For many of us, the last time we played ping pong was during college, when we would ditch class and spend our time in the rec room. Or maybe some of you guys have ping-pong tables in your office’s break room. Whatever the case, do you know what the dimensions of a ping pong table are?
A regulation ping pong table, per the International Table Tennis Federation’s rulebook, should measure 2.74 meters (9 feet) long and 1.52 meters (5 feet), with the playing surface standing 76 centimeters (2.5 feet) above the ground. However, ping pong tables for recreational use can come in smaller or larger sizes.
In this guide, I’ll explain the various ping pong table sizes, their markings, and how to play ping pong.
Ping Pong Table Dimensions and Specifications
There are two sizing standards for ping pong tables—those that adhere to the International Table Tennis Federation’s (ITTF) rulebook and those that do not.
IFFT-Approved Ping Pong Table Dimensions
According to the ITTF, a regulation ping pong table must be rectangular in shape and measure 2.74 meters (9 feet) long between baselines and 1.52 meters (5 feet) wide between sidelines.
The top of the table (the playing surface) must be 76 centimeters (2.5 feet) above the surface of the floor. Ping pong tables used during the Olympic Summer Games will also follow the ITTF’s standard dimensions.
Non-ITTF-Approved Ping Pong Table Dimensions
However, ping pong tables that do not follow the ITTF’s precise measurements are all over the place. There are large-size tables, full-size tables, mid-size tables, and small tables. Let’s take a look at their measurements.
Large-size ping pong tables
Any ping pong table that is larger than 9 feet long and 5 feet wide can be classed as a “large-size ping pong table.” The most common dimensions of such a table are 10 feet long and 6 feet wide.
Full-size ping pong table
If you enter a sporting goods store and are directed toward a full-size ping pong table, its measurements will be precisely 9 × 5 feet.
Mid-size ping pong table
Mid-size ping pong tables also go by the 2 other names: two-thirds and three-fourths, which refers to how its length and sides are 2/3 or ¾ those of a full-sized ping pong table.
A 2/3 ping pong table will measure 6 feet long and 3-1/3 feet wide. The surface of the table will usually be between 30 and 36 inches high.
A ¾ ping pong table will measure 6-3/4 feet long and 3-3/4 feet wide. The height of a ¾ ping pong table will be similar to a 2/3 or a full-size table.
Small-size ping pong table
These are the smallest ping pong tables you can get your hands on. They vary in size, but the most common dimensions are 58 inches long, 39 inches wide, and 30 inches high. These ping pong tables are usually found in small break or recreation rooms.
How Much Space Does a Ping Pong Table Need?
Although a full-size/ITTF-approved ping pong table measures 9 × 5 feet, that doesn’t mean you can place it inside a 10 × 6-foot room and hope to enjoy using it. To get the most out of a ping pong table, you should have enough clearance on all sides to run, jump, and leap toward the ball when striking or trying to receive a serve.
The recommended clearance distance around a ping pong table is 5 feet behind each of the baselines and 3 feet on each side. So, for a 45-square-foot table, you would need to place it in a room that measures at least 19 × 11 feet or 209 square feet. However, the larger the room, the more erratic you and your partner can play ping pong.
Ping Pong Table Parts and Markings
The parts of a ping pong table are as follows:
Playing Table—The hard, smooth-surface table on which the net is installed and ping pong is played. Most ping pong tables for home use are foldable, so they will include folding support legs and a hinge.
Support Legs—The legs are found underneath the table. Usually, a full-size table will come with 8 legs, 4 of them with lockable wheels.
Net Assembly—The net that divides the ping pong table in half during gameplay. The net measures 6 inches high and 6 inches beyond the width of the table in both directions, with mounting posts on both ends to keep the top of the net as parallel to the playing surface as possible.
There are fewer markings on a ping pong table than there are parts. Let’s see what they are:
Baselines—The lines are drawn along the 5-foot-wide ends of the ping pong table. All players will stand behind their respective baselines whenever serving and receiving the ball.
Sidelines—The lines are drawn along the 9-foot-long sides of the table. Players can move to any side of the sidelines while playing.
Center Line—The line drawn down the middle of the ping pong table, connecting the centers of both baselines. This is also the service line, which shows where the serving player must direct their ball for a legal serve.
Note: All lines are 2 centimeters wide.
How to Play Ping Pong
If you have the time, I highly recommend going over the 267-page rulebook created by the ITTF that describes how to play ping pong. However, if you don’t have time, here’s what you need to know.
- Ping pong is played in 1 vs. 1 and 2 vs. 2 formats.
- The purpose is to strike the ping pong ball and bounce it on the opponent’s side of the court.
- If one of the players fails to respond with a legal hit, 1 point is awarded to the other player.
- A legal his is when the ball strikes the surface of the playing table, including the lines.
- The vertical sides of a ping pong table are out of bounds.
- In the 1 vs. 1 format, the serving player may serve the ball toward any of the halves of the opponent’s court. In the 2 vs. 2 format, the serving player must serve diagonally, with the ball landing in the rectangle diagonal to them.
- In the 2 vs. 2 format, the players on each team take turns hitting the ball, regardless of where the ball bounces on the table.
- The first team to score 11 points, or to be 2 points ahead after a 10-10 tie, is deemed the winner of the match.
- A set is played to a best-of-3 or best-of-5.
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