How much does it cost to recover or refelt a pool table?
How much does it cost to recover or refelt a pool table?
The average cost to refelt a pool table is $370 depending on the table's size and the quality of the fabric. Installing new felt on a 7 or 8-foot pool table costs $265 to $500, and $280 to $550 on a 9-foot table. Some refelting services charge $100 less if you buy your own felt.
$280 – $430 average total cost
The average cost to refelt a pool table is $370 depending on the table's size and the quality of the fabric. Installing new felt on a 7 or 8-foot pool table costs $265 to $500, and $280 to $550 on a 9-foot table. Some refelting services charge $100 less if you buy your own felt.
Refelt Pool Table Cost
Pool table refelting costs between $280 and $430 on average depending on the size of the table. Felt replacement includes the billiard cloth, staple removal, felt installation, and leveling. Add $60 to $180 if you replace the bumpers at the same time, and $200 more to disassemble, move, and reassemble.
Pool table felt costs $130 to $335 on average and comes in various levels of quality. Labor costs average $125, with advanced pool table installs costing up to $280.
If you're unsure which repairs you need, a standard service call and tune-up costs about $95. A tune-up will also help you determine whether you have 1 or 3 piece slate pool table.
National Average Cost | $370 |
Minimum Cost | $250 |
Maximum Cost | $600 |
Average Range | $280 to $430 |
Most pool table repair services will have a brochure or online list explaining the benefits and the variety of colors offered.
If you’re moving your pool table, the felt will be removed anyway, so this is an excellent time to refelt it. Once recovered, they will also check the pool table level and readjust it to make sure it’s perfectly flat.
Pool Table Felt Replacement Costs
The average 7-foot pool table felt replacement costs $265 to $450. An 8-foot pool table costs $270 to $500 to refelt. Prices depend on the quality of the fabric, with a difference of about $10 to $50 per additional foot in table length.
Size | Good | Better | Best |
---|---|---|---|
7-foot Table | $265 | $350 | $450 |
8-foot Table | $270 | $360 | $500 |
9-foot Table | $280 | $375 | $550 |
Pool Table Felt Installation
There are various styles of pool table cloth, with prices ranges from $130 for Teflon felt to $335 for a high-quality worsted cloth.
The felt you select should relate to the quality of your pool table. Going with the cheapest option is never recommended, as a quality pool table felt will last about 10 years when cared for properly.
Felt Type | Fabic Cost | Labor Cost | Total Cost |
---|---|---|---|
8FT Championship Invitational Teflon Felt (Cloth) | $130 | $125 | $255 |
8FT Proline 303 Teflon Felt (Cloth) | $160 | $125 | $285 |
8FT Proline 404 Felt (Cloth) | $165 | $125 | $290 |
8FT ProForm Felt (Cloth) | $215 | $125 | $340 |
Simonis 860 Felt (Worsted Cloth) | $315 | $125 | $440 |
8FT Simonis 760 Felt (Cloth) | $315 | $125 | $440 |
Simonis 860HR Felt (Worsted Cloth) | $335 | $125 | $460 |
Pool Table Felt Repair
Pool table felt repair is not a billiard service offered by many pool table companies, as it’s faster and more cost-effective to replace the felt. Felt repair can be tricky because you want to keep the cloth completely smooth, and the damage may have gone deeper than just the felt. However:
You can purchase some self-adhesive felt patches from Amazon for $7.95. They can cover the tear, but the balls might roll unevenly over them.
If the hole is small enough, put a spot over it (even if it means the spot is in the wrong place).
If you’re handy with a needle and thread, use a curved needle to repair the tear. Steam it afterward with a hot iron.
Custom Pool Table Felt Replacement
You can order a custom pool table felt that sports your artwork or business logo. Custom felt costs about $550 for a 7’ or 8’ table and $600 for a 9’ foot table. Prices depend on the quality, the number of colors, and the size of the finished artwork.
