Get a 9ft pool table if you play seriously and your room gives you full cue clearance on every side; otherwise, an 8ft is the better choice. On the official specifications, a 9ft table has 18% more cloth than an 8ft, yet it needs a room only 20cm longer and 10cm wider. If even that is tight, go smaller.
These are American pool sizes. If you're comparing English pool tables, the measurements are different, although the room calculation below still applies. For those, see the guide to 6ft vs 7ft pool tables.
How much bigger is a 9ft pool table than an 8ft?
The playing area of a 9ft table is 20cm longer and 10cm wider than a full-size 8ft table. Altogether, that adds roughly half a square metre of extra cloth.
The WPA equipment specifications set the 9ft playing surface at 100 x 50in (254 x 127cm) and the 8ft at 92 x 46in (233.7 x 116.8cm). Both measurements exclude the cushions, and both tables are exactly twice as long as they are wide.
| Table | Playing area | Cloth area | Minimum room (58in cue) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9ft (WPA) | 254 x 127cm (100 x 50in) | 3.23m² | 5.79 x 4.52m (19ft x 14ft 10in) |
| 8ft (WPA, "pro 8") | 233.7 x 116.8cm (92 x 46in) | 2.73m² | 5.59 x 4.42m (18ft 4in x 14ft 6in) |
| 8ft (home size) | 223.5 x 111.8cm (88 x 44in) | 2.50m² | 5.49 x 4.37m (18ft x 14ft 4in) |
Which "8ft" are you actually being quoted?
There are two common 8ft sizes, so always compare the playing area rather than the name. Dr Dave's table size guide lists the 92 x 46in "pro 8" alongside a smaller 88 x 44in "typical home table", and it describes the 9ft as the standard regulation size.
That difference matters more than you'd expect. Compared with the smaller home 8ft, a 9ft table gives you 29% more cloth rather than 18%, so two tables both advertised as "8ft" can offer noticeably different games.
How much more room does a 9ft pool table need?
Surprisingly little: about 10cm more at each end and 5cm more along each side.
The room you need depends on your cue as much as on the table. The rule Dr Dave quotes is straightforward: take the playing area, then add a 58in cue plus about 6in of backswing on every side. Applied to both sizes, a 9ft room comes out at 26.2 square metres, compared with 24.7 for an 8ft, which is only 6% more floor.
Here is the interesting part. The table grows by 18%, but the room grows by just 6%, because your cue clearance stays the same whichever size you choose. So if your room genuinely accommodates a full 8ft with proper cues, it's worth measuring again for a 9ft, because you may be closer than you think.
The other side of that calculation is less comfortable. If your room is already short for an 8ft, a 9ft will make every awkward shot near the wall slightly more awkward. With a 52in short cue, a 9ft table needs about 5.49 x 4.22m, which is the same room length that a home 8ft needs with a full-length cue.
What changes on real tables: footprint, weight and price
On the tables we sell, moving from 8ft to 9ft adds about 20 to 30cm of length and 40 to 70kg of weight, and sometimes nothing to the price.
The Sam K-Steel Mark 2 is available in both sizes, with the 9ft listed as its tournament size. The 8ft version measures 267 x 150cm on the outside and weighs approximately 480kg, while the 9ft measures 287 x 160cm and weighs approximately 550kg. Both cost £8,800.00, so you aren't paying a premium for the larger slate bed.
The SAM Royal Class is different. Its 8ft is 254 x 142cm and 310kg, its 9ft is 284 x 157cm and 350kg, and the 9ft costs £8,499.00 against £6,499.00 for the 8ft. To see what drives those prices, read why pool tables cost so much.
What changes the weight far more is the model you choose. The SAM Regenta 9ft weighs 720kg, which is more than twice the weight of the Royal Class 9ft. So if your table is going upstairs, or onto a suspended timber floor, check the individual model's weight before you worry about the extra foot. Access and weight are two of the checks before buying a pool table.
