As sturdy and durable as most pool tables are, they do tend to get worn down and beat up over time. And in most cases, the felt is the first thing to go. Depending on how often you play, how well you maintain the table, and where the table resides, you may even need to change the felt every few years. If you’ve never had your table refelted before and it’s beginning to look a little worse for wear, you may be wondering, “how much does it cost to refelt a pool table?”
The average cost to refelt a pool table is usually between $200 and $600. The final price mainly depends on the size of the table, the type and quality of the felt material, and who you hire to do it. There are also a few ways to cut costs to some degree, such as doing it yourself.Type and Quality of the Cloth
Worsted cloth like Simonis 860 costs $150-$300 for the material alone and lasts 3-5x longer than the $50-$100 woolen felt found on budget tables. Before we get into the main factors that determine the cost of a refelt, it’s worth noting that some types of pool tables may require a slightly different refelting process and some tables may not be worth refelting at all.
Most of the tables that feature a 1-piece slate bed are coin-operated “bar boxes” - typically 7’ or smaller. These rarely have a wooden backing, so the felt must be glued on. The rails and cushions are usually constructed a little differently on bar boxes than on traditional tables, so the process of refelting the cushions may be a little different as well.
While the cost of refelting a traditional 7’ table and a 7’ bar box will most often be about the same, some companies may charge more or less in labor fees.
If you really want to refelt your MDF table, check with the manufacturer beforehand, as these tables are typically not meant to be taken apart and put back together again.
Labor Costs & Other Fees
Though built to last, not all outdoor pool tables are meant to be refelted. Outdoor tables use a special fabric, typically made from acrylic, that’s UV-resistant, waterproof, along with very durable. It just doesn’t wear down the way traditional billiard cloth does, meaning that it usually lasts about as long as the table itself. As with MDF tables, be sure you check with the dealer or manufacturer to make sure it can be refelted.
Type and Quality of the Cloth
Probably the most significant factor in the price of a refelt is the cloth you choose. Pool table cloth is not actually made from actual felt, as the name suggests. Instead, the cloth on most tables is made from a blend of wool and nylon (or sometimes polyester). Tournament-grade cloth is almost always made from 100% worsted wool, which provides faster play and is resistant to “ball burns” or other marks made by friction.
The cost of pool table cloth varies immensely depending on the brand and quality - from around $50 up to $350. You’ll probably want to avoid going with the cheapest option, particularly if you want to keep your refelting adventures few and far between.
In Summary
Here’s a look at a few popular types of pool table cloth and their prices for an 8-foot table.
If you’ve got your sights set on professional competition, you may want to go with a high-end cloth like those offered by Simonis, but if you’re more of a casual or intermediate player, a quality low-to-mid-range cloth should work just fine.
For a lower-end pool table cloth, the price goes up or down by about $10-15 per foot of table size. For a mid-range cloth, the difference is about $20-30 per foot, and for a high-end cloth, it’s around $50-60 per foot.
Labor Costs & Other Fees
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The average labor cost for a professional pool table refelt is about $125. This typically includes disassembly, reassembly, along with leveling. Of course, every company is different, and if the job requires extra work, they may charge more.For instance, if the slate is chipped, the pool table mechanic will need to fill in the holes (with your permission), which consumes more labor time and materials. Little repairs like these can make the bill add up. Some companies may even charge travel fees if you live outside their typical service area.
Some companies offer a discount if you provide the cloth yourself, so be sure and ask about that ahead of time.
If you want to replace the rubber cushions at the same time as the felt (this is only necessary if they’ve become brittle or unresponsive), anticipate paying anywhere from $50 to $100 more - though you may be able to get a discount if you provide the new cushions yourself. If it needs doing, it’s much better to get it all done at once.
Similarly, it’s best to get your refelting done during a move, if possible. Moving a slate pool table involves disassembling the table and removing the felt anyway, so you may be able to save a little money by providing a new felt and having the movers install it when they set up the table again. Just make sure your pool table mover is okay with it!
When shopping around for a professional refelting service, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Worth checking out: If you need replacement felt, take a look at the Championship Saturn II Billiard Felt on Amazon.
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For more on this topic, check out pool table felt guide, best felt color, how long felt lasts, ironing pool table felt, and how felt is attached.
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