A Step-By-Step Guide for How To Move a Pool Table
Your pool table has been the centerpiece of countless game nights. But when you’re downsizing or moving, that beloved piece of billiards equipment can become a 700-pound puzzle. You may need to fit it through doorways and around tight corners without damaging it or scraping walls.
If you’re wondering how to move a pool table safely, you can’t just grab a few friends and muscle it onto a moving truck like most heavy furniture. One wrong move could crack the slate playing surface, leading to costly repairs.
Read on to discover how to move a pool table across the room or to a new location.
How Hard Is It To Move a Pool Table?
Pool tables aren’t like regular furniture. You can’t move them like a dresser or a mattress.
The challenges start with the slate. Many pool tables have either one or three slate pieces, each weighing anywhere from 100 to over 500 pounds. So you’re not just dealing with something heavy—you’re dealing with ultra-fragile stone. The delicate surface needs to stay flat to maintain an accurate ball roll. And even the tiniest crack or warp can cause serious damage.
Pool tables also have felt stretched across the slate that you need to remove carefully. If you tear it, the cost to repair can reach $500.00, depending on the size of the table. You also need to take off the rails without damaging the cushions underneath and detach the legs.
Moving a billiard table requires patience and steady work. If you take it apart the wrong way or rush the reassembly, it can be difficult and costly to fix.
How To Prepare for Transporting a Pool Table
Before you disassemble your table, walk through your home and measure the doorways, hallways, and staircases it’ll need to pass through. Moving pool table slate is the biggest challenge here, and you need several inches of clearance to maneuver it through openings safely.
Before moving a slate pool table, gather all your tools, including:
- Power drill
- Socket wrench
- Screwdriver
- Staple puller
- Straps
- Moving blankets
- Bubble wrap
- Furniture dolly
When that’s all ready, clear everything out of your path so you and your helpers can move without tripping over anything. This preparation helps keep you organized and reduces the risk of damage.
Step-By-Step Guide To Moving Pool Tables
You can’t just wing it when moving a pool table—unless you want to risk having a playing surface that’s never quite level again. Follow these instructions to protect the slate and keep the frame stable.
Assess Your Pool Table
Take a good look at what you’re dealing with. Examine the table’s size, weight, and construction. Check underneath to see how the legs attach to the frame and how the slate is secured. This quick inspection saves you from scrambling for tools later.
Pro tip: Snap a few photos showing how everything connects before you move on to the next step.
Do Your Prep Work
Make sure you measure the doorways, gather all your tools, and clear the path. Line up at least two or three helpers. If you’re moving to a new home, confirm you have a vehicle large enough to transport everything. If you don’t, you’ll need to rent a moving truck or a trailer.
Disassemble the Pool Table
Pop those pockets out first using your staple puller or screwdriver. Then unscrew the bolts and detach the rails. Take off the felt next with slow, steady pulls because repairing or replacing it gets expensive.
Next, unscrew everything holding the slate to the frame. Shift the pieces of slate slowly and carefully; don’t do it on your own. Remove the table legs last, once all the weight is gone.
Protect Your Investment
As soon as you get a slate panel off the frame, wrap it in thick moving blankets or bubble wrap. Take extra care with the corners—that’s usually where the damage starts. Protect the rails so the cushions don’t get damaged during transport.
To prevent dents and scratches, cover each wooden part of your pool table with moving blankets, including the frame and the table legs. Secure the padding with straps so nothing can slide around.
Use the Right Moving Equipment
Furniture sliders are your best friend for moving heavy parts across the floor without leaving marks. You’ll also need lifting straps and a furniture dolly or a table lift that won’t buckle under the weight of the panels. Move the pieces carefully, making sure to transport each slate piece one at a time.
Load and Transport With Care
When moving your pool table out of the house, load the wrapped slate pieces into the moving truck gently and position them flat up against the front wall. Strap everything down, and use moving pads in-between the pieces if you stack them. Put the rails and other components somewhere in the vehicle where they can’t crash into the slate.
When you get to your destination, unload everything carefully and move the pieces to your new game room. Reassemble the pool table carefully in the reverse order, starting with the legs.
How To Move a Pool Table in One Piece
If you’re wondering how to move a pool table a few feet, you may not need to take it apart. For short, same-room moves, slide furniture sliders or dollies underneath the pool table’s legs and move it where it needs to go. This works when you might be rearranging your furniture for home staging or cleaning the dust bunny graveyard underneath.
Why Should I Hire Professionals To Move a Pool Table?
Professional furniture movers frequently handle heavy and delicate jobs like this and have the experience to do it properly. They show up with the right resources and know how to avoid common mistakes like cracked slate and torn felt.
The safety factor justifies the cost. Slate pool tables weigh hundreds of pounds—not something you want your friend with a bad back trying to lift. Pro pool table movers also carry insurance, which is a must-have for relocating such a pricey investment.
The pros also know how to navigate tight corners and secure everything in the moving truck properly. You might save a few hundred dollars with the do-it-yourself approach, but one dropped slate panel can cost more than hiring a crew in the first place.
Go the Stress-Free Route With College HUNKS
Moving your pool table successfully means understanding what you’re up against. You need to prepare accordingly, gather the right tools and equipment, and disassemble everything carefully. It takes some serious effort and enough helping hands to avoid injury or damage.
College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving takes the entire process off your shoulders. Our trained movers have the expertise to safely relocate your pool table. We’ll disassemble, transport, and reassemble it so it plays the same way it did before the move.
If you’re ready to skip the heavy lifting, get in touch with our team today for a free estimate.
FAQ
How Much Does It Cost To Move a Pool Table?
Local moves typically cost between $375.00 and $1,500.00. This includes disassembly, transport, and reassembly. For larger or heavier-than-average pool tables or long distances, you might pay professional movers up to $4,000.00.
Can I Move a Pool Billiard Table By Myself?
You can try to move your pool table yourself across a very short distance, but remember that it’s heavy and fragile. The slate panels weigh hundreds of pounds, and trying to relocate them without the proper equipment can lead to damage. We recommend hiring a professional crew.
How Heavy Is a Pool Table?
Pool tables typically weigh between 700 and 1,500 pounds. This varies according to the unit’s size, which might be seven, eight, or nine feet.