Updated on Feb 15, 2024 10:56 PM EST
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People have been playing billiards in their homes and at local pool halls for hundreds of years. This classic game offers a form of indoor recreation that doesn’t require screens, a keyboard, or controllers.
There are pool table brands that cater to those looking for casual family fun, as well as those that serve the needs of serious pool players, and even professionals. The broad range of pool table manufacturers on the market can make finding the right brand for one’s home a challenge. This guide reviews some of the top brands in the pool table business and highlights some of the top models they sell.
About the Brand: Brunswick manufactures a broad range of recreational products ranging from boats to pool tables. Price Range: $$ to $$$
Brunswick Corporation, based in Metawa, Illinois, manufactures a variety of recreational products and machines, including pool tables. The first pool table manufacturer in the U.S., Brunswick is known for its use of high-quality materials in its pool tables, which feature hardwood, professional-grade fabric, and 1-inch-thick slate.
Brunswick’s pool tables are made to order, offer a long list of customization options, and are highly sought after, making them one of the more expensive brands of pool tables on the market.
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About the Brand: This 50-year-old company produces premium pool tables. Price Range: $$ to $$$$
Olhausen has been producing billiards tables along with table tennis tables, shuffleboards, and more in Portland, Tennessee, since 1972. Its line of billiards tables range in design from modern to rustic, use top-quality materials, and offer a broad range of customization options.
These high-end pool tables don’t come cheap, though, with most models ranging from $5,000 to $6,000. This price point makes them a good option for serious players who are looking for a table that will last many years.
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About the Brand: Presidential Billiards pool tables are characterized by their diverse styles and use of exotic wood species. Price Range: $$ to $$$
Presidential Billiards is based in Houston and partners with Zimbabwe-based Wilson International, giving the company access to a broader range of hardwoods than most billiards table manufacturers. Expect to find such exotic woods as African mahogany in the construction of the frames, legs, and cabinets of its pool tables.
All of the company’s tables use 1-inch slate and natural gum rubber for the rails, putting them on par with professional-level pool tables. These high-end materials make the Presidential pool tables more expensive, and they fetch premium prices running from $4,000 to $7,000.
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About the Brand: With its precision engineering and strict adherence to pro standards, Diamond Billiard Products is the preferred provider for sanctioned pool tournaments. Price Range: $$$ to $$$$
Those in the market for a pool table to help them hone their skills for tournament play may look no further than Diamond Billiard Products. Diamond’s pool tables are designed for pros, which is evident in the fact that they’ve been used in more than 100 major pool tournaments.
The company started in 1987 in Louisville, Kentucky, with the goal of creating quality pool tables that would be used in tournament play. Its pool tables include its PRO-AM and Professional line, both of which are renowned for their durability and adherence to professional standards.
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About the Brand: Great American is one of the biggest providers of commercial pool tables to bars and pool halls. Price Range: $$ to $$$
Anyone who’s ever played in a pool hall has probably used one of Smithfield, Rhode Island–based Great American’s pool tables. The company is one of the largest commercial providers of pool tables in the country. As such, its tables are designed to endure abuse, with durable hardwood laminate construction, metal rails, trim protecting corners, and steel supports.
Unlike the standard pool tables for home use, American Recreation’s pool tables also have built-in coin slots and a locking mechanism to hold and release balls. The company offers some non-coin models as well.
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About the Brand: Hathaway offers lower-cost pool tables by using more affordable materials such as engineered wood and melamine. Price Range: $ to $$
Hathaway pool tables are much more affordable than offerings from premium pool table names in the market. The company’s pool tables, which are available from major retailers like The Home Depot, range in price from $600 to $2,000.
The lower-end tables are made from engineered wood and melamine with metal corners and caps, making for a sturdy—if not elegant—pool table. The company’s product line also includes waterproof and UV-resistant pool tables suitable for outdoor setup.
