Pool Table Height Rules

To regular billiard players, it will come as no surprise that the quarters-fed pool table at your local pub may not pass muster when it comes to international (or even national) equipment regulations. If you're looking for help in deciding whether a table meets the height requirement for sanctioned play, guidance is available from the two major billiard governing bodies.

  1. Pool Table Height

    • Both the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) and the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA), the two governing bodies for domestic and international play, agree that the height of the table bed playing surface, when measured from the bottom leg, be between 29 1/4 inches (74.295 centimeters) and 31 inches (78.74 centimeters) for sanctioned events.

    Events

    • All championship events, including the WPA's World Nine-Ball Championship, use the same equipment specifications.

    HIstory

    • The BCA traces its roots back to 1921, while the WPA was founded in 1987.

    Other Equipment Requirements

    • Everything from the size of the pocket openings to the rail width must meet WPA or BCA standards for an event to be sanctioned.

    Exceptions

    • The WPA reserves for itself the right to sanction play on non-standard tables.