Questions
Frequently asked questions
The questions we get asked most — about choosing a table, about buying one as a gift, and about how this site works.
Questions
Choosing a game table
What game table is best for a family?
Ping pong, for most families. There is no learning curve, everyone from about six upwards can genuinely play, it is the cheapest full-size table in the game room, and it folds away when you need the floor back. A dartboard is the best value if space is tight.
How much space do I need for a game table?
It varies a lot by game. A dartboard needs about 11ft of depth and no floor at all. A full-size ping pong table needs roughly 17ft by 10ft. A 7-foot pool table needs about 17ft 6in by 13ft 6in of clear floor, because you need cue swing on all four sides. Each category has its own sizing guide.
What should I buy first for a game room?
A dartboard. It costs a fraction of any table, uses a wall rather than the floor, and is playable by everyone — which means it does not constrain anything you buy later. Our starter guide works through the whole order.
What game table fits a small apartment?
A dartboard first, since it needs no floor space. After that, a folding ping pong table only needs the room while it is in use, which many apartments can manage. A multi-game table gets several games into one footprint.
Are multi-game tables worth it?
For children and for rooms that can only hold one table, genuinely yes — variety beats fidelity when the alternative is one table nobody uses. For adults where one game dominates, no: the same money spent on that single game buys a much better version. Full answer on are multi-game tables worth it.
How much should I spend on a game table?
Enough to get the right size for the room first, then the best construction the remaining budget allows — and keep some back for accessories. The equipment bundled with tables is chosen on cost and is the most common reason a new table stops being used within a month.
Questions
Buying one as a gift
What do you get someone who likes pool?
A cue, if they have a table and have never bought one. The house cues bundled with tables are the cheapest part of the package. If they already own a cue they like, buy quality chalk, a ball set or a cue rack instead — see gifts for pool players.
What do you get someone who loves ping pong?
A proper paddle. The rackets that come with tables use hard, low-grip rubber the ball skids off, and replacing them transforms how the table plays for a fraction of the table's cost. It is the highest-impact, lowest-cost gift on this site.
What is a good gift for a dart player?
If you know they have a bristle board and are still using the darts it came with, a proper steel-tip set around 22 to 24 grams. If you do not know their board, buy a surround, a cabinet or a throw line marker — all work with any setup. See gifts for dart players.
Is a game table a good Christmas gift?
It is one of the few big gifts everyone in a household uses rather than one person. The catch is logistics: measure the room, check the delivery route, and order early — large items ordered in December frequently arrive after the holiday. See big family Christmas gifts.
How much should I spend on a game room gift?
Less than you would think. Accessories in the $25 to $100 range are the highest-satisfaction gifts here, because they replace bundled equipment that was chosen on price. Our under $100 guide covers the best of them.
Questions
About this site
Why do your buy buttons say “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a price?
Because we have no verified live price for that product. Prices change constantly, and a number on a page that we cannot confirm is worse than no number — it costs the reader money or their trust. Where we do have a live verified price, the button shows it with the date it was checked.
Do you test the products you recommend?
No, and we say so plainly. We have no testing lab and we do not claim to have played on every table we recommend. Our picks come from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published expert reviews, all set out on how we pick.
Why are there no star ratings or review scores on your pages?
Because we have no first-party rating data. A numeric score invented to look authoritative is a fabricated measurement, and we would rather publish a clear verdict and a plain statement of who a product is wrong for.
How do you make money?
We earn a commission when you buy through a link on this site, as an Amazon Associate. There is no paid placement, no sponsored ranking, and no advertiser has ever seen a guide before it published. Full details on our affiliate disclosure page.
Does the commission affect what you recommend?
No. Picks are ordered by fit for a defined buyer, never by what pays more — and our affiliate relationship is with the retailer rather than the manufacturer, so it gives us no reason to prefer one product over another. On several pages our top pick is the cheaper option.
Who writes this site?
Ryder M., the hands-on owner behind Magoo Media Group. There is one author of record and the byline on every article is his. More on the about page.
How do I report a mistake?
Email us or use the contact form. If a correction changes a recommendation or a factual claim, we update the page and change its last-updated date. If it is a typo, we just fix it.
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