Pool and snooker are two popular billiards games people enjoy playing. While the games can be played on a snooker table or a pool table, there are some differences between a snooker table vs. a pool table.

What is a pool table?

A pool table is a billiards table with pockets used to play the game pool. High-quality pool tables are made using slate, natural wood, and special cloth that consists primarily of wool or worsted wool. Table sizes can vary from 6 feet x 3 feet to 10 feet x 5 feet.

All pool tables are considered regulation tables if they follow the general rule of being twice as long as wide. However, a tournament pool table is 9 feet x 4.5 feet while an oversized pool table is 10 feet x 5 feet.

The most common size of pool tables is either 7 feet x 3.5 feet or 8 feet x 4 feet. For example, you will typically find 7-foot tables (bar boxes) in pool halls and bars. Our 8-foot tables are the most common size people buy because they are only a foot shorter than a tournament table and often fit easier into the room where the pool table will be set up.

What is a snooker table?

A snooker table is another type of pocket billiards table. While it looks very similar to a pool table, with six pockets, it is much bigger. High-quality snooker tables use a similar construction process as pool tables.

Full-size tournament snooker tables are 12 feet x 6 feet and follow the exact regulation requirement as pool tables, although some people do use an oversized pool table to play snooker on. Anything smaller than a 10-foot table is not recommended because you will not be able to experience the game like you would on a larger table.

Snooker Table vs. a Pool Table: Key Differences

Aside from the size differences in the tables, there are other key differences between a snooker table vs. a pool table, as follows:

Ball Size

The first thing you will notice about the ball size between snooker and pool is that snooker balls are slightly smaller. Snooker balls usually have a diameter of 2 1/16 inches (52.5 mm). Pool balls have a diameter of 2 1/4 inches (57 mm). 

The Number of Balls

Snooker uses a total of 22 balls to play the game, including:

• One white cue ball or striker ball
• Six balls that may or may not be numbered and must be blue, brown, green, yellow, black, and pink
• Fifteen red balls

Traditional 8-ball pool uses a total of 16 balls, including:

• One white or yellow cue ball or striker ball
• Fifteen balls numbered from 1 to 15
• The odd-numbered balls will be striped, usually white with another color
• The even-numbered balls will be a solid color

Pocket Size

The standard corner pocket size on snooker tables ranges from 3 3/8 inches to 3 5/8 inches. The standard side pocket size on a snooker table is 4 1/16 inches to 4 5/16 inches.

The standard corner pocket size on a pool table is 4 7/8 inches to 5 1/8 inches. The standard side pocket size on a pool table is 5 3/8 inches to 5 5/8 inches wide. The smaller pockets on snooker tables make the game more challenging than pool.

In addition, the pocket sizes on both snooker and pool tables are always customizable. 

Cushions

Snooker tales use a K-66 “L-shaped” cushion profile. Pool tables can use either a K-55 or K-66 profile that is angled. The cushions on snooker tables are also set slightly lower than on pool tables due to the size difference in the balls.

Table Markers

A snooker table will have more table markers than a pool table since snooker uses more balls than pool. A snooker table will also have a “D” on the head end of the table. 

Table Surface

Traditional snooker table surfaces use cloth that is a mixture of 90 percent worsted wool and 10 percent nylon. Pool tables, on the other hand, can use either worsted wool or a mixture of 75 percent wool and 25 percent nylon. 

Cue Sticks

The length of cue sticks is similar for both snooker and pool and ranges between 57 and 58 inches long. However, the difference is in the tips. Snooker cue tips are about 9.5 mm compared to about 13 mm for pool.

Custom Pool Tables

It is easy to find custom, handcrafted, high-quality pool tables at Blatt Billiards. Explore our tables online, visit one of our showrooms, or contact us at 212-674-8855 today.