Poker Tables

Having the guys (and if you’re lucky, the girls) over to play a game of poker in your house is no doubt enjoyable—provided you’re all comfortably set-up. No one likes playing poker at a small dining room table when they could be sitting at a table that is specifically made for poker playing, which is probably why you’re looking into getting a poker table.

With all of different poker tables available, not to mention all of the options, it’s easy to pick the wrong one. Follow this poker table buying guide to avoid choosing a poker table that does nothing but collect dust.

The Styles and Sizes of Poker Tables

A poker table is not simply a table that is used exclusively for playing poker. Rather, it’s a specific type of table made especially for poker—and there’s actually a few different styles of poker tables, one of which may be a better fit for your rec room than the others.

Wood Table Top Poker Table. The wood table top poker table is a popular choice due to the fact that you can convert it into a dining table when it is not being used for poker games. They’re usually the size of a standard, four person dining room table. Wood poker tables have a certain “prestigious” look that makes them so sought after for rec rooms that have a very classy, elegant design scheme..

Folding Poker Table. If you can’t afford a wood poker table, the folding poker table is your next best bet. You have a bit of flexibility here in terms of what size table you can get. There are small folding poker tables that are about 52 inches around and seat four, as well as folding tables that are 98 inches around and seat 10—and virtually every size in between. What size you choose will, of course, depend on the number of people you’ll have over to play poker. Most of the folding tables come standard with 4-10 cup holders.

Pedestal Poker Table. Pedestal poker tables are often chosen for rec rooms because they’re space efficient and have the “casino” look that many people want in their room. They’re also a much more stable table than the folding table, and are significantly cheaper than the wood table top poker table. Pedestal poker tables, much like folding tables, usually come standard with drink holders and ash trays.

Poker Table Options

Drink Holders. As we’ve mentioned, drink holders usually come standard in folding and pedestal poker tables. If you plan on drinking a bit while you’re playing with your buddies, drink holders are a must. Even if you don’t plan on it, it’s generally a good idea to get a table with drink holders because they’ll be used at some point and can prevent careless spills on the table.

Padded Armrest. You’re going to be sitting there at the table for long periods of time, so getting a table with a padded armrest is always a good idea. Not all tables come standard with it, unfortunately, so you’ll need to make sure yours does.

Different Upholstery/Felt Cover Colors. The top of the poker table—no matter what style and size the table is—always comes with some sort of of felt upholstery. Nowadays, you have the option of picking what color this upholstery is. The traditional table is green, but more and more people are going with blue or even red. It’s a good idea to pick the color that best matches your room.