Pool vs. Billiards Tables: What’s the Difference?

HomeCarolina Pool Tables Plus BlogPool vs. Billiards Tables: What’s the Difference?

Many people use the words pool and billiards interchangeably. While the two games share common roots and are highly similar, there are some significant differences that set them apart from one another. The same is true for the tables on which the games are played.

difference between pool and billiards tables

We’ll start with the more familiar pool table—a pool table has a felt surface and six pockets around the edges, one at each of the four corners, plus one more in the center of each of the two long sides. Here at Carolina Pool Tables Plus, and at most other pool table retailers, you can find pool tables in a number of different sizes, from 6-foot-long “condo” tables to the more common 7-, 8-, and 9-foot varieties.

Moving on to billiards tables, the first thing you’ll notice is that they do not have pockets. The game of billiards is played with one object ball, plus one cue ball for each player. The object is to strike the object ball with your cue ball, hit the rail three times, and then strike the other player’s cue ball. In addition to the absence of pockets, another difference between pool and billiards tables is that the latter are larger in size.