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The best table tennis tables
Feeling worn out…?
Anytime you want to play ping pong or table tennis, you always have to visit your long-time friend or go to the local tennis court. For a table tennis enthusiast, making countless trips can quickly wear you out.
But, what if you didn’t have to make dozens of trips to play this exciting game? What if you could play table tennis right in the comfort of your home? Amazing, right?
Well, these are the perks you stand to gain by investing in your own ping pong table. And the good thing is, these tables come in all sizes and prices, to meet different lifestyle and budgetary needs. To make your selection easy, here’s a list of the best ping pong tables available.
Best overall
JOOLA Inside 15 Table Tennis Table
JOOLA Inside 15 Table Tennis Table
Although the table is heavy and bulky, its three-inch caster wheels make it easy to move the table parts. Each part has four wheels allowing you to move them separately. What’s more, the wheels have locking devices that keep the table safe and stable when playing and storing.
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This table tennis table is the perfect option for first-time buyers. JOOLA balances out the most important features a first-time buyer would look for: construction, quality, and value.
The table is made from professional-grade MDF material known for its durability and water resistance.
It’s then overlaid with a silk-screened white striping cured with UV light to create a smooth surface that enhances bounce when playing. Setting it up is pretty straightforward, but you might need an extra pair of hands because it’s bulky.
The two-halve design means you have to set up each part separately and join them to make a full-size table.
You can also use one part to play the game solo. JOOLA also adds a spring-loaded latch system under the table to keep the parts locked into an upright position and prevent them from folding while playing.
Best for indoor
STIGA Advantage Professional Table Tennis Table
STIGA Advantage Professional Table Tennis Table
Unlike most table tennis tables that come dismantled, this one from STIGA is 95% preassembled. All you need is 10 minutes to attach the eight bolts to the legs, and it’s ready for use.
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If looking for an indoor table tennis table with a mid-range price tag, this one from STIGA is an excellent buy.
It has just the right thickness (16 mm) for casual play and weight for indoor use. The table also has a two-halves design similar to JOOLA’s table tennis table, allowing you to set them up separately for solo play.
Simply flip the table and stabilize the undercarriage to start playing. The design also makes it easy to fold away after a game.
That’s because the wheels have a self-opening design that ensures the legs deploy the play position automatically when opening and closing the table. The table also comes with a clamp-style net which is easy to attach and remove from the posts.
Best table tennis top
JOOLA Conversion Top Regulation Table Tennis Table
JOOLA Conversion Top Regulation Table Tennis Table
The three-hinge system of this conversion top makes it easy to fasten it on a billiard table. It also keeps the top secure when playing, while the padded bottom protects your billiard table from scratches.
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If you don’t have the space or finances to buy a full-size table tennis table, check out this conversion top. It converts any full-sized table in your office, house, or garage into a ping pong table, allowing you to enjoy the game at your convenience.
JOOLA equips it with a foam backing that gives a table tennis ball just the right bounce when playing. The backing also prevents the table from developing scratches during play. What’s more, the net hardly comes into contact with the table, protecting it from scratches.
If you’re worried about the fit, the table is five feet wide and nine feet long hence a perfect fit for most standard pool tables, dining, and outdoor picnic tables. You can also store it away easily when not playing. It should fit a standard closet.
Best for families
Barrington Billiards Official Size Table Tennis Table
Barrington Billiards Official Size Table Tennis Table
Unlike other table tennis tables whose undercarriage is made from steel, Barrington uses pure wood. This makes the table tennis table incredibly stable and durable.
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Movie nights make an excellent pastime on those lazy evenings, but if you’re looking for a better way to entertain your family, buy this table tennis table.
It has a durable construction as Barrington uses engineered wood to make this ping pong table. A black finish is added to showcase the material’s earth-toned quality and a metal frame to layer the corners all-around.
The hardwood finish creates a smooth surface for consistent ball bounce, a critical feature if you want to win. In addition, the wood is so thick, enhancing the bounce rate further. You’d assume that its bulky construction means hours of assembly but putting it together is a breeze.
You can set it up in a few minutes with the instructions provided, but you might need help because the table is heavy. Its bulky construction also means you’d have to designate a space to set it up permanently.
Best premium
Butterfly Centrefold 25 Table Tennis Table
Butterfly Centrefold 25 Table Tennis Table
The adjustable legs are a huge bonus for most players. The 30-inch height might be a little high for some players and finding a way to adjust it to a more comfortable height comes in handy. Each of the four legs has a height adjuster allowing you to fine-tune the table to a level playing ground.
