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13' x 20' Room Size and 7' vs. 8' Pool Table Tradeoffs

9/21/2011 8:19:04 PM

13' x 20' Room Size and 7' vs. 8' Pool Table Tradeoffs

I have a 13' x 20' room and am torn between getting a 7' table that should work with full-sized cues, or an 8' table with need for an occasional short cue (52"). Anyone have suggestions on which would be the better trade-off? I lean towards the 8' table, just cause I like more playing area, but would welcome any suggestions from the board.

Thanks in advance!

Bill in Dallas

13' x 20' Room Size and 7' vs. 8' Pool Table Tradeoffs

Replies & Comments
  1. guestjags on 9/23/2011 8:44:25 AM

    To use a full size cue with a 7' table you need 13.5' so you would need a short cue even then.

  2. guestMitch Alsup on 9/23/2011 11:46:26 AM

    Pool Table Room Size

    Basically, your room is not quite large enough. You can ameliorate this with 55" cues instead of the std 58"ers and get a 7 foot table, or ameliorate this with 52" cues and get a 8 foot table.

    You will learn the requisite precision faster on the 8 foot table (beacuse you basically have to).

  3. guestbilliardsforum on 9/25/2011 8:20:11 AM

    Here is an article on this site which will help you determine the the room size for each pool table size and cue length:

    Pool Table Room Size

    You can enter the length of the cues (yes, every inch counts for some small home billiard rooms) and it will help factor that in. All room size calculations are explained so that you know the logic behind them.

  4. guestguest on 9/30/2011 7:00:53 AM

    Looks like I'll stick with the 7' table and the short cues. Thanks for the tips everyone!

    Bill in Dallas

  5. guestrunout on 2/9/2012 6:48:50 PM

    FYI Something not mentioned in the calculator is "inside dimensions" because 7', 8', and 9' are just nominal dimensions.

    7' table = 41" X 82" 8' table = 44" X 88" 9' table = 50" X 100"

    For my layout I used 50" X 100" (reasoning that your tip can't be any further out than that edge) besides the backstroke which will be shorter on most of those shots or even jacked up a little.

    I then made sure I had 60" all around from that point. I'm not done yet but I think it will work out fine!

    BTW my last house had 2 spots for a "short stick" no fun!

  6. guestbilliardsforum on 2/10/2012 11:15:14 AM

    Runout - that is a good point, I will work that option into the pool table room size calculator later today. Good call.

  7. guestAwdMan on 2/10/2012 10:33:21 PM

    Bill here is our room planning guides. Billiard Factory Room Planning Chart Do you have any half walls, or is it fully enclosed?

    Also here is a neat virtual room planner

  8. guestMitch Alsup on 2/21/2012 2:21:03 PM

    @runout - Actually, the size of the table corresponds directly to how much fabric is required to cover the bed and rails.

    • 7' table = 41" X 82"
    • 8' table = 44" X 88"
    • 8' table = 46" X 92" Oversized
    • 8' table = 45" X 90" Diamond
    • 9' table = 50" X 100"
  9. guesttasha_silvester on 4/22/2013 2:19:03 AM

    The correct room size suggestions for a pool table are as follows:

    • 7' x 3'5" Pool Table, Playing area of 78" x 39", Room Size = 16' x 13'
    • 8' x 4' Pool Table, Playing area of 88" x 44", Room Size = 17' x 13'5"
    • 9' x 4'5" Pool Table, Playing area of 100" x 50", Room Size = 18'4" x 13'10"
  10. guestObelix on 12/26/2020 5:52:05 PM

    I’m currently facing the same dilemma. I'm looking at putting a pool table in a 13-foot wide room.

    Two separate salesman from two different locations both say it’s better to play on the bigger pool table with the occasional need to do a shot with a short cue vs. playing on a smaller pool table altogether.

    They are arguing that the short cue will only be required during a direct left-to-right shot when the ball is directly against a rail.

    Thoughts anyone?

  11. guestMitch Alsup on 12/26/2020 6:00:45 PM

    I have an 8 -foot pool table in a room that is 14' wide X 16' long (I also have a corner of the rectangle consumed with a load bearing wall).

    So, what I did was to make two "house rules":

    1. If the cue ball is near one end rail and you can't get a good stroke on the cue ball, you first declare the shot (ball, pocket, angle, tip-impact-position) and then you are allowed to roll the cue ball forward at that angle to the first diamond (which in the room in question allows for the shot to be properly stroked.
    2. If you are impeded by the corner, you are allowed to move the cue ball forward or side-to-side the least amount possible to enable taking a good stroke at the cue ball.

    I do have a short cue, and I have an even shorter jump cue, but rarely are either used.

    After a while, you get used to where the impediments are and plan the cue ball stopping point to avoid the trouble most of the time.

    The alternatives are short cues, short pool tables, or not playing pool at all.

  12. guestObelix on 12/26/2020 6:49:02 PM

    So, in your opinion, you can’t comfortably play a cue ball on the rail with a 14-foot wide room. so how can I possibly do it in a 13-foot room.

    Two different dealers said it would be okay. LOL.

    I’m really stuck here and it’s a heavy investment.

  13. guestMitch Alsup on 12/26/2020 6:51:19 PM

    In my story above, it is my side-to-side width that is more than adequate, it is the long-to-long part that is constrained by walls and a corner taken out.

  14. guestObelix on 12/26/2020 6:59:23 PM

    Oh I’m sorry I didn’t see that. I see how a room 16-foot in length could be constraining. I’m lucky that the length for me is open concept.

    If you have 16 feet, that leaves you with 4 feet per side. For me, 13 feet less 4 feet, leaves 4.5 feet.

    What do you think about about the 13-foot width?

    What would you buy:

    1. a smaller pool table, or,
    2. a larger pool table and some smaller cues?
  15. guestRayMills on 12/27/2020 1:05:22 PM

    My first consideration is the size of the pool tables that you're going to play on elsewhere.

    Next, consider whether or not playing on a bigger pool table and having to incorporate house rules (such as @Mitch Alsup did) is an annoyance to you. If you're planning on being in a league with 7-footer pool tables, shoot for that. If you want to get better and better and plan to play at various other future venues, then go bigger.

    I've had bar boxes in apartments for years, and the rarity of squeezed situations and the casual (and usually solitary) nature of competition make moving a cue ball a few inches very acceptable.

    By the way, most cues are 57", which is 4.75'. Most 8-foot tables' playing area are 44" x 88" or 3.67' x 7.33'. Whichever way you want to convert it, I simply add 120" or 10' to see how a room fits (with a simple 3" stroking buffer). So the numbers work out to 164" x 208" and 13.17' x 16.83' for a minimal practical room size.

  16. guestrunout on 12/28/2020 6:11:00 AM

    I'm lucky to have a 9' Diamond pool table with room and no need for a short cue!

    I would definitely get a smaller pool table rather than have to use a short cue.

    The one possible exception would be if it was only one pole or column.

    I took care of that problem though!

  17. guestHarrie Back on 12/30/2020 1:49:35 PM

    To be comfortable playing at the pool table, figure for 60" per side.

    That is measured from the tip or edge of the cushion to the wall on all sides of the pool table.

    So, the playing surface measurements, plus 120" is what I would go by if you have the room.

    I hope this makes sense.

  18. guestRayMills on 12/30/2020 3:45:54 PM

    That's what was stated message-before-last.

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13' x 20' Room Size and 7' vs. 8' Pool Table Tradeoffs

  • Title: 13' x 20' Room Size and 7' vs. 8' Pool Table Tradeoffs
  • Author:
  • Published: 9/21/2011 8:19:04 PM