Replace Felt on Coin-Operated Pool Table
The cost to replace the felt on a coin-operated pool table is about the same as replacing the felt on a non-coin-operated table, or between $300 and $600. Refelting might have to be done more often since coin-operated pool tables are usually in public places and experience heavy use.
Refelting Pool Table Bumpers
Refelting pool table bumpers adds $60 to $180 to the price of refelting the table itself. Usually, when you refelt the table, you refelt the bumpers at the same time, since you’ve already got everything taken apart.
Pool Table Recovering Costs
Pool table recovering costs range from $200 to $700, depending on what needs to be repaired, such as rail or bumper replacement, dismantling, moving, and reassembling the table, or if the table needs to be leveled or refinished.
Service | Average Cost |
---|---|
Service & Tune-Up | $60 – $195 |
Moving & Assembly | $295 – $395 |
Refelting & Recovering | $265 – $550 |
Rebumpering | $60 – $180 |
Rail Replacement | $280 – $450 |
Dismantle | $195 – $245 |
Installation | $240 – $360 |
Leveling | $240 – $360 |
Refinishing | $295 – $395 |
Pool Table Recovering Packages
During a standard pool table recovery, a pro will remove the existing fabric, remove the old glue or staples for a smooth playing surface, and smooth out any chips in the slate surface.
Package | Average Cost |
---|---|
Assemble Used Table | $245 – $295 |
Assemble Used Table + Refelt | $395 – $495 |
Refelt + Tune-up | $280 – $400 |
Refelt + Tune-up + Rail Replacement | $495 – $695 |
Move + Reassemble + Refelt | $495 – $695 |
Pool Table Rail Replacement
Pool table rail replacement costs $280 to $450. Replacing rails must be done correctly or the balls will bounce off the rails at odd angles and make playing difficult. Recovering billiard table rails is usually included in the price to refelt the table.
Sample prices for rails and accessories not including installation are:
Valley Pool Table Rails – $200 to $320, uncovered or covered
Precut Rail Blanks – $100 for 6 pieces in K55 profile
Rail Feather Strips – $16 for one x wood 4’ length (¼”x ¼”) or $25 for 6
Pool Table Bumper Replacement
Pool table bumper replacement costs $50 to $90 for the bumpers and labor. Cushion facing is added to the ends of the rail rubbers and rail. Bumpers should last for 10 to 20 years on a good quality pool table.
Buy rail rubbers for $45 to $55 for six pieces, cushion facings for $5 to 10 for a dozen, and bumper rubber rings at $12 for a dozen.
Cost to Level a Pool Table
If your pool table develops a problem and needs to be leveled, it will cost $80 per hour for a technician to come out to your home, with a service call-out fee of $60 to $95. Leveling a pool table is usually done at the time of setup or installation for $240 to $360. Setup includes full assembly of your table, leveling, and felting the table.
Cost to Refinish a Pool Table
The cost to refinish a pool table is $295 to $395, which includes replacing the cloth on the surface and the rails. After that’s finished, you get a comprehensive tune-up to keep your pool table in tip-top condition. Most companies will perform the following:
Disassemble the pool table
Check and adjust the table level via the legs
Shim the slate to level the surface
Reseal the slate seams
Install the new cloth
Assemble the pool table
Snooker Table Recovering Cost
Snooker table recovering costs average within a range of $373 to $520 depending on the quality of felt.
Fabic Quality | Average Cost |
---|---|
Good | $370 |
Better | $500 |
Best | $520 |
Pool tables and snooker tables pretty much look the same, with the pockets in each of the four corners and one pocket in the middle on each of the long sides. The more significant differences are in the sizes. Pool tables come in three different sizes of 7’, 8’, and 9’ along the longest side.
The 7’ table is referred to as a bar table,
The 8’ is referred to as a home table, and
The 9’ table is a professional or tournament table.
In contrast, snooker tables are 12’ on their longest edge and are commonly found in the UK, while pool tables are more common in the US, except for British pubs.
