8ft vs 9ft Pool Table: Which Should You Buy?
A 9 foot pool table plays on 50 x 100 inches and needs a room about 14 x 18 feet with standard cues. A home 8 footer plays on 44 x 88 and needs about 13 x 17. The 9 footer gives you 29 percent more cloth, the tournament game and every skill you'll ever need on a smaller table. It asks for an extra foot of room each way, a heavier floor load and, at the dealers we checked, a bigger check.
If your room clears 14 x 18 and you play to get better, the answer is usually the 9. Here's the comparison in numbers, the in-between option most buyers never hear about, and who should stop at 8.
8ft vs 9ft pool table size, side by side
| Measurement | Home 8 ft | Pro 8 ft | 9 ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Playing surface | 44 x 88 in | 46 x 92 in | 50 x 100 in |
| Playing area | 26.9 sq ft | 29.4 sq ft | 34.7 sq ft |
| Diamond spacing | 11 in | 11.5 in | 12.5 in |
| Outside size, typical | 96 to 104 in long, 52 to 59 in wide | A few inches larger than a home 8 | 110.5 to 115 in long, 60.5 to 65 in wide |
| Slate table weight | About 850 to 1,000 lb | Varies by maker | About 1,000 to 1,300 lb |
| Room with 58 in cues (Brunswick) | 13 x 17 ft | 13.5 x 17.5 ft | 14 x 18 ft |
| Room with 52 in cues (Brunswick) | 12 x 15.5 ft | 12.5 x 16.5 ft | 12.5 x 16.5 ft |
| WPA recognized size | No | Yes (the WPA's 8 foot) | Yes |
The 9 foot outside sizes come from four real tables: Brunswick's Glenwood (110.5 x 60.5 in), Diamond's Professional (114 x 64), Predator's Apex (115 x 65) and Brunswick's Gold Crown VII (115-1/8 x 65-1/8). Weight ranges match our pool table weight guide; Diamond lists its 8 foot at 1,000 pounds and its 9 foot at 1,200. Every size in one place is in the pool table sizes chart, and the 9 footer gets its own full page at 9 foot pool tables.
How big the difference really is
One foot of length sounds small. On the cloth, it's 12 more inches of length and 6 more of width, and 29 percent more area than a 44 x 88 home table. The corner-to-corner diagonal grows from about 98 inches to about 112. Every long shot gets longer by a few inches, and every position route has more distance to cover.
Against a pro 8 the gap shrinks to 18 percent more area. That's why players who can't quite fit a 9 footer often find the pro 8 plays closer to the big table than to a home 8.
Room: the deciding number
With standard 58 inch cues, Brunswick's room guide lists 13 x 17 feet for a home 8, 13.5 x 17.5 for a pro 8 and 14 x 18 for a 9. Exact two-cue math gives 13 feet 4 inches by 17 feet for the home 8 and 13 feet 10 inches by 18 feet for the 9, so the two charts agree within a few inches.
Be wary of the short-cue row for the 9 footer. Brunswick lists 12.5 x 16.5 feet with 52 inch cues, the same as an oversize 8, but straight math with a 52 inch cue around a 50 x 100 bed comes to about 12 feet 10 inches by 17 feet. Planning a 9 footer around short cues is how people end up with a table that's awkward on every rail.
Our rule: if the room clears 14 x 18 with nothing in the swing zone, the 9 fits. If you'd need a short cue along more than one wall, the 8 (or a pro 8) is the better table for that room. How to measure, plus posts, doors and chairs, is in how much room you need for a pool table.
How each size plays
The 9 footer is the size professional pool is played on; Predator's own Apex page calls 9 feet the professional and tournament-standard size. It's harder in specific ways. Long straight-ins expose any wobble in your stroke. Speed control matters more because the cue ball has farther to travel. Pattern play opens up, because there's room to plan three balls ahead instead of nudging the cue ball a few inches.
The 8 footer is still a real pool table. It rewards position play far more than a bar box, and casual players make more balls on it, which keeps family games moving. Practice on a 9 and a smaller table feels roomy. Going the other way is harder.
The pro 8: the option in the middle
If your room clears about 13.5 x 17.5 feet but not 14 x 18, look for a table sold as oversize 8, pro 8 or 8.5 foot. It plays on 46 x 92 inches, which is the World Pool-Billiard Association's official 8 foot size, so it's a recognized table and not a compromise size. Order cloth and covers for the pro 8; home 8 cloth won't fit. More on the home 8 versus pro 8 is in 8 foot pool tables.
Cost to buy and to keep
Nine footers start higher and the cheap end is thin. In Brunswick's store today, 8 foot tables start around $3,000 and 9 foot tables around $5,000. The same Brunswick model (the Glenwood) lists about $600 more at 9 feet than at 8. None of the slate tables in our Amazon picks come in 9 feet, so expect to buy a 9 footer from a dealer or the maker.
