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Are you looking for the best ping pong table for the price? Be it for your rec room or lawn, ping pong tables are a great way to have fun and bond with your family. You can also place one of these tables in your office game room to have a break from stress. In this post, we put together five of the best ping pong tables as well as a buying guide to help you choose the right one.
| PING PONG TABLE | BRAND | EXPERT RATING | CHECK PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Our Top Pick! JOOLA Inside Indoor Table Tennis |  | Check Price |
 | STIGA Indoor Table Tennis | | Check Price |
 | JOOLA Rally Indoor Table Tennis |  | Check Price |
 | STIGA Space Saver Compact Table Tennis |  | Check Price |
 | Butterfly Junior Ping Pong Table | | Check Price |
Reasons to add a ping pong table on your rec room
If you’re scouting for the right game table for your rec room, you should consider a ping pong table. Most of these tables are foldable, so you can free up space anytime you’re playing another game. It’s also a very versatile choice that you can turn into a beer pong table, board game table, card game table, and so on.
Ping pong is a game of strategy and critical thinking. It’s also one of the several active indoor games that don’t consume a lot of space. In fact, many companies opt for ping pong tables for their game rooms because of this benefit.
At home, ping pong tables can teach your kid focus, coordination, patience, and sportsmanship.
Most of all, ping pong games let you channel your inner competitiveness in a healthy way. It gives your brain a workout while having fun and bonding with your opponent.
Ping Pong Table Buying Guide
To find the best ping pong table for the price, you should look for the following features:
*Indoor vs. outdoor
Ping pong tables are designed for either indoor or outdoor use. Indoor ping pong tables are made of wood for the best performance. However, the trade-off is that it’s not water-resistant. Still, it lasts longer if kept in a dry place.
On the other hand, outdoor ping pong tables are optimized to endure harsh elements. It’s also more expensive, especially tournament-grade models.
*Rollaway vs. stationary
Next, you should decide whether you need a rollaway or stationary ping pong table. Rollaways have wheels and a foldable tabletop so you can stash it away if you want to free up space. You can also leave one side open as a substitute table for other games.
Meanwhile, stationary ping pong tables don’t have wheels, though the tabletop can also be folded. This type is usually cheaper and more stable than a rollaway.
*Check the dimensions
When it comes to game tables, you should never overlook the dimensions. Full-sized or tournament ping pong tables are 9-feet long and 5-feet wide. This is the official regulation size for table tennis, though you can find smaller ones for recreational game room purposes.
Take note that you shouldn’t just factor in the size of the table. There should also be extra space for you to move and play. About 3 feet around the table should suffice.
*The thickness matters
Another important consideration when buying ping pong tables is its thickness since it has a direct impact on your quality of play. For indoor ping pong tables, the minimum recommended thickness is ¾-inch. The thickness for tournament tables is 1 inch. This measurement will give excellent bounce.
For outdoor tables, 7 mm is the best thickness. As you see, outdoor tables run thinner than indoor types since it’s made of a different material.
*Opt for strong steel frame
Lastly, check the quality of the frame. The frame of the ping pong table will hold the tabletop. And since games can be pretty heated, you need a durable one that can withstand force.
Always invest in thick steel with a non-corrosive coating. For outdoor tables, galvanized steel legs are ideal.
Most of all, the legs of the table should be leveled and stable. As much as possible, there should be levelers so you can compensate for any uneven surface in your rec room.
5 Best Ping Pong Tables for the Price!
OUR #1 CHOICE
OUR TOP PICK: JOOLA Inside Indoor Table Tennis
Product Name: JOOLA Inside Indoor Table Tennis
Product Description: If you're looking for the best ping pong table for the price, you'll never go wrong with JOOLA Inside Indoor Table Tennis. It's a tournament-sized ping pong table and the official brand that the US Open uses. Moreover, this table comes 95% pre-assembled, so you only have little work to do to start playing. You only need to attach the legs for around 10 minutes, and you're good to go. This is made of an 18 mm-thick medium-density fibreboard as well as a multi-layer painted top. Such thickness and finish give the best ball bounce. This is also available in a 25 mm-thick version.
Offer price: $$$
- Construction
- Bounce
- Assembly
- Value for Money
Overall
Summary
Aside from that, this ping pong table comes with two 4-wheel trolley systems as well as anti-tilting locks. It’s easy to assemble, store, and move around in your rec room.
The best thing about this ping pong table is you can fold the other half of the table so you can play in solo mode. There are also leg levelers to keep your floor scratch-free.
The package also includes JOOLA’s 72-inch regulation net and post set.
Pros
Safety latch system
1.5-inch steel tube legs
Locking casters
Cons
Minor scratches are present
RUNNERS-UP
STIGA Indoor Table Tennis
Another ping pong table that we swear by is the STIGA Indoor Table Tennis. This one is also competition-ready and equipped with a 16 mm tabletop made with a roller coating process. It is then UV-cured to create a durable and smooth surface for the best bounce. The silk-screen stripping also adds durability and aesthetics to this game table.
