical order for improving how a home pool or snooker table plays, starting with free fixes and ending with re-covering and cushions.
History
Quick answers
How big is a full-size snooker table?
The playing area is 3569 × 1778 mm (WPBSA). With a full cue on every side, plan for a clear room of about 6.5 m × 4.7 m.
Can I fit a snooker table in a normal house?
A full-size table needs a very large room and a strong floor. Many homes suit a 6ft to 10ft table instead. Compare the sizes in our snooker table sizes guide.
How is snooker scored?
Reds score 1 and the colours 2 to 7. The maximum break is 147. Use the points remaining calculator to see when snookers are required.
Key terms
Other games: Pool · Darts · Table tennis · Air hockey · Table football