Running costs follow size. A professional refelt runs about $300 to $600, and a 9 footer with tournament worsted cloth sits at the high end (see refelting cost). A local move of a slate table is typically $300 to $600 before stairs, and the heavier 9 foot slates don't make that cheaper (see pool table moving cost).
Resale cuts both ways. Fewer homes fit a 9 footer, so the pool of buyers is smaller. A good 9 footer from a known maker still sells to serious players; a generic one can sit. For what used tables bring, see used pool table prices.
Who should buy which
- Buy the 9 if the room clears 14 x 18, you play at least weekly and getting better matters to you. It's the table the game is built around.
- Buy a pro 8 if the room is 13.5 x 17.5 to 14 x 18 and you want the closest thing to a 9.
- Buy a home 8 if the room is around 13 x 17, the table is mainly for family and guests, or you want the widest choice of tables and the easiest resale.
- Don't put a 9 in an 8 foot room. An 8 footer with a full stroke on every side plays better than a 9 footer with short cues on two walls.
Torn between 7 and 8 instead? See 7 ft vs 8 ft.
Sources
- Brunswick Billiards: room size requirements
- WPA Recommended Equipment Specifications (8 and 9 foot playing surfaces, sight spacing)
- Diamond Billiards Professional specs (sizes, weights, minimum rooms)
- Predator Apex 9 ft specs
- Brunswick Billiards table catalog (sizes and list prices by model)
Our picks
Links open the current selection and price on Amazon so you can compare real reviews before buying.
Playcraft Charles River 8 ft Slate Pool Table
A well-built home 8 footerOne-inch framed slate honed to a thousandth of an inch, a choice of 21 cloth colors and a five-year warranty against manufacturing defects. Playcraft's own listing tells you to hire a billiard installer rather than a furniture assembler, which is the right advice for any slate table.
Amazon price: $2,900.00 as of 1:37 PM EDT. Price and availability can change; Amazon’s price at purchase applies.
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Simonis 860 Cloth
Tournament-speed cloth on a 9 footerWorsted cloth plays faster and truer than napped felt, and Simonis 860 is one of the best-known worsted cloths. If you're buying a 9 footer to train on, cover it with cloth that plays like a poolroom table, and order the cut for your table size. Of the Simonis line, 860 is the durable all-round choice and 760 is a little faster.
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GSE Shorty Pool Cue, 36 to 58 Inch
One tight wallSold in 36, 42, 48, 52 and 58 inch lengths, so you can match the one short side of an otherwise workable room. If you'd need it on two walls, buy the smaller table instead.
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VINTORKY Brass Cross Bridge Stick
Reaching the middle of a 9 footerOn a 50 x 100 inch table you'll reach for the bridge more often than on an 8. This one has a removable brass cross head that fits in a cue case pocket, so it travels to league night too.
Check price on AmazonFrequently asked questions
How much bigger is a 9 foot pool table than an 8 foot?
A 9 foot plays on 50 x 100 inches against 44 x 88 for a home 8 foot: 6 inches wider, 12 inches longer and about 29 percent more playing area. Outside, a 9 footer is usually 110 to 115 inches long.
What size is a 9 ft pool table?
The playing surface is 50 x 100 inches (127 x 254 cm). Outside dimensions run about 110.5 to 115 inches long and 60.5 to 65 inches wide depending on the rails. Full details are on our 9 foot pool table page.
How much room do I need for a 9 foot pool table?
About 14 x 18 feet with standard 58 inch cues, per Brunswick. Exact math gives 13 feet 10 inches by 18 feet. Short cues reduce it, but don't plan the whole room around them.
How big is an 8 foot pool table?
A home 8 foot table plays on 44 x 88 inches and measures roughly 96 to 104 inches long and 52 to 59 inches wide outside. An oversize or pro 8 plays on 46 x 92 inches.
Is a pro 8 the same as a 9 foot table?
No. A pro 8 plays on 46 x 92 inches, the WPA's 8 foot size. A 9 foot plays on 50 x 100. The pro 8 is the best fit for rooms of about 13.5 x 17.5 feet.
Do professionals play on 8 foot tables?
Major professional events are played on 9 foot tables. The WPA does recognize a 46 x 92 inch 8 foot table, and many leagues play on 7 foot bar boxes, but the pro game lives on the 9 footer.
Is a 9 foot table too hard for beginners?
It's harder, not too hard. Beginners miss more long shots at first and build a straighter stroke faster. If the table is mainly for kids and casual guests, an 8 footer keeps games moving.
Does a 9 foot table cost much more than an 8 foot?
Usually yes. In Brunswick's store, 9 foot tables start around 5,000 dollars against about 3,000 for 8 foot, and the same model costs about 600 dollars more at 9 feet. Refelting and moving cost more on the bigger table too.
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