If you are like me, you are dreaming of figuring out a way to fit a pool table into your man cave or entertainment room. After reading this article, you will have a good idea of the amount of floor space you will need
When I first started poking around to figure out if I could fit a pool table in my man cave, I learned that the two variables that need to be considered are cue length and table size. If you want a standard sized (8ft by 4ft) and you plan on using standard length (58in) pool cues, your room needs to be 17ft by 13ft. If you want a bar sized (7ft by 3.5 ft) table and standard cues, your room needs to be 16ft by 12ft.
How Big Are Pool Tables?
After doing a quick search, I learned one can find pool tables ranging anywhere from 9ft by 4.5ft to 7ft by 3.5ft. If you are ever trying to find out the dimensions of a pool table, there is always a 2:1 ratio. From a gameplay perspective, the bigger the table, the harder it is. Needless to say, I was looking at the smaller tables…
The typical “professional” size is 8ft by 4ft. So, this could be a good place for someone to start if they aren’t sure about how big of a table they want.
The smaller table of 7ft by 3.5ft is affectionately called the bar sized table. So if you are going for an authentic bar feel in your man cave, the 7ft table may be what you want to go with. Depending on your group of friends, this may be what they prefer anyways.
In my head, one of the more important parts of hosting is making sure people are having fun. Since smaller pool tables are a little easier, this would be a good option if you think you will have a lot of novice players shooting pool with you.
The careful readers may be asking “but what about the 9ft table”? As I said, the bigger the table, the harder the game of pool is. So if you have this burning desire to become a pool shark, go for it. But for the purposes of a man cave and entertaining, I would probably stay away from a 9ft table… Unless you want to be “that guy”.
What Are the Typical Pool Cue Sizes?
The next important variable of figuring out how much space you need is the length of the pool cues people will be using at your table. The three typical sizes are 48 inches, 52 inches, and 58 inches.
Usually, 48-inch pool cues are for kids. But as you have probably guessed, the smaller the cues being used, the less room you need to make a pool table playable. So, just saying, if your friends needed to use short cues in order to play pool, they will definitely suck it up.
52-inch pool cues are typically used by shorter adults. The standard length for pool cues is 58 inches. In a perfect world, you would probably want to own cues of all sizes. You never know who will be hanging out and shooting some pool.
How Much Open Floor Space Is Needed For A Pool Table?
So those are the two most important factors that go into the space you will need in your room. Now you know the size pool table you think you want, and the size pool cues you think you want. How does that translate into the floor space you will need in your room to have a pool table?
The best way I could figure to represent this stuff is in a table, so that’s what I will include here. I arrived at these measurements by looking at the size of the table, adding the length of the cue to both sides of the table, and adding some extra room so people have room for the range of motion while shooting.
Pool tables require much more open space than most games. Because of that, you may have had some ideas in your head about what size table you want. But at the end of the day, the available space in your room is going to be what determines the route you take.
Space Needed For Pool Tables
| 48in Cues (Child) | 52in Cues (Small Adult) | 58in Cues (Standard) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7ft by 3.5ft “Bar” Table | 14ft by 11ft Room | 15ft by 12ft Room | 16ft by 12ft Room |
| 8ft by 4ft “Professional” Table | 15ft by 12ft Room | 16ft by 12.5ft Room | 17ft by 13ft Room |
| 9ft by 4.5ft “That Guy” Table | 16ft by 13ft Room | 17ft by 13.5ft Room | 18ft by 14ft Room |
The first time I saw these numbers I was shocked. It takes a lot more room than one might think to have a pool table in a room. This also isn’t taking into account having a little bit of extra room for people to walk around the game.
My Room Doesn’t Quite Have Enough Room, Can I Squeeze It In?
Unfortunately, this was the exact thought that came through my find when I saw these numbers. My man cave is just a bit too small. The walls slant downwards so usable space is at a premium.
As much as I want to say yes, go for it, I don’t think it is a good idea to squeeze in a pool table. A crowded pool table takes a lot of the fun out of the game. The measurements I gave a not an exact science down to the inch, but they’re also is not a lot of wiggle room.
If you start adding an obstacle withing that “free space”, I think you will find your pool table will be used less. We don’t want that! It takes up so much space, it better gets some use! For the sake of not wasting money and precious floor space in your man cave, don’t squeeze your pool table in and crowd it with obstacles.
Other Room Layout Considerations:
Now that we have worked out the size of the room needed, there are some other things that can’t be forgotten. The measurements given are free, clear space. If you want a bar sized pool table with standard-sized pool cues, you can’t just plop it into a room that is close to 16ft by 12ft and expect it to work.
At the very least, you are going to want to have some sort of cabinet for your pool cues. But let’s be honest, you will want more furniture in your man cave than a stand for your pool cues. You may be planning of having some sort of bar in there or at the very least some seating.
If we look at what bars do to furnish around a pool table, we are able to save a little bit of space. One option is to have some type of standing bartop near or around the pool table.
There are plenty of things that can be squeezed into a room, a pool table is not one of them. Unfortunately, through the research I did at the beginning of my interest in having a pool table, I realized there was no way I was going to fit it into my space with all of the other things I wanted to include.
Final Thoughts:
There are all kinds of other additions to be made to your space. If you find you don’t have the space for a pool table, you may want to consider a dartboard, card table, or even just some extra seating.
I really hope this article gave you a little bit of a reality check of what type of space is needed for a pool table. At the end of the day, my goal is to help you make informed choices. If there is one thing that hurts me the most, its when people waste money because they were misinformed.
Until next time,