How does a 9ft table play compared with an 8ft?
A 9ft table is more demanding, and for serious players that's exactly the attraction. Shots are longer, position play covers more distance, and the balls have more room to separate after the break.
In an AzBilliards thread about choosing an 8ft instead of a 9ft, several experienced players recommend the 9ft for anyone practising seriously. One explains that it's easier to move down from a 9ft to a smaller table than to move up. Another noticed that his position play kept coming up short on 9ft tables after practising at home on an 8ft.
A second AzBilliards discussion reaches a similar conclusion for regular competitors. It also makes a useful observation: a casual home player probably wouldn't notice much difference at all.
Which size do owners regret?
The most common regret isn't the size itself; it's buying a table that leaves no space to cue properly.
Owners are refreshingly honest about this. In the first AzBilliards thread, one player squeezed in a 9ft and now needs a 42in cue for certain shots near the cushion. He describes it as aggravating but worth it. Others in the same discussion say they would rather adjust to a smaller table than depend on short cues. Dr Dave's guide records a similar pattern, noting that many people who resort to shorter cues end up unhappy and wish they'd bought a smaller table.
Serious players tend to regret the opposite decision. Several forum members believe a dedicated player will be happier with a 9ft in the long run. One even warns the original poster that he'd kick himself if he settled for less.
Casual owners sometimes regret going bigger, too. Under a popular YouTube video comparing table sizes, one viewer who owns a 9ft says his friends seemed to enjoy his previous 8ft more, and he's considering swapping back. Several other commenters say they decided on an 8ft for home after watching.
Some players settle on the "pro 8" as a compromise. One forum member says his oversized 8ft fits his room without short cues and plays more like a 9ft than an 8ft. As a result, switching to 9ft tables away from home no longer feels like a big change.
Questions about your pool table? Message Rossa on WhatsApp → +44 7348 956 222
Or email support@premiumpooltables.co.uk. Send me your room measurements and I'll tell you honestly which size fits.
When is an 8ft, or a smaller table, the right choice?
An 8ft is the better investment whenever a 9ft would force short cues, crowd out the rest of the room, or mainly host casual games.
Picture a Friday evening with friends round, a drink on the side and a frame going all the way to the black. That evening works perfectly on either size. It doesn't work when someone is stabbing at the white with the back of the cue pressed against the wall. Furniture, radiators and doors that open into the room all reduce your clearance, so measure to whatever actually obstructs the cue, not simply to the wall.
I'll be honest: for most UK homes where space is limited, an 8ft is the right table, and occasionally a 7ft is better still. A smaller table with comfortable cueing space will be used far more often than a 9ft you have to squeeze around. If you play in a league, practise regularly and your room clears the 9ft measurements, buy the 9ft. If not, choose the table that fits your room comfortably and enjoy it.
FAQ
Is a 9ft pool table too big for a home?
Not if the room is large enough. A 9ft table needs a clear space of about 5.79 x 4.52m with full-length cues. If your room is smaller than that, an 8ft or smaller table will play better.
Is an 8ft pool table too small for serious practice?
A full 92 x 46in 8ft is still a proper table for regular practice. However, if you mainly compete on 9ft tables, most experienced players recommend practising on the size you'll actually play on.
Does a 9ft pool table cost more than an 8ft?
Not always. The Sam K-Steel Mark 2 costs £8,800.00 in both sizes, but the SAM Royal Class 9ft costs £2,000.00 more than its 8ft. Delivery is free to mainland England & Wales, and deliveries to Scotland, Northern Ireland and offshore areas are quoted separately.
The verdict
If you play seriously and your room clears roughly 5.8 x 4.5m, a 9ft table is worth having, and it may not cost you anything extra. If your room is tighter, or the table is mainly for family entertainment, an 8ft with full cue clearance is the smarter decision. Either way, measure carefully first, and you'll end up with a games room that everyone genuinely wants to play in.