The best foosball tables for home use
Lost… Again?
If you lost bragging rights to a friend or colleague and want revenge or are just looking to make your home a bit more fun, getting a foosball table might be the perfect solution.
Foosball has many names. Some call it table football, others table soccer. In Germany they even call it “Kicker” and in France “Babyfoot”. It was invented in 1821, according to Wikipedia, and it keeps growing in popularity.
Kids and adults both love a game of foosball at the casual level, but both age groups (even kids) compete internationally in the International Table Soccer Federations (ITSF) tournaments. I’ve had my fair share of these fun tournaments all over the world and even won a few. With hundreds of tournaments every year and prizes sometimes going up to $100.000 for winning a single tournament, there’s a vast number of skilled players around the world.
However, most players prefer to keep it casual, and foosball is perfect for that too. Having a foosball table at your home makes it more fun to visit you. If you invite your friends, colleagues, or family for a game, you’ll be surprised how much fun they (and you) will be having. If you buy it for your kids, they just might end up as the most popular child in their class.
But all foosball tables aren’t created equal. That wouldn’t be much fun either, right? Some are more durable than others, some are more fun, some are meant for professional play, some for casual play and some are just plain boring to play. That’s why we have selected these foosball tables to guide you through the jungle of metal and plastic foosball men, and help you find the most suitable one for your needs.
Best overall & best for competitive play
Tornado T-3000 foosball table
This foosball table is the overall best one. For casual play, it’s fun and fast. You can do all types of tricks, the ball doesn’t get stuck much and you can even pick up some competitive techniques with a bit of practice. It’s also America’s official competition table and there’s a ton of tournaments on this table worldwide.
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This is the most popular foosball table worldwide. And for good reason. It’s a perfect choice for casual and competitive players. It allows for a fast-paced playing-style while still allowing perfect ball control. It is one of the only tables with a 3-rod goalie, which may seem odd at first. But it’s not. You can only defend the goal with the middle goalie, the two others are simply for moving the ball around if it gets stuck, which otherwise can be quite annoying.
While casual players will have a ton of fun shooting the ball back and forth, spinning the rods and try to defend the crazy-fast random shots, it’s quite easy to learn some more competitive techniques. So, if you’re a beginner, you can quickly start to learn some simple bank shots, push and pull shots, snake shots and even a few stick and brush passes on this table. Many players are happy to teach you a few tricks in foosball clubs or bars, otherwise there are also plenty of good YouTube tutorials.
The Tornado T-3000 foosball table is also very durable. This ensures you get a good value for your money. Because… Let’s be honest. It’s very expensive. It costs 4 figures which is a lot more than most tables. However, it will probably last you a lifetime and be much more fun to play than other tables. After a few years, if you’re unlucky and play like a pro, you might break a foosball man or two. Luckily it just takes a screwdriver and usually less than $30 to replace them. Everything else is very unlikely to break. For other tables, it might not even be possible to find replacements. So, in the long run, I highly recommend this over the others.
There are other great pro foosball tables. Italy’s Garlando and Roberto Sport, Frances Bonzini and Germany’s Leonhart to name the five official world championship tables. But I won’t focus much on these as I believe Tornado to be the best pro table and I want to introduce some cheaper alternatives since this list is not for pros only. The following tables can still be a great choice if you want to save some money and just have some easy fun.
Best for kids
Best Choice Products Foosball Table
This is a very cheap foosball table that’s perfect for beginner kids. It’s small and therefore suitable for small spaces and easy for kids to reach the handles.
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This foosball table is made of steel, wood, and plastic. It’s very small, so adults may hurt their back after a game or two and therefore I won’t recommend it for adults. It is quite fun to play on for beginners, but the ball and foosball men won’t allow for any more advanced ball control and tricks.
It’s cheap and the material could be much better. It does however provide excellent value for the money and the wood design look nice. Overall, for kids, it may be the best gift you ever give them.
Best for casual players
KICK Legend Foosball Table
A perfect balance of price, fun, skills and durability that makes it an overall great choice for the casual players.
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The KICK Legend foosball table is large and therefore it won’t hurt your back when adults play it, like smaller tables will. While assembly might be challenging, it will be well worth it. Since the material is primarily high-quality stainless steel, this foosball table will possibly last you a few decades.
Its design is excellent and similar to the tornado. It has a 3-rod goalie to avoid dead balls, a hole in the middle to start a new point and the feet are adjustable so you can balance the playing field and avoid tilting.
Whether you own a cafe, bar, school or want it in your home, this is the next-best choice. It can’t compete with the Tornado, but in this price range you won’t find better.
Best for casual european players
Kick Triumph Foosball Table
This table from Kick is sturdy, fun, and affordable. It’s playing field, foosball men and rods make it a perfect fit for casual European players.
