2022 Pool Table Refelting Cost | Replacement Rates
Your pool table likely gives you, your family, and your friends endless hours of entertainment, but no matter how well you maintain it, it’s going to need new felt eventually. As a pool table owner, refelting may be something that you’ve never even considered. When the time comes to reflect your pool table, the first question on most people’s mind is the cost. The cost to refelt a pool table depends on a number of factors, as there are many different types of pool tables and quality of felt available.
The average cost to refelt your pool table is $358, and that includes materials and labor. New pool felt costs an average of $232 for materials before installation, and it costs $265 to refelt a 7-foot pool table. Homeowners spend $335 for high-end worsted cloth felt, but Teflon felt only costs $120 for the average pool table.
With that said, let’s take a deeper look at pool table refelting so that you can have a better understanding of when, how, and how much it’s going to cost to have your pool table refelted.
Rates for Pool Table Refelting
In simplest terms, the cost to have a pool table refelted is determined by the size of your pool table, the type of felt that you use, and who is handling the installation. Felt replacement on a pool table typically includes the billiard cloth, staple removal, felt installation, and leveling. Though, if you want to have the bumpers replaced at the same time, you’ll want to add on an additional $60 to $180 to your budget.
On average, pool table refelting costs between $282 and $434, with most pool table owners paying around $366 for this service. Though, you could pay as little as $255 or as much as $590 on pool table refelting, depending on the aforementioned factors. The pool table felt itself comes in different level of quality, ranging in cost from $130 to $335. Then, you’ll need to factor in the labor costs for the installation.
If you’re not sure what type of repairs your pool table needs, you may consider having a standard service call and tune-up done. This usually costs about $95. The table below offers a visual display of the average costs to have a pool table refelted:
| Average Cost | $366 |
| Average Cost Range | $282 to $434 |
| Low End Cost | $255 |
| High End Cost | $590 |
Most pool table repair companies will provide a list or brochure of the services and felt options they have. If you’re planning on having your pool table moved, the felt is going to have to be removed anyway, so this is often a good time to refelt it.
Pool Table Refelting Cost Factors
There are a number of factors that are going to impact the cost of refelting a pool table, including the type of felt you choose and who will be performing the job. As with anything, you can save money by going simple and doing the refelting yourself, or you can go all out and hire a professional.
Generally speaking, the bigger the table, the more felt it will need and the longer it’s going to take to install. To put things into perspective, a professional pool table is typically nine feet long, while most slate pool tables that people have in their homes are between seven and eight feet long.
Moving a Pool Table
The cost to have a pool table moved depends on the distance of the move and the number of stairs it has to be moved up or down. Pool table moving involves the entire unit being disassembled, so the cost to move a pool table includes the disassembly, reassembly, and leveling.
| Service | Average Cost Range |
| Move Pool Table Inside Home | $295 to $395 |
| Move Pool Table & Refelt | $495 to $595 |
Travel and Time Fees
If you live within city limits, there usually isn’t a fee for the professional to travel to your home. However, the fees start to apply when you move out of the service area:
- For residences 10 miles away – $25
- For residences 20 miles away – $50
- For residences 30 miles away – $75
Pool Table Refelting by Table Size
The size of your pool table is one of the major determining factors in the cost of refelting. Prices will also vary based on the quality of the fabric used, with a difference of between $10 and $50 per additional foot of pool table length. For instance, the average 7-foot pool table will cost between $265 and $450 to refelt and an 8-foot pool table costs $270 to $500 to refelt – all depending on the quality of the fabric.
The table below outlines average felt replacement costs based on the size of the pool table and the quality of the fabric (from good, to better, to best).
| Pool Table Size | Good | Better | Best |
| 7-foot Pool Table | $265 | $350 | $450 |
| 8-foot Pool Table | $270 | $360 | $500 |
| 9-foot Pool Table | $280 | $375 | $550 |
Types of Pool Table Felt
The term ‘felt’ when used to describe pool table cloth is a misnomer, as they aren’t actually made out of felt. In fact, most at-home, professional, and commercial pool tables use cloth that is made from a blend of wool and either polyester or nylon. They are given the name ‘felt,’ because the texture of these clothes closely resembles felt. Though, worsted wool cloth, which is used on high-end and tournament-type tables, doesn’t even have the same fuzzy texture as felt.
With that in mind, there are typically two main categories that pool table ‘felt’ fall under, and both vary in terms of quality, price, and characteristics. When you’re shopping around for a felt to replace your existing material, it helps to know the differences between the two.
- Woolen cloth is made with approximately 60% wool and is the standard covering that you’ll see on a pool table that is intended for residential use. To the touch, it is thick and feels like felt. Of the two options, woolen cloth is the cheapest and you’ll commonly see it on public pool tables. It is a thick, heavy cloth that causes the balls to roll relatively slowly across it. This type of pool table ‘felt’ is prone to piling and often requires refelting more often than alternatives.
- Worsted wool, on the other hand, is the more expensive of the two options. It delivers a more consistent playing surface needed for professional pool players. Worsted wool is also commonly referred to as ‘speed cloth,’ since the balls roll much faster on it. The material also won’t pill as easily as woolen cloth. In most cases, worsted wool is reserved for professional tournaments and serious pool rooms. You won’t usually find it on home tables.
Pool Table Refelting by Felt Type
There are many styles of pool table cloth to choose from, with costs ranging from as little as $130 for Teflon felt to $335 for a high-quality worsted cloth. Of course, the specific felt that you choose should correspond to the quality of your pool table. However, it is never recommended that you simply opt for the cheapest option available. When cared for properly, a quality type of pool table felt should last you about 10 years.
