How to Build Your Own Pool Table

Purchasing a pool table for your home can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000 or more. Fortunately, with time, patience and a few tools, you can build your own pool table for a fraction of the price. By measuring the room you’ll be putting the pool table in, you’ll be able to build the table to your own specifications. You’ll also be able to build the pool table to a height that is comfortable for you.

Measure the room you want to house your pool table. Make sure there is enough space to accommodate the pool table with four feet extra on each side. Determine the size you would like to build. Standard pool tables come in three sizes: seven, eight, and nine feet. A seven-foot table is 78 inches by 39 inches. An eight-foot table is 88 inches by 44 inches. A nine-foot table is 100 inches by 50 inches. Standard pool tables are roughly three feet tall.

Cut the flat wood into the size you would like for your pool table. Measure and mark the length and width of the intended table dimensions. Use a table saw. Ensure that the wood is perfectly flat. Sand the edges.

Cut the pockets out of the flat wood with a scroll saw. Make the pockets circles with a diameter between 4½ inches and 5 inches. Cut four corner pockets. Measure and cut two pockets in the center of each long side. Sand the edges.

Cut the legs for the pool table out of the wooden beams. Make them all exactly the same length.

Place the legs upright on the floor where the four corners of the pool table will be. Move each leg six inches toward the center to avoid interference with the corner pockets. Attach the table top to the legs with three screws per leg. Add L-brackets to the underside to increase stability.

Cut six pieces of 50-inch wood strips for the ledges of the pool table. Cut spaces in the strips for the pockets. Secure the strips to the edges of the table with a screw every 12 inches.

Spray the surface of the pool table and the inside edge of the ledges with pool table adhesive. Lay the felt over the table without letting the felt fold or kink. Remove any air bubbles with a rolling pin. Make sure the felt is applied to the inside edge of the ledges. Cut excess felt off with sharp scissors. Secure the outside edge of felt with staples for extra security.

Use a staple gun or screws to secure the nets to the pockets. Make sure each net can hold at least four billiard balls.

Use a level every few inches down the entire length of the table. Make sure the table is completely level. If the height of a side needs to be adjusted, place wedges under the legs as necessary.

Tips

Always use care with power tools. Wear appropriate eye protection and keep fingers, hands and loose clothing out of the way of saw blades and drill bits.