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The other Kick Legend foosball table can be compared to a cheaper version of Tornado. This foosball table from Kick, the Triumph table, is more like the European pro tables. The design looks like a French Bonzini, but the playing field and foosball men feels more like an Italian Garlando and Roberto Sport.
While both foosball tables from Kick are suitable for any office, bar, cafe or home, it might make more sense to get this one if you live in Europe and the other one if you live in the US. In case the players have experience with other tables in their country and prefer that type of table, which is most likely. For a business, it might be a good idea to get both.
Best affordable option for casual adults
Rally and Roar Foosball Table
While most other tables are made mostly of steel, this is made of wood. Therefore, it’s an affordable option with an added benefit of also being a beautiful decoration in your home.
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Rally and Roar’s foosball table cost roughly half of Kick’s foosball tables. While still being meant for casual adult players, this is a much cheaper option. Some would argue, it looks better too. But what it gains in price and look, it lacks in durability. Wood just isn’t as durable as steel.
Therefore, this table is probably most suitable for someone who likes the look and don’t play often. If you play more often, go for Tornado or one of Kick’s tables. The durability makes this better for personal use in homes and less suitable for offices, bars, and schools since it probably won’t last that long.
Best tornado alternative for serious players
Warrior Table Soccer Pro Foosball Table
This foosball table has a nice selection of features that make it fit for professional players. It even comes in the official tournament size, giving you an opportunity to practice games at an advanced level.
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Are you a professional player looking to buy a foosball table at a reasonable price? If you are, the Warrior Pro model is a great substitute for the Tornado unit.
This table boasts several features that you’re sure to love. The most impressive is its striking design that constitutes a spacious playing field, two sets of counterbalanced men and steel rods.
While not many manufacturers consider players’ safety, this one does. This explains why they’ve incorporated rod guards that prevent players from getting injured by fast-moving rods.
Weighing 200 pounds, this foosball table is certainly heavy. But this doesn’t affect its ease of assembly, which only takes about 25 minutes.
Best multi-functional
Sunnydaze 10 Combination Multi Game Table
This foosball table is the best multi-functional table there is in the market. It has different games to keep you, your family and friends entertained.
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Want to triple your indoor entertainment? Then you’ll want to invest in the most versatile foosball table you can find.
One that’s perfect for this application is the Sunnydaze Multi Game Table. As implied in its title, this foosball table lets you play not one but ten different games. From push hockey to bowling, table tennis, chess and billiards, this unit is sure to provide endless entertainment.
One thing we like about its versatility is that it saves you space and money. Essentially, it saves you from having to dedicate more space and financial resources to a separate pool table and other gaming tables.
Hesitant to buy this foosball table? No need to as the Sunnydaze is backed by a one-year warranty.
Best durable
Giantex 48” Foosball Table
This foosball table is made of thick MDF board, which does not crack or deform easily.
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Don’t want to keep buying a foosball table after every couple of intense games? Then you’ll want to invest in one that will serve you for a lifetime. On that note, the Giantex model fits this description perfectly.
The table is constructed using ultra-thick MDF board, rendering it pretty resistant to impact. This is not the kind of table that breaks, cracks or deforms under pressure. Besides, it’s fitted with 1.5-inch levelers that add to its stability and durability.
Coming in a 48-inch size, the Giantex is equally suited for tournaments as it is for at-home games. In fact, it’s ideal for all players regardless of skill levels; be it kids, newbies or advanced players.
And thanks to the large size of the table top, balls roll more smoothly, facilitating a thrilling, fast-paced game.
Best tabletop design
Giantex 27″ Foosball Table
The most defining feature of this foosball table is its tabletop design. It means you can place the table on any surface, be it a countertop, a coffee table or even the floor.
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Have you been searching for the most compact foosball table available? If you have, the Giantex 27-inch, which sports a tabletop design, is exactly what you need.
The table measures 27- by 23- by 10 inches, meaning it’s very small-sized. This makes it flexible enough to set up on your coffee table, dining table or the floor. This aspect also makes for easy storage, as the table takes up very little space.
Add to this the fact that it weighs just 12 pounds, and you have a foosball table that’s relatively portable.
Despite its compact and lightweight profile, the Giantex Foosball is resilient enough to withstand a high-energy game. This stems from the fact that it’s made of engineered wood while the rods are made of alloy steel for optimal durability.
Also included in the kit are 12 players, 3 rows of players on each side. This makes it fairly easy to play 1-on-1 team games.
Most stylish
Sunnydaze Delano Foosball Table
This foosball table is the epitome of style because of its gray wood-like appearance.
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Planning to set up the foosball table in your living room? If so, then you’ll want to invest in one that’s not only functional but also classy. The Sunnydaze Delano checks these boxes and more.