Pool Table Refelting Cost Factors
Factors that impact the cost of refelting your pool table include:
The type and quality of cloth you decide to use
The table's size
The refelting company's experience level
Cost to Move a Pool Table
The cost to move a pool table varies with the length of the move and the number of flights of stairs the pool table needs to be moved up or down. With pool table moving, it must be disassembled, so all prices include disassembly, reassembly, and leveling.
Service | Average Cost |
---|---|
Move Pool Table Inside Home | $300 – $400 |
Move Pool Table & Refelt | $500 – $600 |
Billiard Table Assembly & Disassembly
Move a pool table inside your home: $300 to $400. This price does not include new felt; they will reuse the old felt.
Move a pool table inside your home and refelt: $500 to $600. This price includes all the above plus new felt in the color of your choice.
Disassemble, move, and reassemble: $400 to $500. The pool table will be disassembled and the pieces wrapped in heavy-duty moving blankets and labeled. The slate is stacked on a padded pallet. Everything is moved to the new home, reassembled, and releveled. Does not include new felt.
Disassemble, move, reassemble, and refelt: $600 to $700. This price includes all of the above and new felt in your choice of color.
Time and Travel Fees
If you live within city limits, there is generally no fee for the technician to travel to your home. Once you move out of the service area, fees will start to apply.
$25 for residences that are 10 miles away
$50 for residences that are 20 miles away
$75 for residences that are 30 miles away
Certification and Insurance
The company that moves your pool table should be insured with a list of what’s covered on their site and invoices. A pool table weighs between 700 and 1,100 pounds, and it could cause considerable damage to your home or a person if it's dropped. American billiard companies and installers can be certified by the leading manufacturing brands such as Brunswick and Diamond.
Pool table installation can be complicated, and the company should be experienced for the best results. Moving your pool table is a very technical process, and if a pool table mover damages your home or the felt on the table, you’ll need his/her company covering replacement and repair costs.
Pool Table Cloth Prices
Average pool table cloth prices range from $130 to $335. Prices range from $97 to fit a 7' table with teflon fabric, all the way up to $1,190 to fit a 9' table with NCAA professional grade felt.
Brand | Cloth Type | # Colors | Size & Price |
---|---|---|---|
Championship Invitational Cloth with Teflon |
|
14 |
|
Simonis 860 Cloth |
|
9 |
|
Simonis 860HR Cloth |
|
2 |
|
Wave7 NCAA Professional Grade Pool Table Felt |
|
40 |
|
Woolen Cloth
Woolen cloth is the most common type of cloth for home pool tables and is often referred to as felt. It is a heavy fabric and contains 60% or more wool. It’s a heavy, thick cloth and the balls will roll fairly slowly on it.
Worsted Wool
Worsted wool cloth is typically used in professional tournaments. This cloth has a distinct weave to it, and it’s made from the best wool—Merino. Worsted wool costs much more than woolen fabric, and balls roll much faster on this cloth.
What Are the Different Types of Pool Felt?
Pool felt comes in two types—napped and worsted. There are many different brands of pool table felt, but each brand falls into one of the two types.
Napped: This is the standard pool felt you get on home pool tables, pool tables in a bar, or coin-operated pool tables. It’s economically priced and the go-to cloth for a table. It has a nap to it, which means it has a directional feel—if you run your hand over it, you’ll see the path your hand left behind. Because of that nap, the ball will travel slower on this cloth.
Worsted: This is the cloth of professional pool players and is more expensive. So much more expensive that it’s out of reach for most home players, and bars won’t invest in it because of the heavy use of their tables. This is a flat weave of cloth, and because there is no nap, the ball travels faster.
Both types of pool table felt can be treated with Teflon, which is a good option for public play tables or homes with young children. The Teflon allows spilled liquids to bead up and keeps them from absorbing and staining the cloth.
What Is the Best Pool Table Felt?
The best pool table felt is worsted wool felt and it is found on most professional tables and rarely on home play tables. Another name for it is “speed cloth” because the balls roll fast on it.
Pool Table Cloth Colors
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does It Take To Refelt A Pool Table?
