What is the Best Flooring Under a Pool Table?

Choosing the right flooring under a pool table is crucial for both the longevity, the levelness of the table and the floor itself. Pool tables are heavy and require a stable, durable surface to ensure optimal play and safety.

This article explores various flooring options, their pros and cons, and what to consider when selecting the best flooring for your pool table.

Key Takeaways

• Durability and Stability: The flooring must withstand the weight of the pool table and provide a stable surface.
• Aesthetics and Comfort: The flooring should complement the room’s decor and offer comfort for players.
• Maintenance and Longevity: Consider the ease of cleaning and the floor’s ability to resist wear and tear.

Best Flooring for a Pool Table – Quick Answer

The best flooring for a pool table depends on your individual needs and preferences. 

However, hardwood and floating vinyl floors are often preferred for their balance of durability, aesthetics, and functionality.

They provide a stable foundation for the pool table while also contributing to the overall look of the room.

For comfort and noise reduction, carpet is also a great choice, especially in residential settings.

Understanding the Weight of Pool Tables

Pool tables are substantial pieces of furniture, with some weighing over 1,000 pounds.

It’s important that the floor can evenly distribute the pool table’s weight, and an uneven distribution can lead to warping or damage to the table and floor.

The flooring must also be able to support the heavy weight of a pool table, and resilient enough to absorb minor impacts, whilst not buckling, denting or cracking under the pressure.

• Some flooring materials, like for instance laminate, can expand or contract with changes in humidity and temperature. This can affect both the floor and the levelness of the pool table.
• Equally important for lots of players is the consideration of noise. Carpets and rugs, for instance, can absorb sound, making the game overall quieter for others. 

Can You Put a Pool Table on Hardwood Flooring?

Yes, you can put a pool table on hardwood flooring and offers several advantages, especially when considering its use in areas like game rooms where pool tables are placed.

Advantages of a Pool Table on Hardwood Flooring

Elegant Look

Hardwood floors provide a classic and sophisticated appearance that can enhance the overall aesthetic of any room.

With a wide variety of wood types, stains, and finishes available, hardwood can complement many interior design styles, from traditional to modern.

Durability

Hardwood floors are known for their durability.

• They can withstand the heavy weight of furniture, including pool tables.
• When properly maintained, hardwood floors can last for decades, making them a long-term investment for your home.

Allergen Reduction

Unlike carpets, hardwood floors don’t harbor allergens like dust mites, pollen, or pet dander, making them a healthier choice for those with allergies.

Ease of Cleaning

Hardwood floors are relatively easy to clean and maintain, requiring only sweeping or vacuuming and occasional mopping.

Adaptability

Hardwood floors pair well with area rugs, allowing for additional comfort and style customization.

Disadvantages of Hardwood Flooring Under a Pool Table

• Hardwood floors can be susceptible to scratches and dents, especially from pool cues, balls, or the movement of furniture. The heavy weight of a pool table can also potentially cause indentations.
• Hardwood is sensitive to moisture and spills from drinks, which are common in game rooms, can damage the wood if not promptly cleaned up.
• Hardwood flooring is often more expensive than other flooring options both in terms of material and installation costs. Repairing scratches, dents, or water damage on hardwood floors can be costly, as can periodic refinishing to maintain their appearance.
• Hardwood floors can amplify sounds, such as the noise of pool balls striking each other or hitting the floor, which might be a consideration in multi-level homes.

Is It Ok to Put a Pool Table on Carpet?

Yes, it is generally okay to put a pool table on carpet and the feeling of warmth it provides while playing, gives carpeted flooring the edge for lots of players over most other types of flooring.

1. Carpet under a pool table also acts like a cushion that protects the subfloor and also lessens the impact of dropped balls or cue sticks.
2. A room with wall-to-wall carpet is also notably much quieter than most other floors. Carpets absorb sound, making the play area quieter and more comfortable for others in the household.
3. Carpet acts as a padding below the legs and stops it sliding across the floor.

However, there are several factors to consider, ensuring that it is a suitable choice for under your table.

The Type of Carpet

The type of carpet is very important to consider.

Short Pile Carpets are typically better for pool tables, as they offer more stability and less chance of the table sinking or becoming unlevel.

Thick or Plush Carpets can be more problematic due to their softness and the potential for greater movement or indentation. 

Opt for a low-pile or commercial-grade carpet, as these are more durable and provide a stable surface for the pool table.

Indentation, Maintenance and Damage

Cleaning under and around a pool table on carpet can be more challenging than on hard flooring, especially if you have regular thick carpet.

• The heavy weight of a pool table can also be a problem and leave indentations in the carpet, which may be permanent, depending on the carpet type.
• Walk around wear, because of the increased amount of foot traffic around pool tables, may also be visible depending on the carpet type.

Using coasters or pads under the pool table legs can help distribute the weight and minimize indentations. 

Can You Install Carpet Around a Pool Table?

Yes, you can install carpet around a pool table, but this process requires careful planning and execution. 