The table is constructed using PVC-laminated MDF, guaranteeing maximum durability. But what makes it stand out is the gray wood-like texture that gives it a very sleek look.
Moreover, the foosball table has a decent range of accessories. These include a 46- by 27.5-inch playing field, 2 soccer balls, and 26 players. With these, you’re assured of having heaps of fun playing this game. There’s even an integrated abacus for easy tracking of scores.
What to look for in a good foosball table
When shopping for a good foosball table you should look for certain things to ensure you will get a table you won’t regret.
Ball control
On some tables it seems impossible to control the ball. While other tables make it quite easy. That’s because the ball, foosball men and playing field comes in different material and designs. Poor ball control is usually fine for beginners as they lack the skill to control the ball. If you’re just looking for a few games of spinning the rods, hoping for the best and let your reflexes carry the game, you don’t have to care about this factor. But with just a little bit of practice on a table with good ball control you’ll quickly find it much more fun, and you will improve your skills dramatically. Therefore, I will argue that a table with good ball control should be one of your top priorities.
Playing field
There’s a many different playing fields. Some are flat, others are round in the corners. Usually, it’s an advantage if the corners are round, since it ensures the ball doesn’t come to a full stop and you have to move it with your hands. If the corners are flat, like on Tornado, it’s preffered to go for a 3-rod goalie as you can then move the ball with one of the extra goalies, so the ball doesn’t stop.
Besides, some playing fields influence the ball control. Some fields allow for better ball control and less speed, others allow for less ball control and more speed, finally some have a good balance which is what you should be looking for.
Durability
Foosball tables are most commonly made of a combination of steel, wood and plastic. Try to look for a sturdy frame, goal, playing field, handles and foosball men. Usually, you will want the frame to be heavy for balance, durability and stability and the foosball men to be made of plastic. If the foosball men are made of metal, like on Bonzini tables, it can be more difficult to make a shot as the rod is heavier to move. Also, metal foosball men will require many adjustments with a screwdriver as they tend to get out of place.
If the foosball men are made of plastic, like on the Tornado and Kick tables, be aware that it is the first thing that is going to break. It’s still prefered over tables with metal foosball men and they will most likely last you between five to ten years before one finally breaks. Here again, it’s an advantage to have a Tornado table as the foosball men are cheap and easy to get online.
Fun
What does it matter if it isn’t fun to play? I’ve played on homemade tables during my travels, very old tables that wasn’t maintained properly and extremely cheap tables. It wasn’t fun… At all. That’s why I didn’t include any of the ultra-cheap and extremely small foosball tables in this list. You’ll want to look for a table where the ball doesn’t go to a full stop often, a table that allows for a good balance of ball control and speed and no obvious design flaws. I’ve seen some silly design flaws. Like having three foosball men on the midfield. Look for a table with one or three goalies, five midfielders and three in the attack.
Remember to get a ball that offers speed and control. For Tornado, go for a Tornado ball. For other tables, try to see if there’s a ball made specifically for that table. That’s most likely the case.
Finally, remember to take care of your table. You will want to clean dust from the playing field at least once per week, avoid getting alcohol or soda on it, replace the ball maybe once per month and lubricate the rods with oil every two weeks. There’s nothing worse than playing on tables that aren’t being maintained. You might have tried them in bars, cafés, schools, or offices. I have. With regrets.
Value for money
This one’s a bit obvious. But of course, you will want a good value for your money. Don’t just think about the price. Think about what you get out of it too. Maybe one table seems quite expensive, but if it last three times longer than a cheaper model and is much more fun to play at, you’re getting good value for your money.
FAQ
Which is the best foosball table?
Overall, no table beat the Tornado T-3000. While some European players may prefer tables like Bonzini, Leonhart, Garlando og Roberto Sport for example, Tornado T-3000 is still very popular in Europe. In USA, there’s no doubt that Tornado T-3000 is the most popular and best table. Whether it’s for competitions or casual play, it’s the best one overall.
What is a foosball table called?
Most commonly, a foosball table is called… A foosball table. In Europe it may be called Kicker or Babyfoot. Some even refer to it as a football table or soccer table.
How much does a good foosball table cost?
You can find very good tables in the $300-700 range for casual players. If you want some of the best ones, you’re looking at around two to three grand.
How do I choose a foosball table?
Consider the price, fun, ball control and durability.
Final verdict
Getting a foosball table is not only a great idea for yourself, It is also going to boost your popularity as your friends and family can stop by and try to “teach you a lesson”. It’s social, fun and may last a lifetime. There are many different ones, so you need to consider your needs before making a choice. The more expensive, the more durability, fun and ball control you will have. In most cases.