The table below displays some of the most common types of pool felt, along with the average costs for both the fabric itself and the labor to install.
| Type of Felt | Fabric Cost | Labor Cost | Total Cost |
| 8-foot Championship Invitational Teflon Felt (Cloth) | $130 | $125 | $255 |
| 8-foot Proline 303 Teflon Felt (Cloth) | $160 | $125 | $285 |
| 8-foot Proline 404 Felt (Cloth) | $165 | $125 | $290 |
| 8-foot ProForm Felt (Cloth) | $215 | $125 | $340 |
| Simonis 860 Felt (Worsted Cloth) | $315 | $125 | $440 |
| 8-foot Simonis 760 Felt (Cloth) | $315 | $125 | $440 |
| Simonis 860HR Felt (Worsted Cloth) | $335 | $125 | $460 |
Can You Repair Pool Table Felt?
Felt repair isn’t usually a billiard service that most pool table companies offer, since it is almost always quicker and more cost-effective to just have the felt replaced. Not to mention, felt repair can be challenging since the damage may be deeper than the felt and, during the repair process, you want to keep the cloth completely smooth. However, there are some options for pool table felt repair, including:
- You can find self-adhesive patches from a variety of online retailers for as low as $7. Although you can use these to cover a tear in the fabric, the balls are likely going to roll unevenly over them.
- If the hole is small enough, you can put a spot over it (even if the spot is in the wrong place).
- If you’re good with a needle and thread, use a curved needle to fix the tear. Then, steam it after using a hot steam iron.
How Often Should You Change Pool Table Felt?
If you’ve had your pool table for over a year or two, you might have noticed that it isn’t as smooth or vibrant as it once was. It may also have some minor scuffs or scratches from the many play sessions. Unfortunately, no matter how good you are about cleaning the felt, it will eventually get worn out from gameplay and need to be replaced. But, how often does pool table felt need to be changed?
How often you change your pool table felt will ultimately depend on how often you play. Generally speaking, you should have your pool table refelted every two to five years if you play more than 4 days out of the week. If you only play on occasion, you may be able to go between five and 15 years before the felt needs to be replaced. Though, the appearance, playability, and texture of the felt may indicate that it needs to be replaced sooner or later.
What Causes Pool Table Felt to Wear Out?
When it comes to pool table felt, there are many different causes of wear and tear – from environmental factors to accidental mishaps during gameplay. Although the most common reason that pool table felt wears out is friction, there are other causes:
1. Friction
As the balls roll on the pool table, friction is created against the cloth. The most common pathways of the balls will eventually cause “tracks” where the fabric has been worn down. You also may notice “ball burns,” which are white marks that are essentially the same thing but slightly smaller.
2. Chalk
Chalk residue, whether it’s on the fabric or the balls, can make matters worse. The chalk has a slight abrasive texture that grinds against the felt fibers and starts to shred them (with the assistance of the ball friction). Any dust or debris on the table can also do the same thing.
3. Sunlight and Moisture
The main issue with direct sunlight is that it’ll cause the color of the felt to fade quickly. Whereas, prolonged exposure to sunlight will heat up the fabric and age it prematurely. Moisture is even worse for pool table felt, as it will cause the fabric to deteriorate faster and cause the balls to roll slower.
4. Scratches, Scuffs & Nicks
While this falls more into the realm of tear than wear, jump shots and miscues can result in ripping or grinding of the fabric. The likelihood of scratches and nicks is increased when you use a cue with a cracked ferrule or a missing tip.
How to Tell If Your Pool Table Needs Refelting
Since how much use your pool table gets has a bigger impact on when the felt needs to be replaced than the actual age of the felt, here are some signs that it might be time to refelt:
- The cloth has a lot of scuffs, nicks, rips, and scratches.
- The cloth is covered in tracking marks and white ball burns.
- The balls roll slower during gameplay and may change direction abruptly or lose momentum.
- To the touch, the cloth is rough.
- The cloth is fuzzy or furry.
- When you press you fingers on the cloth, it wrinkles, bunches, or moves.
DIY vs. Professional Pool Table Refelting
While just about anyone can attempt to refelt a pool table in an attempt to save money, the question becomes whether or not DIYing the project is worth it. Refelting a pooling table is a very time-consuming and labor-intensive endeavor, especially if you have no experience in the matter. For many, going the DIY route is simply not an option because of the difficulty of the project.
Not to mention, even the smallest mistake can potentially cause damage to the table or cloth. Pool tables are very expensive and delicate pieces of furniture, that you definitely don’t want to risk ruining.
With that said, if it’s still something you want to try and tackle, you’ll want to do plenty of research on pool table refelting ahead of time. Also, make sure you consult your table’s owner’s manual for detailed instructions.
How to Refelt a Pool Table
If you’ve chosen to take on the refelting of your pool table as a DIY project, here’s a brief rundown of the steps involved:
- Start by disassembling the pool table and removing the old felt. It’s likely attached in more than one way. You may need to use a staple remover if it’s stapled to the table. If it’s glued, you can simply rip off the felt.
- Give the slate a good clean with a clean, dry cloth and scrap off any residue.
- Measure the pool table before buying felt, take the measurements to a felt retailer, and always buy extra material than you think you’ll need.
- Roll the felt out over the surface of the table, stretching it across the head end. Use a staple gun or manual stapler to secure it on the vertical edge in seven places.
- Repeat this process on the left side, foot end, and right side. Make sure you’re always pulling the felt tight and stapling each side of the pockets.
- Trim excess material at the pockets and staple it inside.
If your table doesn’t have a wooden or particle board backing, you’ll need to use a specialized spray adhesive to install the felt.
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Jessica considers herself a home improvement and design enthusiast. She grew up surrounded by constant home improvement projects and owes most of what she knows to helping her dad renovate her childhood home. Being a Los Angeles resident, Jessica spends a lot of her time looking for her next DIY project and sharing her love for home design.
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