Cost guide
How much does a pool table cost?
Described as bands rather than a number, because the number moves — and what changes between bands is the useful part.
By Ryder M. · Last updated September 27, 2026 · How we pick
The honest answer: pool tables run from a couple of hundred dollars for a folding tabletop to five figures for a furniture-grade slate table, and where you land depends on three things — the bed, the cabinet, and whether somebody has to install it. We describe the market in bands rather than quoting figures, because a specific price on a page like this is out of date within months and a price you cannot verify is worse than none. Prices you see on our buy buttons come from the retailer, live.
The market
The four bands
| Band | What you get | What is still compromised |
|---|---|---|
| Compact and folding | A short table, usually under 6ft, with folding legs and an accessory kit | Playing field length, cushion quality, frame rigidity. Adults outgrow it. |
| Entry full-size | A 7ft to 7.5ft engineered-bed table, self-assembled, accessories included | The bed is humidity-sensitive; cushions are home-grade; bundled cues are poor. |
| Mid: slate | A slate playing bed, heavier cabinet, better cushions, professional setup | Cabinetry is functional rather than furniture; finish is plain. |
| Premium | Furniture-grade cabinetry, hardwood construction, premium cloth and cushions | Little improvement in the game itself over the mid band. |
Bands describe the market as we researched it in September 2026. They are relative positions, not price quotes.
The single most important step on that ladder is the third one, from engineered bed to slate — it is the only step that changes what the table will be in ten years. Everything above it is refinement, and everything below it is a different product category. The full argument is in slate vs MDF.
Quick picks
Tap any row to jump to the full write-up.
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Entry band pick Fat Cat Reno 7.5 ft Billiard Table The table most households land on at the bottom of the real-table market. | Casual family play without an installation bill | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 | Mid band pick Playcraft Southport 7 ft Slate Pool Table Where slate starts, and where most buyers should aim if they can. | A permanent table meant to last | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 | Premium band pick Brunswick Danbury 8 ft Pool Table Furniture-grade cabinetry, for a room where the table is always on show. | Open-plan and living rooms | 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. Entry band pick
Fat Cat Reno 7.5 ft Billiard Table
Fat Cat (GLD Products)
This is what the entry band buys when it is spent well: a full-size engineered-bed table, complete with accessories, assembled by the household rather than an installer.
What we like
- No setup cost
- Complete kit
- Real playing field
- Supported brand
Worth knowing
- Engineered bed
- Basic accessories
- Humidity-sensitive
Who it’s wrong for
A damp room, or a household with a league player in it.
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2. Mid band pick
Playcraft Southport 7 ft Slate Pool Table
Playcraft
The step from engineered board to slate is the single most significant one on the price ladder, and this is a clean example of it at a sane price.
What we like
- Slate bed
- Serviceable for decades
- Standard 7ft size
- Holds value
Worth knowing
- Installation cost on top
- Heavy
- Effectively permanent
Who it’s wrong for
Renters, or anyone whose room does not clear a 7-footer.
#ad · We earn a commission on qualifying purchases. How this is funded
3. Premium band pick
Brunswick Danbury 8 ft Pool Table
Brunswick Billiards
Above the slate threshold, the money goes into cabinetry, finish and brand rather than into a better game. That is a legitimate thing to buy if the room demands it.
What we like
- Furniture-grade finish
- Slate bed
- Strong resale
- Established maker
Worth knowing
- Needs a large room
- Expensive relative to the game
- Professional install
Who it’s wrong for
A basement nobody sees. Spend it on cues and a light instead.
#ad · We earn a commission on qualifying purchases. How this is funded
Hidden costs
The costs that are not on the listing
- Delivery and installation. Slate tables are normally delivered and leveled by professionals, and that cost is separate from the table. It is the most commonly missed line in a pool table budget.
- Getting it into the room. Tight stairs and doorways sometimes require extra labor or, occasionally, a different table.
- Cues worth using. Budget for a pair. Bundled cues are chosen on cost and are the usual reason a new table gets abandoned — see best pool cues.
- Lighting. A hanging light over the table is not decoration; without it, players cast shadows over their own shot.
- A cover. Cheap, and it keeps dust, sun and pets off the cloth.
- Re-clothing, eventually. A consumable on any table that gets played. Larger tables cost more to recover.
Advice
Where the value actually sits
If we had to state a single rule: buy the correct size for your room, then the best bed construction the remaining budget allows, then spend whatever is left on cues and a light rather than on finish. That ordering produces more enjoyment per dollar than any other.
The two most common ways people waste money here are buying a bigger table than the room supports, and buying premium cabinetry for a basement nobody sees. Both are easy to avoid, and both are expensive to undo.
The used market
Is used slate better value?
Often, yes. Slate does not wear out, so a used slate table can be excellent value — cloth and cushions are serviceable parts. The catch is the move: professional disassembly, transport and re-leveling cost real money, and an amateur move is how slate gets cracked. Add that cost before comparing against a new table, and it frequently changes the answer.
One thing to inspect on a used table: the frame and slate seams, not the cloth. Cloth is cheap to replace and its condition tells you nothing about the table. A cracked slate or a racked frame is not worth fixing at any price.
Questions
Common questions
How much should a pool table cost?
Why are slate pool tables so expensive?
How much does it cost to install a pool table?
Is a used pool table a good idea?
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