This STIGA ping pong table is 95% pre-assembled, so you only need to install the legs and other tiny parts.
Moreover, this ping pong table has 3-inch lockable casters to keep it stable during a match. Also, the package includes a 72-inch clamp-style net as well as a post set so you can play right away.
Like other premium ping pong tables, the STIGA comes with a safety latch system on the underside of the table. This keeps both halves of the table in a vertical position, so it will not open while you are playing.
What we also like about this table is that the two halves can nest together. And with the built-in rollers, you can easily stash this away without consuming a lot of space.
JOOLA Rally Indoor Table Tennis
If you want a JOOLA ping pong table but not as expensive as the first one we reviewed, your best bet is the JOOLA Rally. This one has a 15 mm tabletop and a 30 x 30 mm frame. Like the first two table tennis we reviewed here, this is also a tournament-sized game table.
The JOOLA Rally boasts a wheeled system that allows you to nest both halves of the table and roll it away. It can be assembled and set up by a single person with ease.
We also like the corner ball holders and abacus scorer that are built into this table. It can fit three 40 mm table tennis balls on each corner.
Also, this ping pong table comes with durable 1.5-inch steel legs with rubber levelers for added stability. Its casters are also lockable so you can play with peace of mind.
Aside from the table, you’ll also get a 72-inch net and post set. Take note that the balls are not yet included in this set. Other than that, we don’t have major issues with this premium ping pong table.
STIGA Space Saver Compact Table Tennis
If you’re setting up a rec room on a budget, you can consider the STIGA Space Saver Table. This is a compact option that’s around 5.9-feet long and 3.3-feet wide with regulation height. It’s the perfect table tennis for small rec rooms and those who are only playing for fun.
This isn’t a wheeled ping pong table, but it’s only a minor gripe. It still comes with a foldable construction that allows you to stash it away to free up space. You can also use this as a multi-purpose table for entertainment.
Moreover, you can fold the legs flat at the backside of the table for compact storage. There’s no assembly need for this table once it arrives on your doorstep.
What we also love about this table is that each half can stand alone. You can use it as a ping pong table or two individual game tables.
Like other STIGA ping pong tables, this one has the same medium-density fibreboard tabletop material that’s 16 mm thick. It’s also equipped with 1.25-inch steel legs equipped with levelers.
The table also comes with STIGA’s 38.5-inch net and post set.
Butterfly Junior Ping Pong Table
If you don’t have a lot of space to spare, you can get the Butterfly Junior Ping Pong Table. This is ¾ the size of a tournament table, which is suitable for casual games as well as kids’ use. It’s 6.75-feet long and 3.75-feet wide with regulation height.
This ping pong table comes with foldable legs and two wheels on each side of the table. This can also be used as a game table by removing the net and post.
You can choose between a green and blue tabletop, which both have a thickness of 12 mm. Any color will arrive fully assembled for the best box-to-play experience.
There are also corner guards to prevent the tabletop from chipping. If you are to store this way, just fold the halves and roll it away with the built-in wheels.
Overall, this ping pong table is big enough for fun. It has a good quality that will last for years when used indoors.
Our only gripe is that it doesn’t come with instructions. If you’re new to table tennis, you have to look up some instructions on the internet about how to put the net and post in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the official ping pong table size?
A: The International Table Tennis Federation sets the regulation size for ping pong tables as 2.74 meters long and 1.525 meters wide. Also, the table should stand at 76 centimeters from the ground. Such height should be leveled on all surfaces of the table.
Q: What is a ping pong table made of?
A: Most ping pong tables can be made of particle-board, plywood, fiberglass, or plastic. However, if you want the best ping pong tables, look for a wooden top with a thickness of at least 25 mm. These tables last long and can be used in competitions.
Q: Can I use a dining table as a substitute ping pong table?
A: If you’re just playing for fun, your dining table will do. However, you need hardware that will hold the net in place. Also, your dining table should be long enough so you can play comfortably.
Q: Is table tennis or ping pong the same?
A: Basically, yes, ping pong and table tennis are the same sport. However, some say that it’s called table tennis for professional players and ping pong for garage or recreational players. Nonetheless, they share the same equipment, rules, and game nature.
Q: What is the right color for a table tennis?
A: Before, table tennis has a surface floor of grey or green. However, to make it more visible to the audience, it was made blue. You can also find other colors, especially for recreational ping pong tables.
Final words
The best ping pong table for the price should have topnotch quality. Above all, it should be fun, easy to use, and long-lasting. Regardless if you’re looking for a regulation-size or compact table, the options we reviewed above give the best value for your money.
