Snooker vs Pool Table Size: It's Not a One-Size-Fits-All Answer
When I took over purchasing for a mid-sized entertainment venue back in 2022, I assumed the decision between a snooker and pool table was simple: bigger table costs more, smaller table is cheaper. I couldn't have been more wrong.
Here's the thing: the choice between a snooker and pool table—specifically their sizes—depends entirely on your space, your audience, and your business goals. There's no universal winner. But there are clear scenarios where one makes way more sense than the other.
Let's break it down by situation. I'll walk you through the three most common scenarios I've encountered (and made expensive mistakes with) so you can figure out what's right for your venue.
The Three Scenarios
Based on my experience managing equipment for bars, arcades, and corporate entertainment spaces, most people fall into one of three categories:
- Scenario A: The casual social space (bars, lounges, family entertainment centers)
- Scenario B: The serious player's room (dedicated pool halls, billiard clubs)
- Scenario C: The multi-purpose venue (corporate event spaces, hotels, or recreation centers that host both casual and serious players)
Your scenario will dictate the right table size. Let's dive into each.
Scenario A: The Casual Social Space
If your venue is primarily for socializing—think a sports bar, a lounge, or a family entertainment center—a 7-foot pool table (often called a "bar table") is almost always the right call.
I went back and forth between an 8-foot and a 7-foot for weeks when outfitting a new venue in 2024. An 8-foot offered a slightly more "authentic" experience for regulars, but the 7-foot gave me:
- More floor space for additional tables or seating
- Faster game turnover (critical for revenue per square foot)
- Easier entry for casual players—most people aren't league competitors
Size Recommendation: 7-foot (standard bar table). Avoid snooker tables entirely here—the larger size and smaller pockets will frustrate casual players and slow down your table turnover.
One thing to watch: measure your room carefully. Industry standard suggests at least 5 feet around the table for comfortable play. For a 7-foot table (3.5' x 7'), that means a room of at least 13.5' x 17'. I once ordered the wrong size (almost went with a 9-footer) and had to ship it back. Don't be that person—measure twice, order once.
Scenario B: The Serious Player's Room
If you're opening a dedicated pool hall or billiard club where serious players (or league competitors) are your primary audience, the game changes entirely.
Serious players expect a 9-foot pool table or, if you're catering to a British-style crowd, a 12-foot snooker table. There's no polite way to say this: a 7-footer in a serious player's room will get you laughed out of the league.
So glad I didn't go cheap on the table size for my first dedicated pool hall in 2023. Almost ordered 8-foot tables to save space. What a mistake that would've been—players would've complained within a week.
Size Recommendation: 9-foot pool table or 12-foot snooker table. Don't compromise. The difference between an 8-foot and a 9-foot might seem minor on paper (one foot), but to a serious player, it's night and day.
But here's the thing: standard room requirements change. For a 9-foot pool table (4.5' x 9'), you need at least 14.5' x 19' of clear floor space for comfortable play. For a 12-foot snooker table (6' x 12'), you're looking at 17' x 23'. That's a significant space commitment—especially if you're in a high-rent area.
Scenario C: The Multi-Purpose Venue
This scenario is toughest. If your venue needs to serve both casual players (parties, corporate events) and serious players (leagues, tournaments), you're in a bind.
What was best practice in 2020 may not apply in 2025. More multi-purpose venues I work with are going with an 8-foot pool table as a compromise. It's large enough to be taken seriously by most players, but not so large that it intimidates casuals.
Dodged a bullet when I chose an 8-foot for a hotel's game room earlier this year. The alternative was a 7-foot (too casual for business travelers who play league) or 9-foot (too big for the room). The 8-foot fit perfectly—both the space and the audience.
Size Recommendation: 8-foot pool table. Don't bother with a snooker table unless you have the space and a dedicated audience. Most multi-purpose venues find snooker tables underutilized and taking up too much square footage.
How to Know Which Scenario You're In
Still not sure? Ask yourself these three questions:
- Who is your primary audience? If it's casual regulars and social groups, go 7-foot. If it's league players and enthusiasts, go 9-foot (pool) or 12-foot (snooker). If it's a mixed crowd, go 8-foot.
- What's your floor layout? Measure your available space, then subtract the recommended clearances. If you can't fit the "ideal" table, you're working with a constraint—and that's okay. Better to have a well-played 7-foot than a cramped 9-foot.
- What's your revenue model? If you charge by the hour, faster turnover (smaller table) can mean more revenue per table. If you charge per session (like a pool hall), larger tables justify higher rates.
The fundamentals haven't changed—room size and player skill level still matter most. But the execution has transformed. The best practice in 2020 (assuming larger is always better) simply isn't true in 2025. More venue owners are realizing that the right size—not the biggest—drives satisfaction and revenue.
Still need help figuring out your table size? Drop me a note in the comments. I've made just about every mistake you can make in this industry and I'm happy to share what I've learned.
—An admin buyer who's been there (and paid the price for guessing)
Prices and measurements as of January 2025. Verify current specifications with your vendor before ordering.
