Last updated: May 11, 2024If you are in the market for a new shuffleboard gaming system, then you need to answer a very simple question: How large of a table do I need? By having a clear understanding of the different shuffleboard table dimensions on the market, you can easily find one that will work well for your style of play and home.
One of the best things about getting a shuffleboard table is that they range in size from smaller 9-foot models to standard 22-foot table surfaces. No matter what size your rooms are, you should be able to find a table that will fit your needs without too much trouble. Of course, there are other considerations that you need to take into account as well, so let’s dive right in so that you can find the right shuffleboard table for your needs.
If you are a purist, then you are going to want to try to get your hands on a 22-foot table. These are the size of shuffleboard tables in competitions that will require all of your skill to get the pucks to the right spot. Of course, that is not always feasible for everyone’s home. If you are someone that has a home with smaller rooms, then you should shoot for a smaller table, like this model from Atomic or this 9′ table from Hathaway.
The very first thing that you need to do before you buy a table is to measure your room to see how long of a space you have. You also need to remember that you will need, at least, an additional two feet on either side of the table so that players can get in the proper position to make their shots.
Something else that you should do once you find the length of your space is to check the rest of your home to see if you can carry a long piece of furniture without any issues. The best way to do this is with a 2″ x 10″ x 10′ piece of lumber. That way, you will have a clear idea of how it will work out to get a long shuffleboard table into place. Thankfully, longer tables usually come in more than one piece, which makes the sections a bit easier to handle.
This handy diagram is a great tool to determine whether you can fit a particular table in your room. As you can see, the overall dimensions don’t vary too much aside from the length, which should make it very easy to determine the right size for your home.
| Measurements | Box/Cradle | Playing surface | Puck | ||||
| Height (in) | Length (ft) | Width (in) | Height (in) | Length (ft) | Width (in) | Diameter (in) | |
| 9 foot | 31 | 9 | 31 | 30 | 8 | 16 | 2-2/8 |
| 12 foot | 31 | 12 | 31 | 30 | 10.5-11 | 16 | 2-2/8 |
| 14 foot | 31 | 14 | 31 | 30 | 12.8-13 | 20 | 2-5/16 |
| 16 foot | 31 | 16 | 31 | 30 | 14.8-15 | 20 | 2-5/16 |
| 18 foot | 31 | 18 | 31 | 30 | 16.7-17 | 20 | 2-5/16 |
| 20 foot | 31 | 20 | 31 | 30 | 18.7-19 | 20 | 2-5/16 |
| 22 foot | 31 | 22 | 31 | 30 | 20.5-21 | 20 | 2-5/16 |
In this section, we will go through everything that you need to know to find the perfect table for your home so that you can hit the ground running and start playing shuffleboard with your friends comfortably in your own home.
As we mentioned above, after you think you have the right size table in mind, the very first thing that you want to do is to check to see how easy it will be to get a long and rigid piece of furniture through all of your doors in your home and into the room that you want the table in. Even though longer tables can be taken apart into two pieces, each piece is still going to be quite large. As such, you need to have a clear understanding of how you will get the table into your home.
The best way to accomplish this is to take a long board and take it through your home. We recommend that you get an 8-inch by 10-inch by 10-foot board and take it through your house to your new table’s location. This will let you know if you have the clearance necessary so that you can get the table in without causing yourself too much frustration. It will also let you know if your table is too large to get into your home as well. If this happens to be the case, then maybe you should try out an even smaller table like this model from Franklin Sports, which can fit on a dining room table for easy portability.
You also need to keep in mind that you need a bit of clearance all around the table so that you and your guests can play correctly. While it is very important to have at least two feet of clearance on both playing ends, you actually need two feet on all sides of the table. This will make it much easier for you to get any pucks that go off the side of the playing surface due to poor shots.
What this means, of course, is that you will need a lot more space than you might think. For instance, if you get a 16-foot table, you will actually need 20 feet of wall space all told and around 55 inches of space for the width. This might drastically alter where you place the table, so be sure to carefully measure before you make your final purchase.
The best place for your new shuffleboard table is going to be in a place that you don’t need to work too hard to get to. This should be easy to figure out after you have completed the board test. If it is at all possible to avoid stairs with your room choice, then we highly recommend that you do so. This will allow you to avoid any sharp turns, which make maneuvering a large piece of furniture a lot more difficult. Of course, if you are going to place this table in the basement, then you should think of the most direct route to get this accomplished without causing too much consternation.
Most shuffleboard tables are assembled in a very similar manner to air hockey tables in that you need to start with the frame and the feet. Once you have the pieces into your home, you need to follow the steps laid out in this guide to make sure that you install them correctly. After all, the last thing that you want to do is ruing your table by assembling it incorrectly:
As you can see, there are definite strategies and methods to help you determine the proper shuffleboard table dimensions for your situation. You need to make sure that you measure your space very carefully while keeping in mind that you need two feet of clearance on all sides of the table so that you can play it properly. Once you have the right size in your home, then take your time and assemble it carefully so that you, and your friends, can have tons of fun for years to come.