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This ping pong table isn’t just a high-end table but a tournament-grade table.
Having been designed for the 2004 and 2005 U.S. Table Tennis Championships, it aces all the features one would look for in a premium table. To begin with, it’s 25 mm thick, providing the right bounce for topspin and backspin shots.
What’s more, the anti-skid top, which is scratch-proof, enhances ball bounce even further. The tabletop is lined with a strong metal frame to prevent scratches, and all the corners are equipped with protector pieces to protect you from injury.
Setting up the table is a breeze because it comes pre-assembled, and so is storing it. Its two-halve design allows you to fold it easily, reducing its size to 60’’(W) x 19’’ (L) x 63’’ (H).
Best for garage
JOOLA Rally TL 300 Table Tennis Table
JOOLA Rally TL 300 Table Tennis Table
Each table corner has a small space, just enough to hold three ping pong balls. The feature is a great addition for the price and is convenient because you don’t have to leave mid-game to fetch balls.
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JOOLA Rally TL is another great buy for indoor use. It adds to JOOLA’s Rally lineup, which features models with thicker frames to support the heavy table.
The TL model meets all the features a recreational player would look for, from the surface thickness to strong steel frames and its foldable design.
The surface sports a 15 mm medium density fiberboard (MDF) material which provides enough bounce for recreational play. It also has a silk-screened white striping printed to enhance durability and consistency.
JOOLA then fits a 1.5-inch tube apron that helps spread the bounce across the table. As for the undercarriage, it’s made from a steel frame that feels incredibly sturdy. Its two-piece folding design makes it easy to fold and store, reducing clutter in your garage.
Best for space saving
STIGA Space Saver Table Tennis Table
STIGA Space Saver Table Tennis Table
STIGA still uses the standard height of 30 inches, albeit offering a mini-size table tennis table. As such, you hardly need to bend over when playing the game.
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If you live in a small apartment and love playing table tennis from the comfort of your home, do not worry.
With STIGA’s space-saving ping pong table, you can still enjoy the game. It’s pretty compact, measuring only 70’’ x 40.5’’ x 30’’ (Lx W x H) when assembled and 35.5’’ x 40. 5’’ x 3.6” (L x W x H) when folded.
This means you can easily set it up in your living room and stash it in your closet when not in use. Its overall construction is designed to last long. The undercarriage is made from solid steel and layered with a powder coat to prevent rusting.
The tabletop is made from MDF, and a repeat coat process is used to create a smooth surface. When coupled with the table’s 1.8-inch thick frame, you have just the right bounce to play the game. The table doesn’t restrict one’s playability.
You can still pull all the moves and spins you would if you played on a full-size table. Skilled players can also use the table and exchange fast shots for a long time.
Best for basement
HEAD Summit Table Tennis Table
HEAD Summit Table Tennis Table
One of the best features of this ping pong table is its ability to allow one to practice and play alone. You can set up the halves separately for single-player practice.
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The basement has lots of idle space, and setting up a game room might be a great way to utilize the space. This table tennis table is an excellent addition to a game room as it’s easy to set up and store. It comes in two separate table halves, which you can set up in 10-20 minutes.
What’s more, the table locks into position to avoid falling off unexpectedly.
When folding or unfolding, the legs deploy automatically, making the process safer, especially if you have kids around. The table is pretty heavy, but the eight caster wheels make it extremely portable.
Once set up, the wheels lock into place, so you don’t have to worry about the table moving around mid-game or in storage. As if that’s not enough, each leg is equipped with a height adjuster allowing you to set up a level playing surface. Just twist them to achieve the desired height.
Best for home
GoSports Mid-Size Table Tennis Table
GoSports Mid-Size Table Tennis Table
GoSports’ ability to provide a ping pong table, a net, two paddles, four ping pong balls, and an accessories case for the price is a steal. It also doesn’t compromise quality as both paddles and balls are of high quality.
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Setting up a table tennis playroom often means buying the table, net, ping pong paddles, and balls separately. However, GoSports goes out of its way to provide a table tennis game set for a little over $100.
The set consists of a table with a heavy-duty aluminum frame that keeps it firmly placed on the floor. The tabletop features a thin plywood material that absorbs a bit of bounce when playing the game.