It takes a professional about 2 to 3 hours to refelt a pool table. If you’re tackling the pool table as a DIY project, it will take you longer, perhaps a day.
Can You Move a Pool Table Without Refelting?
You can’t move a pool table without removing the felt, but you can put the same felt back on if it’s in good condition. However, if you’ve been thinking about putting new felt on your pool table, this is a good time to do it.
How to Clean Pool Table Felt
Cleaning the cloth on your pool table needs to be done. It accumulates everyday dust and pollen, pet hair, and even the occasional spill. When you purchased your pool table, they likely gave you some instructions on how to clean the table, and you may have a pool table brush to get the dirt and dust out of the crevasses and corners.
How to Clean Pool Table Felt
Use the brush in straight lines (never circular) and then use a small, plastic dustpan to remove the debris.
Never use a vacuum on your pool table. A vacuum can stretch and pull the cloth out of line; this will create lines and creases that can deflect balls and ultimately ruin the game.
If there are stains, use a damp, white cotton cloth and blot at the stain. Only use water, never soap. Soap can leave a residue, which will attract dirt and also deflect balls.
How Much Does New Felt for a Pool Table Cost?
Depending on the size of the table and the type of felt you purchase, the cost from most pool companies will run between $145 on the lower end for a 7’ table and up to $345 on the high end for a 9’ table. You can also buy felt on Amazon. The price ranges from $65 on the low end and up to
$360 for Simonis 760 felt,
$590 for 12’ Simonis 860 felt, and
$895 for a 9’ Custom Artscape felt with your logo added in the center of the table.
Pool Table Maintenance
Pool table maintenance is required to keep your table in good shape to enjoy years of play.
Keep your table clean, with regular brushing and quick cleanup of spills.
Invest in a table cover to keep dust, dirt, and pet hair from settling on your table.
Keep chalk away from the cloth. Chalkdust is very fine and abrasive and not suitable for the fabric on your pool table.
Keep the pool balls clean with an occasional warm water/soap bath. You can also purchase cleaners specifically for pool balls.
Make sure your pool table is not just inside a window that will allow daily exposure to the sun, which will potentially harm the wood and discolor the felt.
Do everything you can to ensure your family and friends keep beverages well away from the table to protect it from the condensation on the outside of a container and accidental spills.
Another point to address with all who might play on your table is that while leaning on the table for a moment to take a shot is part of the game, sitting on the table can cause issues with structural integrity over time.
DIY Refelt Pool Table or Hire A Service
Can you DIY and refelt a pool table? It takes some tools and some precision work, but you might enjoy it if you are particularly good at spending a lot of time making sure things are perfect.
How Hard Is It to Refelt a Pool Table?
It’s about a 6 on a scale of 1–10. It’s more a matter of being very precise than in being a difficult job. The professionals have the proper tools for leveling the pool table, whereas you might have to purchase them. The most challenging part of refelting the pool table will probably be stretching and attaching the felt. It must be smooth and without wrinkles.
How to Refelt a Pool Table
Take the rails off. There are screws/bolts underneath that will release them.
Remove the old felt from the pool table surface.
If the old felt was glued down, scrape off any old glue and make sure the surface is smooth and clean.
Reseal the seams with beeswax.
Install the new felt by either gluing it or stapling it. However you decide to attach the new felt, it must be slightly stretched to allow for a smooth surface. If it’s loose, it will create ridges and folds, impeding the balls’ path.
Put the rails back on.
The description sounds straightforward, but the reality is, it’s a fairly complex job. It will take a professional 2 – 3 hours to do it, so if you’ve never done it before, you might consider that it will take all day.
Pool Table Felt Kits
A pool table felt kit can be purchased for $230, and it includes everything you’ll need to replace the cloth on your 7’ pool table. For 8’ add about $25, and for 9’ add $45. The kit will usually include:
Your choice of rail cushions
Set of cushion end facings
Spray adhesive
Contact rail cement
Slate seam cement
Spots
Matching color cue chalk
DVD with complete instructions on pool table set up and recovering