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Plank & Hide, which is owned by Empire, makes luxury indoor and outdoor recreation equipment, including everything from foosball and air hockey tables to shuffleboard and pool tables. Its pool tables are well regarded not only for their unique style and quality craftsmanship but also for their playability. Being a luxury brand, it also occupies the higher end of the pool table market with prices ranging between $4,000 and $6,000.
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About the Brand: Fat Cat sells budget-priced billiards tables and combination 3-in-1 game tables. Price Range: $ to $$
Fat Cat is a subsidiary of Milwaukee-based GLD Products, which has been making popular bar game equipment including darts, billiards, and gaming tables for the past 30 years. Similar to Hathaway, Fat Cat makes more affordable pool tables that fall in the $600 to $1,200 range.
The company’s pool tables offer some of the best bang for your buck in terms of build quality, with features such as solid wood rails, slate playing surfaces, diamond inlays, and K66 bumpers. The company also makes multi-game pool tables that combine other popular games such as air hockey and table tennis with billiards in one table.
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About the Brand: Connelly Billiards makes built-to-order high-end pool tables with numerous customization options. Price Range: $$$ to $$$$
Connelly Billiards has more than 70 years of experience building pool tables made of top-quality materials. The company’s tables feature high-end construction with carved hardwood legs and sturdy 1.25-inch-thick slate playing surfaces. Connelly also offers many options when it comes to customization. Buyers can choose from a wide range of finishes, pocket styles, sizes, and felt colors for each of its pool tables; that’s because Connelly builds all of its tables to order.
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About the Brand: Playcraft makes entry-level to high-end billiards tables for family use. Price Range: $ to $$
Playcraft has been building pool tables for more than 70 years. The company markets itself as a manufacturer of pool tables for family fun and occupies a niche between lower-end and higher-end pool tables with a price range that runs from $1,000 to $4,000.
The company makes standard billiards tables as well as pool tables that double as table tennis or dining tables. The company is also one of a handful of pool table manufacturers that makes tables designed for outdoor use.
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About the Brand: Imperial Pool Tables offers one of the most extensive collections of pool tables on the market. Price Range: $ to $$$
Imperial Pool Tables makes a variety of higher-end tables that range in style from traditional to modern. The company boasts a broader variety of pool tables than any other high-end manufacturer. In addition to its wide selection of styles, Imperial’s tables are also valued for their excellent build quality, which includes such features as K66 bumpers, 1-inch-thick slate, and solid wood construction. The company uses a variety of wood species to make its tables including Douglas fir, ash, acacia, and maple, and all of its tables are customizable.
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About the Brand: Empire USA’s pool tables have the quality build of higher-priced pool tables. Price Range: $$ to $$$
Empire USA, launched in 1980 in Montclair, California, makes a variety of pool tables that fall into the mid-tier market. Empire USA tables consist of handcrafted solid hardwood construction with quality materials, such as 1-inch-thick slate.
As one of few pool table manufacturers that sell direct to consumers, Empire USA is able to offer better prices without compromising quality. However, there are some trade-offs for the company’s more affordable prices. Empire USA’s pool tables aren’t as customizable as more expensive brands and require the customer to purchase the felt separately.
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We used a variety of criteria to narrow the field of pool table brands down to the top 12. In making our selections, we considered brands that offer quality builds for the price. For higher-end brands, we carefully selected those with established names and solid reputations with a long history of constructing pool tables.
The manufacturers that made the list use quality materials, including solid hardwood construction, K66 rubber in their bumpers, and 1-inch-thick slate surfaces. These brands also offer a variety of styles to suit different preferences. In addition to premium brands, we also included manufacturers that make quality pool tables at a more affordable price to suit those who may not be able to commit several thousand dollars to a pool table.
Tony Carrick is a freelance writer who has contributed to BobVila.com since 2020. He writes how-to articles and product reviews in the areas of lawn and garden, home maintenance, home improvement, auto maintenance, housewares, and technology.
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