Ping pong conversion top for a pool table
A ping pong conversion top is a playing surface, usually in two halves, that rests on the rails of a pool table on foam pads without touching the cloth. It turns a pool table into a ping pong table in a few minutes. To play well, the top needs to be thick and stiff, and the pool table has to be level.
In this article
If you already have a pool table, there is often no room for a second big table. A ping pong conversion top fixes that: lay the playing surface over the pool table, play, then stand the top in a corner. One game room, two games.
This guide explains how a ping pong table top for a pool table works, what to check before you buy or build one, and its limits.
How a conversion top works
A conversion top is a ping pong surface with no legs. It rests on the rails of the pool table, never directly on the cloth, which stays protected underneath. Foam or felt pads go between the top and the rails to prevent scratches and stop the top from sliding.
Most tops come in two halves, like a regular ping pong table. They are easier to carry and store, and the seam sits under the net.
What size top fits your pool table?
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Full size top (9 x 5 ft) on a 9 ft pool table | The top overhangs the rails a little and plays like a regulation table |
| Full size top on a 7 or 8 ft pool table | It overhangs more; it must be stiff so the ends do not sag |
| Smaller top | More stable, but the game changes and it is not regulation |
Pool tables are commonly sold as 7, 8 and 9 ft tables, and the outside dimensions vary by model. Before choosing, measure the length and width across the outside of the rails. The more the top overhangs, the more its stiffness matters.
The full regulation sizes are in table tennis table dimensions.
Final height
A regulation ping pong table is 30 in (76 cm) from floor to surface. With a top on a pool table, the final height is the rail height plus the pads and the top's thickness. In practice it usually ends up a little above 30 in. For casual play you will barely notice. If you practice for tournaments, know that the table will feel slightly high.
What to check in a conversion top
- Thickness. As always with ping pong tables, this changes the bounce most. Thin tops vibrate where they overhang.
- Stiffness at the ends. If the top overhangs, press the end with your hand: it should not dip.
- Pads. Enough foam or felt, spread along the rails.
- Surface. Dark, even and matt, with white lines, like any table.
- Net. Many tops include a net and post set. It must clamp to the top, not the pool table.
- Weight. Two people should be able to carry each half without straining.
How to protect the pool table
- Never rest the top directly on the cloth. The weight can mark or tear it.
- Wipe the rails before laying the top down. A grain of grit between the foam and the wood scratches the finish.
- Spread the pads along the whole rail, not only at the corners.
- Lift the top on and off, never slide it.
- Do not lean hard on the top during play. It sits on the pool table, it is not bolted to it.
Can you build a DIY ping pong top for a pool table?
Yes. It is like building a DIY table without legs: a thick MDF or plywood sheet, stiffening underneath where it overhangs, dark matt paint and foam pads glued underneath where the rails sit. See the steps in how to build a ping pong table.
Conversion top or a dedicated table?
| Top on a pool table | Dedicated ping pong table | |
|---|---|---|
| Space | Uses the pool table you already have | Needs room for another table |
| Bounce | Good, if the top is thick and stiff | Best, with a thick top |
| Height | A little above regulation | 30 in, regulation |
| Solo practice | No playback mode | Folding tables have it |
| Setup and storage | A few minutes, two people | A folding table rolls away |
If you play ping pong now and then, a top is a great fix. If ping pong will be the main game in the house, a foldable table is usually more practical.
Frequently asked questions
Will a ping pong top damage my pool table?
Not if it rests on the rails on foam pads and never touches the cloth. Always lift it on and off.
What size ping pong top fits a 7 ft pool table?
A full size 9 x 5 ft top can work on a 7 ft table if it is stiff, but it overhangs a lot. Smaller tops are more stable but not regulation.
Is a ping pong top on a pool table the right height?
It ends up a little above the regulation 30 in, because the rail height, pads and top add up. For fun, it hardly matters.
Can you practice alone with a conversion top?
Not like a folding table. A top has no playback mode, because the halves cannot stand up on a base.
Do you need a special net for a conversion top?
No. Any net whose clamps fit the thickness of the top will work.