If you’ve ever tried to move a pool table, you know that it’s a heck of a job. Most pool tables are made with slate beds (the playing surface under the cloth). That slate is a type of rock and it weighs an average of 450 pounds. Not to mention the rest of the table, which generally has to be disassembled to move. So, the question many proud pool table owners ask is, How much does it cost to move a pool table?
The overall cost of moving a pool table depends on many things. Mainly, its size, weight, slate (3-piece or 1-piece), the distance it’s going, and whether there are any stairs involved. On average, moving a pool table will run you between $250 and $650. This generally includes disassembly, transportation, and reassembly.
However, there are some things you can do to reduce the cost associated with moving a pool table, short of moving it yourself, of course. Read on to discover everything you need to know about the cost of moving a pool table.
Typical Costs and Hourly Rates
Most pool table movers will quote you a lump sum, once they have all the requisite information. However, there are pool table movers who charge by the hour. I’ve included the typical costs for both types.
- Hourly
- Low – $50 per hour
- High – $115 per hour
- Average – $80 per hour
- Lump-Sum
- Low – $250
- High – $900
- Average – $450
Note: I would stay away from using a regular moving company to move your pool table. Unless, of course, they have employees who specialize in moving and leveling pool tables. There’s nothing worse than paying a moving company to transport your table only to learn that they don’t know what they’re doing when they leave you with an uneven table.
Pool Table Size
The size of your pool table is one of the first things a pool table mover will ask for. There’s a wide range of table sizes. Most at-home tables or 7’ by 3.5’ or 8’ by 4’. But, there are also 12’ snooker tables out there, even if they are rare in America. The bigger the table, the more expensive the move is likely to be.
Pool Table Weight
The weight of the table doesn’t necessarily go hand-in-hand with the size. A 8’ by 4’ coin-operated pool table is likely to be heavier than a no-frills 9’ by 4.5’ table with leather pockets. The type of material and any decorative add-ons will add to the weight, which will also contribute to the cost of moving.
3-Piece or 1-Piece Slate?
One of the hardest things about moving a pool table is the slate. If your table doesn’t have a slate bed, chances are you can move it yourself. Wood (MDF) pool tables are significantly lighter than slate tables. Unless you want to pay someone to move your MDF pool table, I wouldn’t waste the money. You could just rent a truck for the day and get it done with a couple of buddies.
That being said, slate tables are more common. And out of those, 3-piece slate tables are the easier of the two to move. It’s much easier to handle 3 medium-sized pieces of heavy rock than it is to handle one giant piece. As such, most pool table companies charge more to move a 1-piece slate table than they do a 3-piece. Joining and leveling the 3 pieces of slate takes some doing, but is no big deal for a professional.
Finally, the slate’s thickness is something to consider, as well. Most pool table slate on 3-piece tables is 1” thick. On 1-piece tables, you’re looking at ¾” thick slate. But, some tables come with slate that’s as thin as ½” and as thick as 1 ¼”. The thicker the slate, the heavier the table. And the heavier the table, the more it will cost to move it.
How Far is it Being Moved?
Another pricing factor in pool table moving is the distance it’s being moved. The company that takes the job needs to cover the cost of gas for the truck and time for their employees. So, as you can imagine, moving a pool table to a house down the street is going to cost less than moving it across the country.
Are There Stairs Involved?
Of course, the dreaded stairs. Most pool table companies will tack on some extra dough if there are any stairs involved in the move. Getting the heavy slate up or down steps not only takes some serious physical strength, but it also increases the likelihood of injury or damage. As such, the more staircases involved, the higher the cost will generally be.
Ball Return
Whether or not the table has a ball return will also be taken into account. A ball return system (as opposed to simple drop pockets) will generally add weight to the table. Plus, it may make assembly harder. If the movers have to spend more time taking the table apart and reassembling it at the destination because of a ball return, you may get charged a little extra.
Quotes From Across the Country
To give you an idea of what you can expect to pay, I’ve gathered some quotes from different pool table movers around the country. All of the prices below are for a 3-piece slate table.
- Austin, Texas
- $250 to $350 for a local move of a standard 8-foot pool table.
- Phoenix, Arizona
- $300 to $400 for a local move of a 7, 8, or 9-foot table.
- Seattle, Washington
- $350 to $450 for a local move of an 8-foot table.
- New York, New York
- $400 to $600 depending on the size of the table.
What You Can Do to Reduce the Price of Moving a Pool Table
If the price of moving a pool table is a little too steep for you, it’s possible to reduce the price a bit by investing some of your time in the project.
Disassemble
If you’re fairly good with your hands and have some familiarity with your pool table, you may be able to disassemble it yourself. Almost all pool table movers will be happy to transport a disassembled table, but it’s important to make sure before you start the job. Some pool table movers prefer to do the disassembly themselves to avoid any issues if there is something wrong with the table on arrival. Still, with the right company, you could end up saving $100 or more.
Combine Services
Another way to save a little money is to contract the pool table movers for a repair or re-felt. If you have them move the table and install a new felt or cloth, they’re likely to give you a discount. So you would likely end up spending more money than the move itself, but it would be cheaper than having the table moved and re-felted separately.
Reassemble
Unless you’ve already assembled a pool table before, I wouldn’t risk this one. It’s possible to hire a mover at a discount to move the table for you and then put it back together yourself, but it’s not the easiest thing in the world to do if you have never done it before. Of course, if you have several hours (or more) to spare to work on the table, it may be a good option for you.
In Conclusion
There are so many different factors when it comes to moving a pool table, it’s hard to say for certain what it will cost you. A heavy table, several flights of stairs, and hundreds of miles between destinations will all drive the price up. However, on average you can expect to pay between $250 and $650 to get your pool table moved.
Unfortunately, it’s not easy to move a table any distance by yourself. For more information, check out my article on moving a pool table without taking it apart. Otherwise, paying a professional to move your table is well worth the money.
