1.5m from table to wall, 1.3m from table to table — two numbers that give you the minimum room size for 1, 2, 4 or 6 nine-foot tables, with a plan for every layout.
The question people ask before opening a billiard room is rarely "how much is a table" — it is "how many tables fit in my room". You do not have to guess. Two numbers and one addition answer it.
The two numbers that decide everything
- At least 1.5m from table to wall. A standard cue is 147cm. With less than 1.5m, a player cannot draw the butt back fully when the ball sits against the cushion — they have to switch to a short cue or play awkwardly.
- At least 1.3m from table to table. Players on neighbouring tables usually end up back to back. 1.3m is the point where both can take a full stroke without clashing cues or shoulders.
These are minimums, not comfort targets. A commercial room should add 10–20cm wherever people walk past regularly.
AILEEX 9ft table dimensions
| Item | Size |
|---|---|
| Playing surface (inside the cushions) | 2.54 × 1.26 m |
| Overall body | 2.90 × 1.65 m |
| Bed height | 0.80 m |
Always plan around the overall 2.90 × 1.65m, never the playing surface. Measuring from 2.54 × 1.26m is the most common mistake — it leaves you nearly 40cm short in each direction.
The quick formula
For n tables lined up in one direction:
Room dimension = 1.5 + (n × table side) + ((n − 1) × 1.3) + 1.5
"Table side" is 2.90m if the tables line up end to end, or 1.65m if they line up side by side. Apply it to both room dimensions and you have your minimum footprint.
Minimum room size by layout
In the diagrams below, a lengthwise table has its long side running along the length of the room; a crosswise table is rotated 90 degrees. Gold figures are clearances in metres.
One table lengthwise — 5.90 × 4.65 m (27.4 m²)
This is the smallest layout that still plays comfortably from all four sides. Most home rooms land here.
One table crosswise — 4.65 × 5.90 m (27.4 m²)
Exactly the same area as above. What matters is the shape of the room: a 6 × 4.7m room takes a lengthwise table, while a 4.7 × 6m room needs it crosswise.
Two tables lengthwise — 5.90 × 7.60 m (44.8 m²)
The most common layout for a small commercial room. From the second table onwards each extra table only costs 1.65 + 1.3 = 2.95m of width — far less than the first one.
Two tables crosswise — 7.60 × 5.90 m (44.8 m²)
Still 44.8 m², simply rotated. Use it when the room is long and narrow the other way round.
One crosswise + one lengthwise — 8.85 × 5.90 m (52.2 m²)
That is 7.4 m² more than two tables in the same orientation for the same two tables. Only mix orientations when the room forces it — an L-shaped space, a column in the middle, or a room that narrows at one end. In a regular rectangle, always keep tables aligned.
Quick reference
| Tables & arrangement | Minimum room | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 table, lengthwise | 5.90 × 4.65 m | 27.4 m² |
| 1 table, crosswise | 4.65 × 5.90 m | 27.4 m² |
| 2 tables, same orientation | 5.90 × 7.60 m | 44.8 m² |
| 1 crosswise + 1 lengthwise | 8.85 × 5.90 m | 52.2 m² |
| 3 tables, one row | 5.90 × 10.55 m | 62.2 m² |
| 4 tables, two by two | 10.10 × 7.60 m | 76.8 m² |
| 6 tables, three by two | 10.10 × 10.55 m | 106.6 m² |
These figures cover the playing area only. Counter, toilets, storage and entrance are additional.
Ceiling height and lighting matter too
- 2.7m minimum ceiling. The bed sits at 0.80m and the light hangs 0.80–1.00m above it, putting the bottom of the fixture at roughly 1.60–1.80m. Below 2.7m, taller players catch their head on the light while bridging. 3.0m and above is ideal.
- Light the whole bed. Use one long fixture or three shades spread along the table so the ends are not darker than the middle.
- Around 300–500 lux at the cloth is enough for a commercial room; tournament play needs more, and more evenly.
- Keep glare out of eyes. Shades should hide the lamp itself from anyone standing at the end of the table.
What people forget when measuring
- Columns and beams. A single 30 × 30cm column inside the 1.5m zone kills one playing direction outright.
- Inward-opening doors. A fully open door takes up nearly a metre and must sit outside the playing zone.
- Seating and cue racks. Chairs, racks and fridges all belong outside the 1.5m zone, not inside it.
- The delivery route. Even dismantled, a 9ft table has slate pieces around 1.3m wide. Doors, corridors, lifts and stair landings all have to clear that.
- Floor loading. A 9ft slate table weighs over 400kg, carried on four legs. The floor must be flat and able to take that point load — check first on steel-frame or timber floors.
- Humidity. Cloth absorbs moisture, and a damp room slows the balls and shortens cloth life. Keep humidity around 45–65% and avoid placing a table directly under an air-conditioning outlet.
When you are a few centimetres short
- Rotate the table. Switching between lengthwise and crosswise solves most single-dimension shortfalls.
- Use short cues where it is tight. 132cm and 122cm cues cover one or two constrained directions. If you need short cues on more than two sides, drop to an 8ft table.
- Fit one table fewer. Two tables people enjoy playing on will keep customers better than three cramped ones.
The line to remember: under 1.2m from cushion to wall is already difficult, and under 1.0m is effectively unplayable in that direction.
Measuring checklist
- Measure length and width at three points each (front, middle, back) — old walls are rarely square.
- Mark columns, beams, inward-opening doors and steps on your sketch.
- Measure ceiling height at its lowest point, including beams and light tracks.
- Match your figures against the quick reference above to settle on a table count.
- Tape a 2.90 × 1.65m outline on the floor and try standing at all four sides.
- Measure the delivery route: door widths, stair landings and lift dimensions.
If you want certainty, send us your room dimensions with the column and door positions — an AILEEX technician will draw the layout and come back with the best table count for your space.