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The best air hockey tables
Broke…again?
Air hockey is one of those games that can get competitive pretty quickly. Still, a good air hockey table should be able to withstand the rough play it’s subjected to.
If your table keeps breaking, there’s a good chance that it wasn’t well-built to begin with. Thankfully, not every gaming equipment is like this. To help you in your search, we’ve compiled a list of the best air hockey tables available. Read on to learn more.
Best overall
MD Sports Air Powered Hockey Table
MD Sports Air Powered Hockey Table
The main selling point of the MD Sports air hockey table is the fact that it’s well-rounded. Simply put; it contains most – if not all – features you’d want in this unit. From a scratch-resistant playing field to oversized leg levelers and an electronic scorer, it has it all.
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Have you been hunting for an air hockey table that has all the bells and whistles? If you have, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything better than the MD Sports Air Powered model.
Designed for two-person gameplay, the table is pretty big. It measures 90” by 48”, giving you plenty of space to practice your skills.
Better yet, it’s designed with durability in mind. The playfield is made of a scratch-resistant and high-gloss material, promising durability regardless of how intense the game gets. This material also helps to boost puck speed.
Another feature you’re sure to notice entails the oversized levelers. These ensure that the table remains stable throughout.
Keeping track of scores also won’t be difficult. This is thanks to the overhead scorer included with the air hockey table.
While the MD Sports checks all the boxes for what you’d want in an air hockey table, it’s quite expensive. If you don’t want to spend a ton of money on this affair, you may have to look for an alternative.
Best affordable & best mini table
Rally and Roar Tabletop Air Hockey Table
Rally and Roar Tabletop Air Hockey Table
The Rally and Roar air hockey table scores on multiple fonts. For one, it’s affordable, making it easy to buy even if you have a shoestring budget. Secondly, it’s compact, saving you precious storage space.
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If you’re looking to buy an air hockey table on a budget, or don’t have much space in your home, the Rally and Roar is a solid option.
Its dimensions are 40” by 20” by 9”, so it’s not too big that it will occupy a huge chunk of space. However, it also comes with a nice selection of features that are sure to amp up your gaming experience.
Apart from its compact design, another area where this table shines is in assembly. The manufacturer claims that it takes less than 15 minutes to completely piece it together.
Should you choose to place it on top of your coffee table or flooring, you won’t have to worry about any scratch marks. This is because the legs are encased in foam for maximum protection.
Overall, the Rally and Roar is a welcome addition to any game room. However, it does not come with the 2 AAA batteries required to operate the air hockey table. To save you time and money, it would have been nice if the batteries were included in the package.
Best for kids
JOOLA Sport Squad HX40 Air Hockey Table
JOOLA Sport Squad HX40 Air Hockey Table
The Sport Squad HX40 has features that make it well-suited for kids. It’s light and requires minimal assembly. It also boasts a tabletop design, enabling kids of different ages to access the playing surface comfortably. We also like that it has a scoring system to keep track of which player is winning.
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If you have kids who are dying to get an air hockey table, the Sport Squad HX40 makes for an excellent surprise gift!
This unit is chock full of features that make it user-friendly for kids. For starters, it has a very simple assembly. All you need to do is connect the two goal boxes and it will be ready for use.
The table sports a minimalist design that comes in handy for kids. It’s a tabletop that is 40” long, 20” wide and just 5” high. This makes it easy for even toddlers to play from a comfortable height level.
The HX40 also prides itself on being durable. It has rubber pads that prevent it from leaving marks on your surface.
This table also includes its own sliding abacus scoring system. This means you’ll rarely encounter a situation where your kids are arguing over which player has scored the highest number of goals.
The one thing missing from this air hockey table is an on/off switch. As a result, the machine kicks into gear as soon as you plug it in.
Best for home & best under $200
Triumph Sports Fire ‘n Ice Light Up Air Hockey Table
Triumph Sports Fire ‘n Ice Light Up Air Hockey Table
The biggest draw of the Triumph Fire n Ice is its affordability. For less than $200, this table gives you plenty of value for your money. And, it provides a pretty exciting gaming experience, with all the lights and flashing accessories.