This means you might need to use more effort when hitting the ball. Unlike other folding tables, which take up lots of storage space, this table tennis table from GoSports has an incredibly compact size. It folds to 36 x 36’’, and it’s easy for one person to carry with its built-in carry handles.
Best for outdoor
Stiga XTR Series Table Tennis Table
Stiga XTR Series Table Tennis Table
STIGA doesn’t just provide a table tennis table, the set includes a net and post. The net is 72 inches wide, making it a perfect fit for this and other tables, and you can adjust the tension too. In addition, the posts use a threaded clamp system which makes it easy to set up and remove after the game.
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When looking for an outdoor table tennis table, weatherproofing features are of paramount importance. STIGA designs this table to withstand harmful elements, including rain, sun damage, and rust.
The tabletop stands out as it’s constructed from aluminum composite, which is waterproof and resistant to sun damage.
It’s then layered with a tubular steel apron that ensures consistent and even ball bounce. The undercarriage is also sturdy as its 1.25-inch welded steel legs are rust-resistant.
They are equipped with a self-opening feature that deploys automatically when unfolded. They also have adjustable height levelers that keep the table level on uneven surfaces. Since the table comes 95% preassembled, setting up takes 10-20 minutes.
Best under $500
JOOLA Nova Pro Plus Outdoor Table Tennis Table
JOOLA Nova Pro Plus Outdoor Table Tennis Table
The casters used on the wheels are larger than standard casters. Although they increase the table’s weight, they keep the table level and ensure it glides easily regardless of the terrain it’s set up.
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Finding a tournament-grade tennis table for less than $500 can be challenging, but JOOLA manages to do just that.
The table features a combination of indoor and outdoor quality, a bonus if you use it indoors and outdoors.
What stands out is the 6mm aluminum-plastic composite material used on the tabletop, which is rust proof and resistant to warping.
It sits on a 40 mm x 40 mm powder-coated steel undercarriage giving the table the strength and rigidity required when playing table tennis.
Setting it up is a breeze because it comes 95% preassembled. You only need to attach the legs using the eight bolts and release the thumb levers to attach the halves.
The table also packs easily thanks to its two-piece construction, and the double anti-tilt locking mechanism keeps the halves locked when folded.
Best under $300
JOOLA Foldable Indoor Ping Pong Table
JOOLA Foldable Indoor Ping Pong Table
The table has the perfect size for your garage, living room, or game room. It’s nine feet long and five feet wide, the standard for tournament-grade tables.
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This ping pong table isn’t just a great value item but also an excellent starter table for beginners. The table comes in two halves with a playback feature for solo play.
Its 15 mm tabletop is just enough for a consistent ball bounce but a little thin, causing you to use lots of power when striking the ball.
For optimal performance, it’s best to use ping pong balls and paddles. The table isn’t as heavy as other ping pong tables from JOOLA.
It weighs 189 pounds, making it relatively easy to move it using the 1.5-inch legs. It sits on a sturdy and durable undercarriage with a rust-resistant powder coating.
The halves are easy to store, and with the safety latch system, you never have to worry about them falling off suddenly.
What to look for in a good ping pong table
So what makes a good table tennis table? Is it the size, brand, thickness, or construction? These are some of the questions first-time ping pong table buyers ask.
The next part explains these and other essential features you should look for when buying a ping pong table:
Indoor vs. outdoor use
Are you planning to set up the table indoors or outdoors? If outdoors, the table must be weatherproof and made from sturdy and cured materials.
That’s because outdoor tables are exposed to weather elements like rain, sunlight, wind, and humidity, which can easily wear out the table.
The materials hold up well over time, preventing warping and fading. On the other hand, indoor tables are not made from the sturdy or weather-resistant materials as their counterparts. They are lighter and provide a more consistent and uniform bounce than outdoor tables.
Table design
When it comes to the table’s design, you must think of its long-term use. Are you planning to move the table from one place to another? Does the space have multiple uses, or do you need a table that allows compact storage?
Two-piece design tables, for example, provide the most compact storage, while one-piece designs are more portable. There are four ping pong table designs:
- One-piece folding table: This type has two halves connected to a central folding mechanism. As such, the table can be folded and stored in a standing position when not in use
- Two-piece folding tables: These tables have two separate halves that roll separately and are attached to form a whole table. The two halves are stored side by side, making it easy to lift and move when needed
- Non-folding table: This type is designed to remain in one place. They are heavy and have a sturdy construction
- Stationary table: This one is similar to a two-piece folding table, except it doesn’t have wheels attached to the legs. It’s suitable for customers who hardly move tables between playing sessions
Space
This is an essential feature when looking for an indoor table. Check the length of the table to ensure it fits the designated space.
