Can You Turn a Pool Table on its Side?

For slate tables, no. Do not turn a pool table on its side. The frame and rails are designed to support the slate’s weight vertically, from above. When you tip the table sideways, 450-500 pounds of slate presses against the side panels, which aren’t built for that kind of load. The result is cracked wood, broken legs, or a damaged slate.

I’ve seen people try this because they think it’s the fastest way to fit a table through a doorway. It’s the fastest way to destroy a table.

Why Slate Tables Can’t Go on Their Side

The slate on a pool table can weigh 450-500 pounds by itself. When the table sits normally on its legs, that weight pushes straight down through the frame and into the floor. The legs, frame joints, and cross supports are all engineered for vertical load.

Tip the table sideways and the physics change completely. Now the slate’s weight pushes against the side rail and the wood panels running along the table’s edge. Those panels are typically 1-inch thick boards attached with screws or bolts. They hold felt and cushion rubber in place during normal play. They are not structural supports. Under 500 pounds of lateral pressure, they crack, split, or pull away from the frame.

The legs are at risk too. Pool table legs are mounted to handle downward force. When the table is on its side, the slate’s weight pushes on the legs at an angle they weren’t designed for. They can snap off or pull their mounting hardware out of the frame.

The Coin-Op Exception

Many coin-operated bar tables (7-foot “bar boxes”) can be moved on their sides. These tables are built differently from home tables. They have single-piece slates, reinforced frames, and were designed to be transported by commercial movers using furniture dollies.

The process for a coin-op table:

Prop one side up and unscrew the feet (not the legs, just the adjustable feet at the bottom). The legs themselves usually stay attached. With the feet removed, tip the table onto its side and slide it onto a large furniture dolly. The legs on these tables are thick enough and mounted securely enough to handle the sideways load.

That said, always check with the manufacturer before doing this. Every table model is different. Some coin-op tables have fragile coin mechanisms or electronic scoring systems that don’t survive being tipped.

MDF Tables

MDF (medium-density fiberboard) tables are much lighter than slate tables, usually 200-350 pounds. Some are specifically designed to fold up or be stored on their sides. If your MDF table has foldable legs or the manual mentions side storage, you’re fine.

For heavier MDF tables without foldable features, treat them like slate tables. The MDF bed won’t crack like stone, but the frame joints and legs can still be damaged by sideways weight. If the manual doesn’t say it can go on its side, don’t risk it.

How to Actually Move a Pool Table

If you need to get a slate table through a doorway or to a new location, the right approach is disassembly. Remove the rails, unbolt the slate pieces from the frame, and carry everything separately. It takes longer but protects the table completely.

For short moves within the same room, use furniture sliders or a pool table dolly system. Lift each leg, slide a heavy-duty pad underneath, and push the table to its new position. No tipping required.

For long-distance moves, hire a professional pool table mover. They’ll handle full disassembly, safe transport, and reassembly with releveling at the destination. Expect to pay $200-600 depending on distance and table size. That’s far cheaper than replacing a cracked slate, which can cost $500 or more by itself.

Storage

If you need to store a pool table, you have two options. Keep it fully assembled on its legs in a climate-controlled space, or fully disassemble it and store the components flat. The slate pieces should always be stored horizontally, never on edge. Slate stored on its side on carpet will leave a permanent indentation.

Never store a pool table upside down. The weight distribution reverses and puts stress on every joint in the frame. It also exposes the slate underside and felt to potential damage from the floor surface.

Worth checking out: If you’re shopping for a new table, take a look at the Barrington Billiards 7.5ft Table on Amazon.

FAQ

Can you turn a slate pool table on its side?

No. The rails and frame aren’t built to support the weight of the slate from the side. Turning a slate table on its side risks cracking the wood, breaking the legs, and damaging the slate itself. Always disassemble a slate table before moving it.

Can you turn an MDF pool table on its side?

Some lightweight MDF tables can be turned on their sides safely, especially foldable models designed for storage. Check your owner’s manual first. Heavier MDF tables should be treated the same as slate tables.

Can you store a pool table on its side?

No. Store a pool table either fully assembled on its legs or fully disassembled with the slate stored flat. Never store a table on its side or upside down. Storing slate on its side on carpet will leave a permanent dent.

What about coin-operated pool tables?

Many coin-op bar tables can be moved on their sides after removing the feet. These tables have single-piece slates and were designed for dolly transport. Always check the manufacturer’s instructions before attempting this.

Related Articles

For more on this topic, check out moving a pool table without disassembly, moving a table a few feet, standard pool table sizes, how heavy slate tables are, and how long pool tables last.