How to Move a Pool Table

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When it comes time to move, some furniture or leisure items require more time, energy, and equipment due to their complexity and value. A pool table is one of these items. Moving a pool table can be done in five distinct parts:

  1. Disassemble the rails, pockets, felt, slate, and legs.
  2. Protect and pack each component with moving blankets, bubble wrap, and labeled bags for hardware.
  3. Carefully load all boxed and wrapped pieces into the truck, using dollies and straps.
  4. Transport the slate and tabletop flat and secured.
  5. Reassemble in reverse order when you arrive.

Remember to always stay safe when moving a pool table. These tips can help:

  • Always lift with at least two people
  • Wear gloves for grip
  • Don’t transport slate upright unless well-padded
  • Take photos of hardware during disassembly

Before anything else, understanding the parts of a pool table is the first step in moving this billiard beast.

Key Takeaways

  • Moving a pool table does take time, research, and specialized equipment. Sometimes hiring a professional moving service is the right way to go.
  • Pool tables are high-quality furniture pieces and moving them should be done with great care.
  • Along with furniture pads and mover’s wrap, moving boxes also are needed for the separate components of a pool table.

Parts of a Pool Table

A pool table has six distinct parts that need to be removed before transporting:

  • Pockets
  • Rails
  • Felt
  • Slate
  • Tabletop
  • Legs

Thankfully, these parts don’t require any special tools to disassemble. You may wonder whether disassembling an entire pool table is necessary to move it. The answer is: Yes.

Pool tables can weigh between 180 to 2,500 pounds, depending on the material and quality.

Additionally, consider the overall size of a pool table compared to the size of doorways, hallways, and staircases. Disassembly also ensures all parts are packed safely and securely. Once you know the parts, you can begin taking the pool table apart.

Disassembling the Pool Table

Disassembling a pool table is the most tedious part of the moving process. Here are the tools and equipment you need for disassembling a pool table:

Removing the Top Rails

The way your pool table is built will determine which piece you remove first. If your pockets are enclosed by the top rails, you will need to remove the top rails first. This can be done by taking either a socket wrench or a drill with a Phillips head to the underside of the top rails and unscrewing screws or bolts, depending on your pool table.

Removing the Pockets

After removing the rails, take a staple remover or a flathead screwdriver and remove the staples holding the pockets to the pool table. If they are drilled in, then use a drill or Phillips head screwdriver. Make sure to take great care when removing the staples holding in the pockets, because you will need to insert them back in when putting the pool table back together.

Once the top rails and pockets have been removed, place them to the side on a furniture pad so nothing gets damaged. Take the screws/bolts/staples and place them in a plastic bag labeled “Pocket/Top Rail.”

Removing the Felt

Once the felt is fully exposed, take the staple remover or flathead screwdriver to begin slowly removing the staples that hold the felt to the slate. Once all the staples have been removed, place them in a plastic bag labeled “felt” and slowly roll up the felt and place it on a furniture pad.

Removing the Slate

Take a furniture pad and place it on the ground. With a partner, slowly and carefully begin to remove the slate by unscrewing the Phillips head screws. Slate is extremely fragile, so handle however many pieces you have with care. Never lift slate alone, as each piece can weigh between 80 to 250 pounds.

Once the slate is placed down, leave ample space around the slate so nobody steps on it. This will expose the bolts and washers holding the legs to the tabletop of the pool table. Take all the slate screws and place them in a plastic bag labeled “slate.”

Removing the Legs

Use the socket wrench to remove the bolts. Place them in a plastic bag labeled “legs.” Place another furniture pad on the ground. With a partner, slowly lift the tabletop, turn it on its side, and rest it on a wall on top of the furniture pad.

Packing the Pool Table

Packing the pool table will require these materials:

Packing the Legs

The hard part is over, and packing the pool table can begin. Lay down two sheets of Enviro Bubble that’s at least 1.5 times larger than the pool table leg. Lay down a pool table leg on top of the Enviro Bubble and the remaining sheet over top. Take the side of the top and bottom pieces on Enviro Bubble and tape them together. Wrap the ends with mover’s wrap. Repeat this step for all pool table legs.

Once that is done, tape together an extra-large moving box, and place the pool table legs all in the box. If the box still has space available, use biodegradable packing peanuts or packing paper to keep everything secure and safe.

Packing the Top Rails

For the top rails, use the same strategy to wrap them up as with the pool table legs. Top rails that are longer than 48 inches will need another layer of Enviro Bubble with mover’s wrap around the entire rail.

For rails smaller than 48 inches, place them inside a sport utility box with the felt from the pool table, using packing paper or biodegradable packing peanuts to fill the void space. The box may remain partially open if the felt extends past the top.

Packing the Pockets

For the pockets of the pool table, place them inside a small moving box with biodegradable packing peanuts to surround them. Place the bags with all the hardware for the pool table inside this box.

Packing the Tabletop

To pack the tabletop, lay down two quilted furniture pads. One blanket should be a foot over the other on the shortest side. With a partner, slowly lower and place the tabletop into the blankets. Take the remaining two blankets and place them on top of the tabletop, covering them entirely. With the mover’s wrap, wrap each end of the pool table several times. With the paper packing tape, tape the loose ends of the blankets together on all sides.

Packing the Slate

For the slate, if it’s as long as the tabletop, follow the same steps for packing the tabletop. If you have three smaller individual slates, wrap each like a present using a quilted furniture pad. Lay the slate toward the back of the blanket and wrap the slate like a Christmas present.

Once they are wrapped, take the mover’s wrap and wrap it around the center on both sides, making an X. Once that is done for all slates, moving the pool table can begin.

Moving the Pool Table

With everything packed, let's move. Map out the route you’ll need to take with your moving partner, making notes of tight hallways, turns, and stairs. To move a pool table, you’ll need the following equipment:

Moving the Top Rails, Legs, and Pockets

The first step you’ll want to do is to move the boxes containing the rails, legs, and pockets.  Use the utility dolly or lift with the legs and communicate constantly with your moving partner about upcoming stairs and turns. Once you have made it to the moving truck, secure the boxes with tie-down rope or ratchet straps to the side of the moving truck.

Moving the Slate

Next, move the slates. Slowly lift these pieces to avoid any damage. Follow the same steps for moving these pieces as the boxes, while making sure to take note of narrow doorways. Slate should be placed on top of multiple furniture pads inside the moving truck.

Moving the Tabletop

For the tabletop, lay it up against the wall and stand it upright on its long edge. Moving straps are placed in an X underneath, and both arms or shoulders go through the straps. Lift with your moving partner at the same time and place both hands on opposite sides of the tabletop.

This will make the tabletop able to fit through doorways and tight turns. Once the tabletop is inside the moving truck, lay it down flat toward the back of the moving truck.

Now you’re all good to go. To unpack and set up your pool table, follow all the same steps in reverse.

Move a Pool Table Easily with Moving Help®

Moving a pool table takes a long time, and to avoid heavy lifting, get Moving Help. Moving Help Service Providers are labor-only movers who are experienced in moving all kinds of heavy furniture, such as pianos and gun safes. If you want to avoid all of the stress that comes with moving a pool table, get Moving Help today!

 

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Image Credit: Adobe Stock

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