A standard full-size table is 9 feet long and 5 feet wide, but that’s not all. You must leave enough space to move around when playing the game. The rule of thumb is to leave at least 3 to 5 feet depending on your playing style (competitive or casual play).
Competitive players may need more than the standard five feet because they tend to drift further when looping. If the indoor space isn’t enough to set up a full-size ping pong table, look for a mid-size table or set it up outdoors.
Thickness
A table’s thickness determines the bounce rate. Thick tables provide consistent and more even bounces than thinner ones.
The rule of thumb states the ball must bounce 23 cm from the table when dropped from a height of 30 cm. This is only possible if the table is thick enough. Table tennis tables have varying thickness:
- 16 mm: Tables with such thickness are suitable for beginners looking for a lightweight table and on a tight budget
- 19 mm: Such tables are ideal for intermediate players as they provide a reasonable bounce.
- 22 mm: This thickness provides an exceptional bounce and is often used on club class tables and top brands
- 25 mm: This thickness is ideal for competitive-class tables as it provides the most consistent bounce
Frame quality
The table should have a durable frame to enhance longevity. Aluminum and stainless steel are the best materials for making table tennis frames. However, if buying an outdoor table tennis table, you must ensure the frame is galvanized to withstand external elements.
Portability
Table tennis tables are quite large, weighing 100 pounds or more. The ease of moving the table is a critical factor when purchasing one.
It’s best to look for one equipped with wheels, is foldable, and easy to carry. In the case of an outdoor table, look for one with large wheels because they roll better on uneven surfaces.
Safety
This is another critical feature, especially when setting up a table in a space with kids. Table tennis tables can cause injuries when kids’ fingers are trapped, wheels roll over their feet, or get knocked over by the corners.
Be sure to look for safety features like corner protectors to keep you and the kids safe from knocks and scrapes. Also, check if the table is equipped with heavy-duty locking mechanisms on the wheels to prevent them from rolling while playing.
This is a standard feature for many tables, but it’s important to check if the locks are working. The other essential locking system ensures the table doesn’t unfold suddenly when stored.
Playback ability
This is another feature beginners look for because they can fold one half of the table and use it as a backboard for making shots. This feature allows you to play table tennis alone.
The setup
Ideally, you want a table you can assemble quickly. Many manufacturers seem to have figured out how to minimize the setup time by shipping the table pre-assembled.
Check the product description, customer reviews, or manual to get an idea of the actual setup time. While some models are easy to assemble, tables designed for professional players may take longer to put together due to complex instructions.
FAQ
What is the best table surface thickness?
The ideal surface thickness depends on your skill level and whether you’re looking for a table for recreational or competitive play.
Many regulation-size tables are 12mm to 30 mm thick. The rule of thumb states thicker surfaces are better because they have a better bounce, sturdier undercarriages, and are less likely to warp. Competitive players should consider buying tables with a 25 mm or higher thickness.
Is the color surface important and which is the best?
The tabletop color is an essential feature because it creates a good contrast between the walls, floor, and the background colors of the play area.
Gray and green were the most common colors used on tabletops until the 1990s, when matt blue and red were selected as the most preferred colors. This rule then changed in 2016, allowing players to use tables with a dark, matt color.
What is the best material for the playing surface?
Most modern table tennis table tops are made from high-density or medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Both surfaces have excellent playability.
Should you buy a one- or a two-piece undercarriage?
The undercarriage is another important piece of the table tennis table as it supports the table. Most undercarriages have wheels, while others are permanently fixed.
They come in two designs- one-piece and two-piece undercarriages. The one-piece undercarriage is also called a rollaway, and it consists of a single-trolley system that keeps the table in one piece.
It makes it easy to align the halves but takes up a lot of space. Two-piece undercarriages have two separate halves, each with a set of wheels. They are more difficult to align but take up less space.
Final verdict
With this guide, you can easily find a table tennis table that meets your needs. Be sure to check the features too.
An outdoor table tennis table, for instance, should be weatherproof, while an indoor table ought to be lightweight for portability. And if you’re all about having a more competitive play at home, the surface thickness should be your top priority.
