The 5 Best Ping Pong Tables (2024 Review)

From casual beginner play to intense back-and-forth competition, table tennis is a well-loved activity that nearly anyone can play. If you have the space at home for a full- or mid-size ping pong table, it’s worth investing in one for countless hours of fun and entertainment in your basement, garage, game room, or man cave. To find the best ping pong table for your living space, the This Old House Reviews Team researched the available models on Amazon and boiled down our findings to the five in this article. Keep reading to learn about our recommendations.

Top 5 Ping Pong Tables

• Best Outdoor Table: JOOLA Outdoor Table Tennis Table
• Best Basic Full-Size Table: MD Sports Table Tennis Set
• Most Compact: GoSports Mid-Size Table Tennis Game Set
• Best Conversion Top: JOOLA Table Tennis Conversion Top
• Best for Training: Butterfly Junior Ping Pong Table

Best Outdoor Table: JOOLA Outdoor Table Tennis Table

Courtesy Amazon

JOOLA Outdoor Table Tennis Table

• $591.03

Prices taken at time of publishing.

With a weatherproof surface and a waterproof net, we like that this full-size, high-quality table ping pong table gives you the option for competitive gameplay indoors or outdoors. This professional table folds partially if you want to practice by yourself and the rest of the way when you’re ready to roll it to storage. 

• $591.03 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Has eight sets of wheels
✔ Comes with a waterproof net
✔ Can fold in half to play by yourself

✘ Has a heavy and bulky design
✘ Has an expensive price tag

What Customers Are Saying

Happy customers appreciated the stress-free assembly of this outdoor ping pong table. They also praised its high-quality materials and rolling wheels. However, we found that unhappy customers found that the table was vulnerable to scratching and water damage, despite being advertised for outdoor use.

Best Basic Full-Size Table: MD Sports Table Tennis Set

Courtesy Amazon

MD Sports Table Tennis Set

• $222

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This no-frills indoor ping pong table measures 108 inches long for regulation play. For an affordable price, our team like that you also get two paddles and two balls. The manufacturer provides 3D instructions online if you’re struggling to put it together for the first time or set it up or break it down later on.

• $222 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Has corner guards to prevent injury
✔ Includes a net, a post set, two balls, and two paddles
✔ Offers downloadable 3D assembly instructions

✘ Rated for indoor use only
✘ Has small casters that are made of plastic

What Customers Are Saying

Overall, customers had mixed experiences with this table. We noted that the majority of users stated that it performed to their expectations given the price. While assembly was a pain point for some users, others found the table to be easy to construct and fold.

Most Compact: GoSports Mid-Size Table Tennis Game Set

Courtesy Amazon

GoSports Mid-Size Table Tennis Game Set

• $128.67
• $149.99
• 14% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This ping pong table is lightweight, small, and foldable for on-the-go use. Although it isn’t regulation-sized, is less heavy-duty than other models and won’t lend itself to competitive gameplay, we find that it’s an ideal option for casual users who want a dedicated surface to play relaxed ping pong no matter where they are. 

• $128.67 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Weighs less than 50 pounds
✔ Includes two paddles, four balls, an accessory case, and a net
✔ Offers instantaneous setup and breakdown

✘ Not large enough for competitive play
✘ Not particularly sturdy

What Customers Are Saying

Positively, we found that customers who purchased this mid-size ping pong table liked how lightweight and portable it was. They also praised it for how sturdy it felt during gameplay despite its small size. Some users even took it camping to use it as a surface for eating meals and playing ping pong and board games. Negatively, some customers had complaints about its durability, as its surface chipped and cracked after a few uses.

Best Conversion Top: JOOLA Table Tennis Conversion Top

Courtesy Amazon

JOOLA Table Tennis Conversion Top

• $149.95

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This regulation-sized, foldable board sits on your pool, air hockey, or dining table to convert it into a ping pong table. Our team found that the compact design works well if you don’t have the space for a full ping pong table. The engineered wood 12-millimeter-thick tabletop offers suitable bounce and durability.

• $149.95 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Has a regulation-sized playing surface
✔ Folds in half for storage
✔ Has foam backing to protect the table underneath

✘ Must sit on a table that’s at least seven feet long and three feet wide
✘ Costs about the same as a mid-sized table

What Customers Are Saying

Many customers we found had a positive experience using this conversion top to cover their pool table or dining table. Although the table surface was thin and the slight gap in the center hindered gameplay, most users found this tabletop to be sturdy, easy to set up, and easy to store.

Best For Training: Butterfly Junior Ping Pong Table

Courtesy Amazon

Butterfly Junior Ping Pong Table

• $499.79
• $524.99
• 5% off

Prices taken at time of publishing.