Here are the key steps and considerations for installing carpet around a pool table:

How to Fit a New Carpet Under a Pool Table?

There are a couple of ways to fit a new carpet under a pool table.

1. The simplest method is to cut holes in the carpet around the legs of the pool table, when you are fitting your carpet, as your pool table won’t have to be moved.
2. You can also box off the legs and carpet up to the boxes. It can be a much cleaner type of installation with trim as opposed to cutting around the legs.

The problem with both methods will come if you have to move your pool table, as you will be left with the cut holes.

Therefore, carpet squares, also known as carpet tiles, are a great option if you want to install carpet around your current pool table, however they are slightly more expensive than traditional carpeting.

Can You Put A Rug Under A Pool Table?

Yes, you can put a rug under a pool table and they provide similar benefits and drawbacks to using carpet.

Just like carpet, a rug also adds warmth to a cold room and does a great job protecting the subfloor. 

However, a rug can also add a lovely decorative touch to a room by framing a pool table beautifully and highlighting it as the centerpiece, aslong as you choose the right size of rug.

Rugs under a pool table can also be left with similar damage caused by the weight of a full size pool table.

Can You Put a Pool Table on a Floating Vinyl Floor?

Floating vinyl plank flooring is becoming a very popular type of home flooring because they are easy to install, they’re durable and affordable.

Yes, given the popularity of the floating floor type, they are becoming much more common under pool tables.

Concerns of Plank Flooring

Pool Table Weight

Many players are concerned by the plank flooring weight capacity, considering the weight of a pool table, but there are no issues. 

1. Each plank can hold up to 500 pounds
2. A pool table’s weight is distributed between the four legs.
3. A 1200 pound slate pool table only applies 300 pounds of pressure under each leg.

Vinyl Planks Buckling

Another concern of using vinyl plank flooring, is the possibility of it buckling.

• If you place a pool table directly on the joints, there’s a fair chance it will buckle.
• This type of flooring needs to breathe, and it can be prevented from doing so when too much weight and pressure is placed directly onto the joints.
• In doing so, the flooring is prevented from expanding and contracting as it needs, which causes it to buckle. 

When you position your pool table on floating vinyl flooring, make sure the joints are not blocked by the bottom of the legs.

If the floor is wider and longer than 30′, use transition moldings to stabilize the floor.

Pool Table Sliding

A pool table can experience a very small amount of sliding over its lifetime on certain types of non grip surfaces, like for instance on plank and tile flooring. 

Lighter MDF pool tables will slide more easily, than slate, however if you are concerned with sliding you can use props under your pool table for better grip like for instance:

1. Non-slip Mats
2. Furniture Pads
3. An Area Rug

Can You Put a Pool Table on a Concrete Floor?

Yes, you can put a pool table on a concrete floor, and in terms of durability, there’s not much better flooring options, however there are also a few disadvantages to concrete.

Advantages of Concrete Floors

• Strength and Stability: Concrete floors are more than capable of supporting the significant weight of a pool table without risk of damage.
• Level Surface: Concrete floors are often quite level and stable, which can make leveling the pool table easier.

Disadvantages for Concrete Floors

• Hardness: Concrete is a very hard material, which means that if pool balls are dropped, they are more likely to get damaged compared to softer flooring types.
• Comfort: Standing on concrete for extended periods can be uncomfortable for players. Using area rugs or anti-fatigue mats in the playing area can help alleviate discomfort.
• Coldness: Concrete can be cold, especially in basements or first floors. Rugs or carpets can add warmth to the playing area.

Can You Put a Pool Table on a Tile Floor?

Yes, you can put a pool table on a tile floor and in general, porcelain is the most durable, dense, long-lasting and best type of tile to use under your table. 

However, if you do have tiled flooring, there are few issues, including:

1. They are cold.
2. Do little in the way of quietening a room.
3. Ceramic tiles may crack from dropped cues or from balls flying off the pool table.

Porcelain is much less likely to crack, however, if your balls can be left with little knicks and scratches, as a result of the impact hitting the hard surface. 

The Benefits of Tiling Under a Pool Table

Despite the issues, there are many benefits to tiling under a pool table.

• They are aesthetically pleasing on the eye.
• There is an endless amount of designs that can suit the decor in any type of game room.
• They are one of the easiest types of floor to keep clean.
• Pool tables can be easily leveled on tiles.
• They have no settling period and are very stable type of flooring.

Final Thoughts What is the Best Flooring Under a Pool Table?

Each type of flooring that can go under a pool table, will have some benefits along with drawbacks. Therefore the best flooring type can be subjective, however hardwood floring under a pool table is hard beat. There are also strog arguments in for of carpet, for its comfortablilty, warmth and sound absorbing qualities.

References

https://www.legacybilliards.com/blogs/resources/billiard-room-flooring

https://www.gametablesonline.com/blog/pool-tables-carpet-hardwood-floors/

https://www.hbhomefurnishings.com/post/what-is-the-best-flooring-for-a-pool-table