Can You Move a Pool Table Without Taking it Apart?

The appearance of a pool table can be deceiving when you’re figuring out how to move it. You may measure the table, the distance between the legs, and the doorways you want to get it through and determine that it will be no problem. Just flip the table on its side and maneuver it through the doorway.

You can move a pool table without taking it apart, but there are many factors to consider, like how far you’re moving it and the type of table it is. To avoid injury, damage to the table, and a massive headache, most tables should be taken apart to be moved.

Tools

Slate bed tables are notoriously heavy and difficult to move, even when taken apart. Other tables, like those made with MDF beds, are much easier to move without taking apart. But, it all depends on where you’re moving the table and what obstacles stand in your way. Read on to discover when to consider moving a table without taking it apart and best practices for having any pool table moved.

The risks involved in moving a pool table vary widely depending on the type of table, how far you’re moving it, how many people you have to help, what type of equipment you have, and whether there are stairs involved. Below are some of the most general risks of moving a pool table.

Step 1 - Measure

You could damage the table: The biggest risk, no matter the type of table, is that you’ll damage it in the move. It can be easy to get stuck in a doorway or on some stairs with an assembled pool table. Trying to get it unstuck is when things generally go wrong.

You could break the slate: If you have a slate table, it’s surprisingly easy to break or crack the slate if you don’t know what you’re doing.

You could injure yourself or others: Pool tables— especially slate tables— are very heavy. Trying to move it with an inadequate number of people can result in injury. Even if you do have enough people, injury is a risk you have to consider.

You could damage the frame: Trying to move a slate table can result in a damaged frame. The slate is so heavy that it needs to be supported by the legs. So, when you lift the table off the ground, the frame takes all that weight, which can cause damage.

Moving a pool table a short distance can be done without taking it apart. In fact, disassembling the table just to move it to another room or out of the way isn’t usually a good idea. It depends on whether you can fit it through doorways easily while it’s fully assembled. If you have to go up or down stairs, you’ll probably want to disassemble the table to reduce the risk of damage and injury.

Step 2 - Place the sliders or dollies under the table legs

Take a hard look at where you want to move the table. Measure doorways and tight spots. If you’re not absolutely certain you can get the table through without having to take it apart, go for it. We have outlined a process for moving a pool table without taking it apart near the end of this article.

Moving the table any further than the same house or building almost always requires that you take it apart. Particularly if it’s a slate table.

Step 3 - Move the table

Moving a pool table is never a one-person job. You will always need a group of 3 or more people to safely move a pool table. Attempting to move a table by yourself is not advised as you can injure yourself or damage the table easily. You may need to call a professional to move the table if you can’t do it safely and effectively.

Slate pool tables are different beasts than MDF (medium-density fiberboard) pool tables. MDF tables are much lighter than slate pool tables and sometimes come with foldable legs. If you have an MDF table, you may be able to move it with two people without taking it apart, provided it will fit through doorways and around corners.

Step 4 - Place the table

Slate tables are more popular and harder to move, given their weight and relative fragility. As such, we’ll focus most of the discussion below on moving slate tables.

To give you an idea of how difficult slate tables are to move, here’s a little breakdown of how much each size weighs.

When to Call a Professional

A 7-foot slate table weighs around 700 to 750 pounds.

An 8-foot slate table weighs around 850 to 900 pounds.

A 9-foot slate table weighs around 900 to 1000 pounds.

The slate alone weighs around 450 to 500 pounds.