Can You Put a Pool Table on Carpet?

Oftentimes the best rooms in which to put a pool table are the rooms that need carpeting the most. Converted garages and basements are common areas for pool tables, but they also benefit the most from carpet. So, it’s no surprise that a common question among pool enthusiasts is, “Can you put a pool table on carpet?”

You can absolutely put a pool table on carpet. However, keep the following in mind before you do so. You will have to level the table more than once as the carpet settles. Also, there’s no getting rid of the divots a pool table leaves.

Read on to learn all you need to know about placing a pool table on carpet. 

There are several ways to consider installing a pool table on carpet. Not only does carpet provide warmth and comfort to the room, but it can also help protect the table (and other furniture) from moisture that seeps up from the floor. This is done with underlay padding that is placed under the carpet.

Plus, carpet can protect the billiard balls in the event that they drop off the table. Carpet can also keep the table from sliding, as is possible on concrete or hardwood flooring.

So, let’s take a look at the different ways to safely and effectively install a pool table on carpet.

Shims and Levelers

It is possible to install carpet under an existing pool table, but it makes things markedly difficult. Some carpet installers are likely to insist that you move the table. Others will gladly add on to the pricing estimate, taking into account the extra work they’ll have to do to work around the pool table.

Traditional carpet requires the installation of a separate underlay padding. It also requires that the carpet be stretched for proper installation. This can make installation under an existing pool table very difficult and time-consuming. Every time you lift the pool table, even one side at a time, it increases the risk of damaging the table.

Carpet tiles, also called carpet squares, are a great solution for installation under a pool table. They are pre-backed, meaning they don’t require any extra padding. They are ready to be installed and don’t need to be stretched. They fit together like regular tiles, so you’ll still be able to see the seams, but you won’t have to lift the pool table as often. They’re also fairly easy to install, meaning you can tackle the job yourself instead of paying a professional.

If you must install carpet under an existing pool table, carpet tiles are the way to go. Or, you can square off the area around the pool table and have carpet installed around it. Most people aren’t crazy about this option since it looks strange unless you also install carpet tiles or some kind of hard flooring under the pool table itself.

How to Protect the Carpet

If you’re installing wall-to-wall carpet, you’ll likely need to move the table. There are two ways to do this, and your particular situation will dictate which is best for you. The first is to pay to have the table disassembled, moved, along with then reassembled after the carpet has been installed. You can do this yourself, but I wouldn’t recommend it, as it’s a tough and very involved job.

The other option is to move the pool table without taking it apart. This option won’t work for most people, given that doorways are too small to fit most pool tables through. And, moving a pool table without taking it apart can damage the frame. You definitely want to avoid tipping the pool table on its side or moving it more than a short distance. If you need to move it up or down stairs, you’ll have to take it apart.

Moving a pool table out of the way for carpet installation is only half the battle. Once the carpet is in, you have to move the table back. If you’ve had the table taken apart, you’ll just need to specify exactly where the table is to go and then have it reassembled there. But, if you’ve moved it without taking it apart, you’ll want to get it on the new carpet without damaging the table or the carpet.

One of the biggest drawbacks of placing a pool table on carpet is the need to level it more than once. As the table settles into the carpet and the foam underneath, the table will become slightly tilted. Depending on the thickness of the carpet and the underlay, this can take from days to weeks. Even months, in extreme cases!

Final Thoughts

For best results, let the table sit for at least 24 hours before you level it for the first time. You can use shims or levelers for this if your pool table doesn’t have levelers in the legs.

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