A regulation table is 9 x 5 ft, and the table is the small part. Players stand back from the ends, so plan about 11 x 19 ft for casual games: 5 ft behind each end and 3 ft at each side. About 14 x 20 ft lets players step back for long rallies. A one-car garage bay or a basement usually works; a spare bedroom usually does not.
Our picks at a glance
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
Lowest price regulation table
JOOLA 15mm Indoor Ping Pong Table
9 x 5 ft 15 mm top
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Thickest top
JOOLA Inside 25mm Ping Pong Table
9 x 5 ft 25 mm top
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 3
For a smaller room
STIGA Space Saver Ping Pong Table
71 x 40.5 in compact table
Check price on AmazonPaid link
Between tables, the top thickness matters most. Thicker tops bounce higher and more evenly: 13 and 15 mm tops are fine for family play, and 25 mm is what competition tables use. Every table here folds in two halves on wheels and has a playback mode, where one half folds up so you can practice alone.
If the room cannot fit 11 x 19 ft, a compact table still gives a real game in less space. Our game room size calculator checks your room and lays out a ping pong table beside other games.
Top picks, and why
JOOLA 15mm Indoor Ping Pong Table
- Regulation size
- 15 mm top
- Playback mode
Full 9 x 5 ft with a 15 mm top, net and playback mode. $100 to $250.
- Regulation 9 x 5 ft
- 15 mm top
- Folds for playback and storage
- Thinner top than the 25 mm tables, so a lower bounce
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
JOOLA Inside 25mm Ping Pong Table
- Regulation size
- 25 mm top
- Anti-tilt locks
A 25 mm (1 in) top, the thickness used in competition, with anti-tilt locks and 4 casters per half. $500 to $1,000.
- 25 mm (1 in) MDF top
- Each half on 4 locking casters with anti-tilt locks
- Playback mode, 8 bolt assembly
- Heavier than the thinner tables
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
STIGA Space Saver Ping Pong Table
- Compact top
- Regulation height
- No assembly
71 x 40.5 in at regulation height, no assembly, and needs roughly 9.5 x 16 ft to play. $250 to $500.
- 71 x 40.5 in, regulation 30 in height
- No assembly; folds to store
- Halves separate into two side tables
- Smaller playing surface than a regulation table
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
Compare every pick
Paid links: we earn a commission if you buy, at no cost to you. Amazon prices change often, so we show a range and link to the live price.
Regulation 9 x 5 ft tables
All four fold in half on locking wheels for storage and have a playback mode. The differences are the top thickness and how the halves move.
JOOLA 15mm Indoor Ping Pong Table
- Regulation size
- 15 mm top
- Playback mode
A 15 mm top with a quick clamp net. The thinner top bounces lower than a 25 mm one. $100 to $250.
- Regulation 9 x 5 ft
- 15 mm top
- Folds for playback and storage
- Thinner top than the 25 mm tables, so a lower bounce
$100 to $250, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
STIGA Advantage Lite Indoor Ping Pong Table
- Regulation size
- 13 mm top
- 10 minute assembly
A 13 mm top on a steel apron, 95% preassembled, with independent halves on 2 in locking wheels. $250 to $500.
- 13 mm top on a steel apron
- Independent halves on 2 in locking wheels
- Playback mode
- 13 mm top is the thinnest here
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
JOOLA Inside 15mm Ping Pong Table
- Regulation size
- 15 mm MDF
- 3 in casters
A 15 mm MDF top on 3 in lockable wheels, set up in about 10 minutes. $250 to $500.
- Regulation size, 15 mm MDF top
- 3 in lockable wheels
- Playback mode
- Paddles not included
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
JOOLA Inside 25mm Ping Pong Table
- Regulation size
- 25 mm top
- Anti-tilt locks
A 25 mm top for the most even bounce, leg height adjusters, and anti-tilt locks on each half. $500 to $1,000.
- 25 mm (1 in) MDF top
- Each half on 4 locking casters with anti-tilt locks
- Playback mode, 8 bolt assembly
- Heavier than the thinner tables
$500 to $1,000, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
A compact table for a small room
A compact table keeps the 30 in regulation height and shrinks the top. With the same 5 ft behind each end and 3 ft at the sides, a 71 x 40.5 in table needs roughly 9.5 x 16 ft. The halves also separate into two side tables.
STIGA Space Saver Ping Pong Table
- Compact top
- Regulation height
- No assembly
71 x 40.5 in, folds to store and arrives assembled. $250 to $500.
- 71 x 40.5 in, regulation 30 in height
- No assembly; folds to store
- Halves separate into two side tables
- Smaller playing surface than a regulation table
$250 to $500, live price on Amazon
Check price on AmazonPaid link. We earn a commission at no cost to you.
The bottom line
From published specs and our sizing rules. Not lab tested.
- 1
Lowest price regulation table
JOOLA 15mm Indoor Ping Pong Table
9 x 5 ft 15 mm top
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 2
Thickest top
JOOLA Inside 25mm Ping Pong Table
9 x 5 ft 25 mm top
Check price on AmazonPaid link
- 3
For a smaller room
STIGA Space Saver Ping Pong Table
71 x 40.5 in compact table
Check price on AmazonPaid link
Frequently asked questions
How much room do you need for a ping pong table?
About 11 x 19 ft for casual play with a 9 x 5 ft table, and about 14 x 20 ft to step back for long rallies. Tournament courts are 7 x 14 m, about 23 x 46 ft.
What thickness ping pong table top is best?
Thicker tops bounce higher and more evenly. 13 to 15 mm is fine for family play; 18 to 19 mm is a step up; 25 mm is the competition standard.
Can I put a ping pong table in a garage?
Yes, an indoor table works in a dry garage. A two-car garage of about 20 x 20 ft fits the 11 x 19 ft play area with the cars out. In a damp or unheated garage, an outdoor table resists warping better.
What is playback mode?
Fold one half of the table up and lock it. The ball bounces back off the upright half, so one person can practice alone.
8 products are linked on this page. We have not lab-tested these products; picks are based on published specifications and our sizing rules. Amazon prices change, so we show a range and link to the live price. See our disclosure.
Size it for your home
Marcus Reed
Founder and Editor, CrunchYourDollars
Marcus Reed builds the sizing tools on CrunchYourDollars. He is a software engineer with a long-running PC hardware and power supply habit, which is where the watts, watt-hours and surge math on this site comes from. Product specs are pulled from manufacturer data sheets, electricity rates from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, and water chemistry rules from the Water Quality Association. He is not a licensed electrician or plumber: the tools show the math and the matching models so you can make the call, and anything involving your electrical panel should be checked by a licensed pro.
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