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Not looking to spend more than $200 on your air hockey table? If so, the Triumph Fire ‘n Ice is precisely what you need.
Despite its low pricing, this table provides one of the most thrilling gaming experiences. First off, the table comes in a vibrant red and blue color scheme. Secondly, it includes LED-lit accessories and flashing corners.
The Fire n Ice is also a fairly versatile air hockey table that can be used by both kids and adults. It has a height of 31 inches, which is a pretty reasonable height. More importantly, it has adjustable leg levelers, guaranteeing a flat playing surface.
Keeping track of scores is super easy as the table lights up each time a player scores. Besides, there’s even an abacus scoring system to do the legwork of tracking scores for you.
The only downside is the table’s weight. It tips the scales at 40 pounds, meaning it’s quite heavy.
Best for adults
Triumph Sports Lumen-X Lazer Air Hockey Table
Triumph Sports Lumen-X Lazer Air Hockey Table
The Triumph Lumen-X Lazer is the ideal air hockey table for adults. It comes complete with lighting fixtures and music, creating the perfect mood for a game night. It also has leg levelers, which help to keep the playing surface flat no matter how intense the game gets.
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You’ve already got the tasty appetizers and music sorted. The only thing missing to make your adult game night complete is a game. Well, the Triumph Lumen X-Lazer is sure to provide you endless fun and entertainment.
This air hockey table comes fitted with in-rail LED lighting as well as music, to create the perfect setting for gameplay.
Contrary to other tables that use one motor, the Lumen-X Lazer sports dual motor blowers. Thanks to these, there’s sufficient air flow, facilitating a fast and intense gaming experience.
Keeping track of scores is made easy with an electronic scorer. You also won’t have to worry about the table’s stability interfering with your game. This is because its 12mm thick legs contain four leg levers, thus, providing a flat playing surface.
While this air hockey table comes with a nice range of accessories, the electronic scoring device could do with a bit of improvement. In some instances, the system records scores unnecessarily or fails to record when it ought to.
Best mini tabletop
Best Choice Products Tabletop Air Hockey Table
Best Choice Products Tabletop Air Hockey Table
The biggest selling point for the Best Choice Products air hockey table is its lightweight and minimalist features. Its tabletop design allows you to place it on the floor or table; hence, saving on space.
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Do you live in a small apartment? If you do but would still like to enjoy a game of air hockey every once in a while, the Best Choice Products unit is for you.
It has a tabletop design, which makes it compact enough to be placed on the floor or table. The 40-inch unit also weighs a measly 16 pounds, making it easy to carry around.
Also crucial to note is that this air hockey table is fitted with manual sliding scorekeepers. The two pucks and two strikes glide easily across the surface, thanks in part to the 100V electric fan motor.
While it’s a good investment, the manufacturer should improve on packaging and shipping. There have been cases where the table arrives with dents and cracks, compromising its durability right from the get go.
Best with ping pong top
EastPoint Sports NHL Deluxe Power Play Hockey Table
EastPoint Sports NHL Deluxe Power Play Hockey Table
If you’ve been searching for an air hockey table that can double up as a ping pong playing surface, then this unit by EastPoint Sports is ideal. It comes with a wide array of accessories, enabling you to play both of these games at any time. And it’s super easy to set up too.
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If you like to play air hockey just as much as you like ping pong, then the EastPoint Sports table is perfect for you.
This table boasts a 2-in-1 design, rendering it useful to both air hockey and table tennis players. The set includes every accessory you’d need to play either of these games.
For instance, if you’re a ping pong player, then you’ll have access to paddles, table tennis balls, a net and post system.
Another thing we love about the EastPoint Sports table is its ease of setup. You’ll be able to assemble the table within minutes; hence, saving you time.
You also don’t need to worry yourself with pen and paper when it comes to recording scores. This is because the table has an automatic Led scoring system that provides a ton of convenience.
