Putting A Pool Table in Your Garage?

By: Emily Breakston    8 Aug 2023

Looking to turn your garage into a pool player’s paradise? Good news! With ample space, your pool table can comfortably fit in a standard garage – unless it’s a snug single-car setup. You can even share the space with your car when you’re not racking up.

And for the daring, why stop at a table? Transform your garage into a cozy pool hall, complete with stools, a beverage-stocked fridge, a comfy couch, and even a TV. But here’s the real question: Is parking your pool dreams in the garage a smart move?

Worry not, I’ve got your back. If garage billiards are on your mind, read ahead for the scoop.

Can you put a pool table in a garage?

Absolutely toss that pool table into your garage! It’s a splendid spot for it, but hold your horses – there are a handful of factors that demand your attention before you go table shopping.

We’re talking about things like the floor’s sneaky slope, your local climate quirks, the space that this table behemoth demands, the particular pool table personality you’re after, and of course, the inevitable wear-and-tear showdown. But here’s the scoop: you won’t need to drain your wallet or summon a DIY tornado to transform your garage into a pool player’s paradise. So, let’s kick off with the all-important question of just how much real estate this table will claim.

How Much Space You’ll Need For a Pool Table

Ah, the age-old garage problem: a jumble of tools, bikes, toys, and a mix of things that seem to have appeared magically. Believe me, my own garage follows that messy pattern, even though I’d rather not admit it. It’s like looking at a tiny open area in the middle of the mess and imagining a cool pool table sitting there. But sadly, the truth isn’t always as roomy as it looks.

Let’s talk table sizes and space! Imagine you’ve got a puzzle – finding the right spot for a pool table. Here’s the scoop in a neat table:

Table Size	Minimum Space Needed	Garage Space Required
3.5’ X 7’	13’ by 16’	❌ No-go, rethink that tiny car palace
4’ X 8’	13.5’ by 17’	⚠️ Almost there, just give those walls some breathing room
4.5’ X 9’ (Pro)	14’ by 18’	✅ Ready to hustle some pro-level shots

Hold on a sec! Before you leap into the pool of table choices, let’s dive into some garage facts. A 2-car garage is typically at least 22 feet by 20 feet big. Now, here’s the trick: take a good look at your garage. If you’re dreaming of a larger table, like the pro-style one, it might need more room than you’ve got.

But wait, there’s a crafty idea. If you fancy a smaller table, you could still make it work alongside a car. Just remember, it depends on whether you’ve got shelves or storage hanging around in your garage.

So, before you break out the pool cues and start aiming for the pockets, measure that space and size it up!

What Type of Pool Table is Best for a Garage?

If you want to make sure your garage pool table stays in great shape without spending a ton of money, here’s what you need to know.

First off, if you’re not planning to invest a lot in turning your garage into a well-insulated and climate-controlled space, you need to watch out for the weather. To avoid any problems, it’s a smart move to go for a slate bed pool table. These are the tables that professional players use, and they’re tough enough to handle the elements without getting messed up. The special thing about slate is that it’s a rock, so even if it gets a little damp, it won’t be bothered. With just a bit of care, a slate bed table in your garage can be your buddy for many years of great games.

On the other hand, there’s the cheaper option, called an MDF bed pool table. MDF stands for medium-density fiberboard, which is a bunch of tiny pieces of wood pressed together and made waterproof with special chemicals. Even with the protection (which not all MDF tables have), the wood won’t stay straight forever. An MDF table might give you a couple of years of good playtime before it starts to bend and mess with your shots.

The nice thing about slate bed tables is that they’re built stronger, which helps them handle both the weather sneaking into the garage and the regular wear and tear from playing. So, for your garage, they’re the better choice. But keep in mind, even though they’re tough, they’re not completely invincible against moisture and super hot or cold temperatures. Now, let’s dive into how different weather conditions can affect a pool table in the garage.

How Climate (Temperature and Moisture) Can Affect a Pool Table in the Garage

Crazy hot or super humid conditions are like the archenemies of a garage pool table. If you’re in a place with nice weather, you can feel pretty chill about your pool table in the garage. But for many folks, those extreme temperatures and humidity levels could cause trouble. So, to keep your table in top shape, especially if you’re in most parts of the country (and the world), you need to do a few things to make sure it lasts a long time.

Humidity

Lots of pool tables are crafted from wood. This wood might get a special treatment to fend off moisture, but at its core, it’s still wood.

Over the long haul, lots of humidity can bend and break the wood. It can even invite mold to throw a party on different parts of the table. And if the air has too much watery stuff, it can mess with how good the table plays. This happens because the stuff that covers the table, which is called felt or cloth, might get loose. When that happens, the balls won’t roll as smoothly. The felt’s life gets shorter when it meets humidity. So, you might have to get new felt more often than you would for a regular indoor pool table.

Extreme Hight and Low Temperatures

No matter if it’s super hot or super cold, a pool table isn’t totally tough against extreme temperatures.

The soft parts called cushions are the most sensitive. If they stay in heat or cold for a long while, they might become stiff. Getting new cushions is an option, but it can cost a bunch over the years. If the table has any leather on it, like on the pockets, really dry weather and super hot or cold temperatures can make it dry up. This might not mess up how you play, but it could change how the table looks.

Human Comfort

Guess what? Your garage might not be the coziest place to play pool.

The temperature there can be pretty uncomfortable at different times of the year, depending on where you live. In the summer, it might feel like an oven, and in the winter, it could turn into a freezing zone. Imagine trying to shoot pool while wearing three layers of clothes and a huge puffy jacket – talk about a tricky challenge!

