Comparison
Ping pong conversion tops for pool tables
Two games, one footprint, a fraction of the price. Plus the one problem nobody mentions until it is in the house.
By Ryder M. · Last updated September 27, 2026 · How we pick
Short answer: if you already own a pool table or a large sturdy dining table, a conversion top gives you full-size table tennis for a fraction of the price of a second table and takes no extra floor space at all. The catch is not how it plays — it is where the two large panels live when you are not using them.
The basics
How they work
A conversion top is a rigid playing surface, almost always in two halves, that lifts onto an existing table. The underside is padded so it does not damage what it sits on, a net clamps across the middle, and you play on it exactly as you would a normal table. Nothing is fixed, modified or screwed to the table underneath.
Most are full regulation size — 9ft by 5ft per the ITTF — which means that over a 7-foot pool table the top will overhang the ends by a noticeable amount. It looks strange the first time. It has no effect on play, because the ball never lands there.
The comparison
Conversion top versus a real table
| Conversion top | Dedicated table | |
|---|---|---|
| Floor space | None — uses a table you already have | A full 9ft x 5ft footprint plus run-back |
| Cost | A fraction of a table | Full table price |
| Bounce | Firmer; no frame flex to absorb energy | Sprung frame gives a livelier bounce |
| Setup time | A couple of minutes, two people | Unfold a rollaway in under a minute, alone |
| Storage | Two large awkward panels | Folds into a few square feet on castors |
| Playback practice | No | Yes on rollaway tables |
| Height | Determined by the table underneath | Regulation 30in |
That storage row is the one that catches people out. A folded rollaway table takes about the floor space of a bookcase. Two conversion-top panels are each roughly 4ft 6in by 5ft and have to lean somewhere flat, dry and out of the way. Work out where before you buy, not after.
Quick picks
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up.
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Best conversion top overall JOOLA Regulation Table Tennis Conversion Top Regulation-size, properly made, and the one most people should buy. | Anyone with a 7ft or 8ft pool table | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 | Best premium top Butterfly Pool Table Conversion Top A thicker, better-playing top for households where someone plays properly. | Competent players converting a pool table | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 | Best value top STIGA Table Tennis Conversion Top The affordable way to find out whether the household will use it. | Trying the idea before committing | Check price on Amazon |
#ad · Buy links are affiliate links and we earn a commission on qualifying purchases. Photographs are licensed images of the category, not of the individual unit — see each retailer listing for the product’s own photography.
1. Best conversion top overall
JOOLA Regulation Table Tennis Conversion Top
JOOLA
JOOLA's regulation conversion top is the benchmark in the category. It is a full 9ft by 5ft playing surface in two halves, with a net and clamps, and it sits on top of a pool table without any modification to the table underneath.
Because it is full regulation size, the game plays properly rather than in miniature — which is the main thing that separates a good conversion top from a novelty. Over a 7-foot pool table it will overhang at both ends, which looks odd and does not matter at all in play.
Padding on the underside is the part worth checking on any conversion top, and this one has it. It is what protects the pool table's cloth and rails from being scratched by the panel above.
What we like
- Full 9ft x 5ft regulation playing surface
- Padded underside protects the pool table's cloth
- Includes net and clamps
- Splits into two manageable halves
Worth knowing
- The halves are large and awkward to store
- Two people to lift comfortably
- Bounce is slightly firmer than a sprung table
Who it’s wrong for
A house with nowhere to store two large panels. That is the real constraint, and it is worth solving before you buy.
#ad · We earn a commission on qualifying purchases. How this is funded
2. Best premium top
Butterfly Pool Table Conversion Top
Butterfly
Butterfly make equipment for competitive table tennis, and their conversion top reflects that: a thicker surface with a more consistent bounce than budget tops, which is the specification that matters most here.
Conversion tops are inherently firmer than a purpose-built table, because a sprung table frame absorbs some energy and a slab on a slate bed does not. A thicker, better-finished top narrows that gap considerably.
If the person playing knows what a good bounce feels like, this is the tier to buy at. If they do not, the savings elsewhere are better spent on paddles.
What we like
- Thicker surface with a more consistent bounce
- Made by a competitive table tennis manufacturer
- Good underside protection
- Better finish and edge durability
Worth knowing
- Heavier
- More expensive
- Same storage problem as every conversion top
Who it’s wrong for
Casual family play. The improvement is real and most people will not perceive it.
#ad · We earn a commission on qualifying purchases. How this is funded
3. Best value top
STIGA Table Tennis Conversion Top
STIGA
Conversion tops are cheap relative to a table, and this one is cheap relative to conversion tops. For a household that is not sure whether table tennis will stick, it is a sensible way to find out.
It plays a firmer, slightly deader game than the premium tops. For rallying with the family, that is entirely fine — and if it gets used constantly, that is a good argument for buying a real table later.
What we like
- Cheapest route to table tennis in a room that has a pool table
- Full-size surface
- Net included
- Easy to resell
Worth knowing
- Firmer, deader bounce
- Thinner surface can chip at the edges
- Storage still awkward
Who it’s wrong for
A serious player. They will notice the surface immediately.
#ad · We earn a commission on qualifying purchases. How this is funded
Compatibility
What to check before buying
- The height of the table underneath. Regulation table tennis height is 30 inches. A pool table is typically around 31 to 32 inches, and the conversion top adds its own thickness on top — so you will usually be playing an inch or two high. It is fine, and worth knowing.
- Whether the underside is padded. Unpadded tops scratch cloth and rails. This is not negotiable on a pool table you care about.
- Whether your net clamps fit. Clamp jaws have a maximum opening; conversion tops are thick. Use the net supplied with the top rather than one from another table.
- Where the panels will live. The real constraint. Somewhere flat, dry and vertical — leaning panels against a damp basement wall is how they warp.
- Who lifts it. The halves are large rather than heavy. Two people is comfortable; one person is awkward and risks the pool table's rails.
The honest case
When to buy a real table instead
If the household plays more than occasionally, buy a table. The setup friction on a conversion top is small but it is not zero, and anything with friction gets used less. A rollaway that unfolds in forty seconds gets played after dinner; a conversion top that needs two people and a clear pool table does not.
Conversion tops are at their best in two situations: a room that genuinely has no space for a second table, and a household testing whether table tennis will stick before committing. In both, they are an excellent purchase.
Questions
Common questions
Do ping pong conversion tops work on pool tables?
Are conversion tops as good as a real ping pong table?
Does a conversion top damage a pool table?
How do you store a ping pong conversion top?
Sources
Keep reading
Read next