Best portable table top
Playcraft Sport Table Top Air Hockey Table
Playcraft Sport Table Top Air Hockey Table
The tabletop design on this air hockey table is its biggest selling point. It makes it easy to transport, set up, and saves you a significant amount of space. Despite its compact structure, this table comes fitted with a powerful motor. This provides sufficient power for the puck to move from one end to the other.
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Do you prefer an air hockey table that you can carry with you anywhere you go? If you do, you’ll be pleased to discover the Playcraft Sport Table.
The biggest highlight of this unit entails its tabletop design. This makes it possible to set it up literally anywhere, and not have to worry that it will occupy a huge chunk of space. To be a little more specific, this table measures 40” wide by 8” high by 20” deep.
Not surprising is that the table comes with just a few accessories. These attachments have been reduced so that they can work for a table of this size.
Thankfully, its compact design doesn’t come at the expense of the motor’s power. The motor is air-powered, allowing it to provide a decent amount of power to move the puck from one end to the other.
While the Playcraft air hockey table is compact and lightweight, it could benefit from some improvements in the durability sector.
Best with multiple games
Best Choice Products 4-in-1 Multi Game Table
Best Choice Products 4-in-1 Multi Game Table
For households that get bored of playing the same game repeatedly, the Best Choice Multi Game Table is a great choice. It’s meant to be used for playing up to 4 games: ping pong, air hockey, billiards and foosball. And the best part is, the package includes any other accessory you’d need to play these games.
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If you’re the sort of individual who likes to play a variety of games, this 4-in-1 Multi Game Table by Best Choice Products is the ultimate pick!
The four games that you’ll be able to play are foosball, billiards, table tennis and of course, air hockey. With such an investment, you’re guaranteed that your game nights will never be boring again.
This air hockey table boasts a pretty solid construction too. It’s made from a combination of MDF and high-quality plastic that is sourced from the U.S., resulting in a highly durable table.
You will also be impressed with how easy it is to set up. If you’re looking to switch between games, all you have to do is stack the playing surfaces on top of one another.
Best under $1000
ESPN Sports Air Hockey Game Table
ESPN Sports Air Hockey Game Table
Air hockey table prices can add up quickly. Thankfully, this one comes in at under $1,000, making it relatively affordable. Despite its fair pricing, it includes a generous set of accessories that include pushers, pucks, storage slots and cup holders. This table is also very well-built, so you’ll not have to worry about its durability.
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If you’re not looking to spend over $1000 on your new air hockey table, the ESPN unit fits the bill.
One other feature that’s sure to impress you is that it’s available in three size options. This gives you the freedom to pick one that fits your space perfectly. If you have an ultra-small space, then go for the 5 foot model. For slightly bigger spaces, the 6- or 7-foot options are ideal.
Like most of the air hockey tables in our review, this one also includes an array of accessories. These include 4 pucks and 4 pushers that can be used for multiplayer gaming. You also get 2 cup holders and storage slots for your pucks and strikers.
The scoring system on board this table is one of the most advanced that you’ll ever come across. Designed to stretch over the entire table, it contains arcade sound effects, illumination effects and a game timer.
What to look for in a good air hockey table
There are a few things you should keep in mind before purchasing an air hockey table. These are:
Type
Air hockey tables fall under four main categories, namely:
Tabletop
As implied in the name, this type sports a tabletop design, allowing for easy portability.
Such air hockey tables are constructed using ultra-light materials, and they’re also low-priced. This makes them the most suitable options for kids and homeowners who don’t have much space.
Arcade
These air hockey tables are the complete opposite of the tabletop designs, in that they’re made of heavy duty materials like steel.
A lot of these tables also boast cutting-edge features such as an electronic scoring system, overhead lighting, and powerful air blowers. Taking these features into account, it is no wonder they are the most expensive of the batch.
Standard
These air hockey tables are identical in size to the arcade varieties. What makes them different is that they’re made of slightly less durable materials. They also lack the fancy features that you’re likely to find in the arcade models.