This table is larger than a half-sized table but smaller than a regulation-sized table, making it a good option for small spaces. If you’re new to ping pong, we think this is the option for you because it provides more surface area to learn how to play without taking up too much space. The halves also detach for easy and compact storage.

• $499.79 at Amazon

Pros and Cons

✔ Can separate the halves for easier storage and transportation
✔ Doesn’t require assembly tools
✔ Sold with an adjustable net

✘ Has a thin 0.5-inch playing surface
✘ Doesn’t come with balls or paddles

What Customers Are Saying

Some customers with limited space thought that this table supported intense gameplay without a lot of area to work with. Although our team found that the table threw off those who were used to a full-size one, it felt sturdy and provided plenty of bounce. Some users did have complaints about the table not folding or arriving cracked.

Buyer’s Guide

Having access to your own ping pong table at home serves as a valuable source of exercise and entertainment. Whether you are hosting an at-home table tennis tournament or want to sharpen your skills, here’s a buying guide of the factors that we think are the most important things to look for in a ping pong table.

Size

A regulation ping pong table is 108 inches long and 60 inches wide. You can also find tables that are half or three-quarters of this size.

Besides price, size is a primary consideration when it comes to finding the right ping pong table for your home. Measure the available space you have for a table, and make sure there’s extra room to play around it. While a full-size table lends itself to more competitive and spirited gameplay, a compact table functions in a smaller area.

Material

Most ping pong tables are made with engineered MDF wood, aluminum, and powder-coated alloy steel. These durable materials are designed to withstand accidental slams from ping pong paddles without chipping or denting. Entry-level tables may use plastic to cut corners on costs, which also leads to a lighter build.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Use

While indoor-only tables aren’t designed for outdoor use, you can use outdoor tables indoors. Many homeowners tend to have more space on their lawn, which makes outdoor ping pong tables popular alongside other yard games. However, wind, sun, and precipitation can affect gameplay as well as longevity.

Playing Surface

Expensive ping pong tables have a hard surface that produces a greater and more consistent bounce for higher-quality ping pong. If you’re a serious table tennis player, give the quality of the playing surface some thought. The more the ping pong ball bounces, the more intense and dynamic the gameplay.

Accessories

It’s common for ping pong tables to come with everything you need to get started, including a net, paddles, and balls. Other ping pong table accessories may include a cover for the table, paddle and ball holders, or a cleaning solution for the playing surface.

Portability and Storage

Typically, ping pong tables have a folding design to maximize storage space. Particularly heavy tables may have wheels to rollaway for storage. Mid-size tables sometimes have carrying handles instead of rolling casters for easy storage.

Beginner-Friendly Table Tennis Tips

Whether you’re picking up a paddle for the first time or returning after a long hiatus, here are our tips on how to become a skilled ping pong player:

• Keep your shots low—just above the net—to avoid giving your partner the chance to spike the ball back to your half.
• Use your entire body for a forehand shot. Keep your feet planted and your body centered. Rotate your shoulders to increase the power of your shot.
• Practice using both forehand and backhand techniques.
• Even if your ping pong table comes with a set of paddles and balls, it’s worth investing in nicer accessories as your skills improve.
• Don’t bother keeping score if you’re practicing or playing for fun. The lack of pressure to win will help you focus on your form.
• When you’re cleaning the playing surface of your ping pong table, be wary of traditional spray cleaners. Their chemicals can warp or otherwise damage your table. Instead, look for a cleaner that’s specifically designed for ping pong tables, or use a 5:1 mixture of water to distilled white vinegar.
• If you’re purchasing an outdoor ping pong table, consider also getting a cover to keep the surface free from debris and sun and water damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a difference between ping pong and table tennis?

Generally, no. The two names refer to the same game. However, ping pong is sometimes used to refer to a casual game. Conversely, table tennis may involve more competitive, intense, and structured play.

Can I play ping pong on a combination gaming table?

Many multifunctional tables include air hockey, foosball, table tennis, and other games in one unit. While you can play a miniature version of ping pong using a surface like this, a full-size, dedicated ping pong table allows for better gameplay.

Can I use an outdoor ping pong table inside?

Yes. However, don’t use an indoor table tennis table outdoors, as the materials aren’t built to withstand exposure to water and sunlight.

Why is there a line running through my ping pong table?

This line is designed to separate the table into four equal parts. Each side of the table has two parts in case you want to play doubles table tennis. For competitive singles table tennis, many players prefer for the server to serve the ball diagonally across the table, using the line as a boundary.

Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team

This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.

We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.

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