Oh, and here’s another thing to think about. When do you usually play pool? During those chilly winter months, most folks prefer staying indoors because it’s not exactly fun to be outside in the cold. So, asking your buddies or family members to join you in the frosty garage for a game of pool might not be their top choice.

Protecting Your Garage Pool Table

You might be pondering ways to keep your pool table safe in the garage, but I’ll share a few ideas that might not have crossed your mind yet.

Climate Control

If your house is set up a certain way, you might be able to connect your garage to the air conditioning system you already have. But if that doesn’t work, don’t worry! You can get a regular window air conditioner or a portable one. These portable ones can cool things down in the summer and even warm things up in the winter - pretty cool, right? And if it’s just the cold that bothers you, you could grab a special space heater that uses infrared tech to keep your garage toasty when it’s chilly outside. So, whether it’s hot or cold, you’ve got options to make your garage just right!

Humidity Control

Living in the place where the air is super damp? You may be familiar with dehumidifiers.

It’s like a superhero for your pool table, protecting it from getting all soggy due to too much moisture. Now, those fancy AC systems can definitely help suck out some of that extra humidity from your garage. But here’s the deal: in some super humid areas, even ACs might need a sidekick, and that’s where a dehumidifier comes in. Some smart players even say that a dehumidifier can do the job all by itself. So, if you want to keep your pool table safe and dry, think about getting one of these cool gadgets!

Floor Covering

Even though the walls have insulation to keep the temperature steady, the concrete floor doesn’t do much to help. This can be a problem, especially in the winter. But don’t worry, there’s an easy way to solve this! You can use special covers for the garage floor.

One good option is to use interlocking foam mats made by a brand called BalanceFrom. These mats do two cool things: they help keep the floor warm, and they also protect things like balls from getting hurt when they fall on the hard concrete. Have you ever played pool? The balls used are called billiard balls, and they’re quite tough. But even a tiny chip on them can make them act differently on the pool table. So, it’s good to keep them safe.

If you don’t want to get the foam mats, you can also use some old carpet if you have it lying around. It might not be as fancy, but it can still work to make the garage floor feel better. So, whether you choose foam mats or old carpet, your garage floor will be much nicer to hang out on!

Insulation

The smartest way to fix the problems we talked about is to put insulation in the garage. Even if you just add insulation to three walls, it will make the garage stay cool when it’s hot outside and warm when it’s cold. And guess what? Now it’s not a big deal to insulate the garage door too. There’s a thing called a garage door insulation kit, which can be extremely helpful.

NASA TECH White Reflective Foam Core 2 Car Garage Door Insulation Kit

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And you won’t have to spend a ton of money on it. Insulation doesn’t cost much, and it’s not hard to put in.

Keeping Your Garage Pool Table Level

Alright, let’s dive into leveling a pool table – it’s like giving your table a perfect balance, just like a gymnast on a beam. Imagine your garage floor is like a gentle hill, tilted slightly so water flows away. This tilt is usually about 1 inch higher over every 8 feet of ground. Now, a regular home pool table is 7.5 feet long, so when you put it in the garage, it can feel like it’s on a mini slope of about an inch.

Here’s the cool part: if you’ve got enough space, you can turn the table sideways. Think of it like repositioning a big puzzle piece. This trick won’t completely flatten the slope, but it’ll make it less obvious and simpler to fix. Don’t worry if you can’t make the sideways move – there are still ways to tackle this tilting challenge.

Leg Leveling Pool Table

Certain pool tables come with a nifty feature called leg levelers. Think of them as adjustable feet for the table. If you have one of these cool tables, all you need to do is twist those feet to make sure the table is nice and level. But hey, if your table doesn’t have these fancy leg levelers, don’t sweat it. You can still use shims, which are like little wedges, to get the job done. So, whether your table has leg levelers or not, you’re good to go!

Pool Table Shims

Shims come to the rescue when you want to make your pool table nice and level. But here’s the thing, some folks complain that using shims in a garage doesn’t look all that great.

Picture this: a bunch of shims piled up under two of the table’s legs – not the prettiest view, right? But don’t fret! It’s a small trade-off for having a level table to play on. There are a couple of neat tricks you can try. First, you can plop the table on a thick rug – that way, the shims are out of sight. Alternatively, let your creative side shine! Put some fancy curtains around the legs, and voilà – no more shim eyesore. Oh, and those rubbery shims? You can snip and shape them to perfectly fit the table’s legs, and they’ll stay hidden like magic.

When the Garage Pool Table is Not in Use

To keep your garage pool table in great shape, here’s what you can do:

1. Cover Up: Put a cover over the pool table when you’re not using it. This helps shield it from any accidents in the garage and even a bit from the weather.

2. Rules Matter: Make some rules for the table. When folks start using it like a storage spot, the table wears down faster. Only the balls and cue sticks should hang out on the table for the best table life.

3. Brush It Off: Get a pool table brush. This brush is like a magic wand for the table’s cloth. Give it a good brushing after a few games or even after each game if you have time. It helps keep the cloth clean and tidy.

So, remember: cover, rules, and brush! Your pool table will thank you with many fun games ahead.

Conclusion

Setting up a pool table in a garage is a bit trickier than in a fancy room with steady temperatures. However, if you think about the cash you’d shell out for driving to play elsewhere or renting a table, the effort is totally worth it.

Get a heater for winter and a budget-friendly AC for summer. Add some insulation and voilà, you’re all set to improve your pool skills right in your own garage.