Convertible
The last type of air hockey tables are known as convertibles. As you might have guessed, these come with features that increase their range of use.
For instance, some come with inserts that allow you to use them as pool, foosball or table tennis tables. They’re an excellent choice if you’re looking to add a bit of flexibility to your game room.
Size
Once you’ve decided the type of air hockey table to get, the next factor you’ll want to consider is size.
These tables come in a wide range of sizes, with some spanning up to 90 inches long. A regular sized air hockey table usually measures 48 inches wide by 84 inches long.
The easiest way to approach this is to think about the amount of space you’re willing to set aside for its setup.
If you want a gigantic table that can fit in your home entertainment room, then go for an arcade or convertible-style. But if you have limited space, then look for one with a tabletop design.
Material
The material used in the construction of an air hockey table plays a crucial role in its durability, weight and stability.
The most common materials used to make these tables are:
Plastic – the good thing about air hockey tables made of this material is that they’re cheap. But to ensure you’re not compromising on durability, ensure that it’s made of heavy duty plastic.
Wood – such tables have outstanding support. Nonetheless, we recommend going for those with big, sturdy legs as well as intersecting beams to get the best form of support.
Metal – air hockey tables made of metal are quite heavy. However, they also offer the best durability.
Airflow
This is yet another factor that you should pay attention to.
Here’s the deal, a powerful and consistent airflow is necessary to ensure that each puck glides on the playing field smoothly. This then guarantees that the game is fair for both parties.
In that regard, look for a table that has a minimum of 100-volt fan motor that will offer a smooth and constant airflow.
While you’re at it, keep in mind that the airflow will also depend on the size, number and positioning of the air holes.
A table with numerous tiny air holes, which are positioned in close proximity, allows the puck to glide faster. Contrary, one with air holes that are widely spaced will cause the puck to move slower.
Accessories
The set of accessories included with each air hockey table will vary from one brand to another. Some attachments that you can look for are:
- Lighting – the lighting fixture can be designed to cast light from above, underneath the playing field or in the rink walls.
- Electronic scoring system – this is designed to automatically record each goal that is scored. Some models even have speakers that emit a sound each time a player scores.
- Leg levelers – this is a handy feature as it enables you to adjust the height of the table’s legs to achieve a flat playing surface.
- Media inputs – such give you the freedom to connect your tablet, phone or any other gadget to your air hockey table. In doing so, you can even play music via an integrated sound system.
Assembly
The last factor you should examine is the ease of assembling your air hockey table. This is particularly important if you plan to assemble, then disassemble each time you’re playing this game.
On that note, tabletop models offer the least assembly. All you’ll need to do is remove the table from its package, and switch it on.
Standard air hockey tables also require very minimal assembly. Simply attach the legs, confirm that the blower motor is secure and you’re all set.
For arcade varieties, assembly involves attaching the base and frame of the table. You’ll also need to attach any extra features provided like lighting or electronic scorer.
FAQ
What is the ideal size for an air hockey table?
Air hockey tables are available in a wide range of sizes. So it all depends on your preferences or its intended use.
For instance, if you’re buying one for kids, then you can choose one as small as four feet long. For older kids and adults, a 6-foot model works better. And if you’re purchasing one for an all-adult household, then consider the 7- or 8-foot long varieties.
How can I maintain my air hockey table?
The most crucial component that you’ll need to keep in pristine condition is the playing field. You can use an off-the-shelf cleaner, then polish this area with a rag. However, use just a small amount of the cleaner so that you don’t end up blocking the air holes.
In addition, inspect the fan unit on occasion. Over time, it can trap dust that compromises its efficiency.
Final verdict
There are several features that you should focus on when buying an air hockey table. For one, you should steer clear of tables whose rails are made of thin laminated aluminum. Instead, opt for those with solid aluminum, providing excellent rebound and durability.
You’ll also want to pay attention to the table’s support system. Ideally, the air hockey table should have a robust base and legs. Preferably, the legs should be made of steel or wood laminate.
