Moving a pool table is no easy feat, seeing that some models weigh 1,000+ lbs. This is why having a pool table moved can be a costly expense. Of course, how much you spend on this depends on the size of the pool table itself, but anyone interested in moving a pool table can expect to pay a hefty price.
On average, it costs anywhere from $200-$1,000 to hire a professional service to move a pool table. The cost largely depends on the size and weight of the table. Therefore, smaller tables generally cost $200-$500, while full-sized tables will reach the $600-$1,000 range. However, other factors play a significant role in this cost.
In this article, we’ll detail the typical cost for moving a pool table through professional service and all of the factors that lead to your final price. Afterward, we’ll help answer the question of if you should stick to professionals for pool transportation or if the cost isn’t worthwhile, and this is something you can do yourself.
Average Cost to Professionally Move a Pool Table
Pool tables are notoriously large and heavy with many intricate parts, so it’s no surprise that moving them seems like a daunting task most owners don’t want to take on themselves. Of course, if you don’t want to move your pool table, you’ll have to hire someone else to do it, and this will come at a cost.
Prices for pool table disassembly, transportation, and reassembly vary greatly by table and company. Most companies will charge owners a lump sum for their services based on their information about the move. Smaller pool tables cost $200-$500, while full-sized tables cost $600-$1,000+. However, some companies will charge hourly for their services, which can affect the cost greatly.
Although hourly rates are less common, companies tend to charge anywhere from $50 to $150/per hour, which could easily rack up your overall cost, especially if you have a large pool table that needs to travel a significant distance to its new destination.
Speaking of distance, this is just one of the many factors that come into play for the overall cost of moving a pool table. Let’s briefly discuss the other factors to know exactly what all of your money is going towards.
Factors That Affect Pool Transportation Costs
We’ve already mentioned a few factors that will undoubtedly affect your pool table’s overall cost to move, namely size, weight, and distance between locations. However, there are a few other factors we’d like to discuss that you might want to consider.
Stairs
This might be the factor that led you to hire a professional service in the first place. Stairs automatically complicate any move for these hefty sports tables, so most companies will charge an additional fee depending on how many are involved in the move. This includes both locations.
Ball Return System and Pockets
Tables with simple drop pocket designs will be cheaper to move than those with pool ball return systems because this design typically adds more weight to the table. Additionally, it will take the movers longer to safely disassemble this system and reassemble it later.
Therefore, it usually comes at an extra charge from lump sum companies or will be more time-consuming, effectively increasing the cost of companies that charge hourly.
Slate or Wood/MDF
First thing’s first, a high-quality pool table built with slate is going to weigh significantly more than those made with wood or medium-density fiberwood (MDF). That being said, there is often a difference in design when these materials are involved.
Because of their lightweight, many people recommend moving MDF pool tables yourselves, especially if you don’t need to disassemble them to relocate them. Just grab a few friends and a decently sized truck or van.
Things get a little trickier when slate is involved. Not only is slate extremely heavy, but it can either come in a 3-piece or 1-piece design. Pool tables made with a 3-piece slate bed are easier to move, and therefore, cheaper versus their hefty 1-piece counterpart. Of course, the slate’s thickness will also play a role in its weight and ultimate cost.
Do You Have to Disassemble a Pool Table to Move It?
Some of you might have felt a twinge of wariness when you read the word “disassemble” when it was mentioned a few times previously. The prospect of disassembling a nice pool table might make some owners nervous and lead them to question whether this is truly necessary for the move, especially if they can save money on skipping this step altogether.
Although it might be cheaper to refuse disassembly, and consequentially reassembly, of a pool table, moving these items in one piece is not recommended.
Pool tables are extremely heavy and bulky items, so moving them in one piece could be potentially impossible depending on their old and new locations. Additionally, you significantly increase the odds of damaging the table by moving it as one giant piece rather than smaller, easily moveable pieces.
However, if you’re knowledgeable enough, you can disassemble your pool table yourself before the professionals arrive. This is a great way to cut costs, especially if the company charges you hourly for their services rather than a lump cost.
That being said, we don’t recommend this approach unless you have significant knowledge of your pool table’s design, as you could damage components unintentionally if they’re disassembled incorrectly. Additionally, some companies prefer to disassemble any pool tables they move for liability purposes, so make sure this isn’t the case with your company of choice before you take pieces apart.
Final Thoughts
The overall cost of moving a pool table through a professional service might be pricy, especially if you have a heavy, full-sized table, leading you to wonder if the $600+ is worthwhile. Considering these tables can cost anywhere from $1,200-$3,500, we believe it’s worth the extra cost to ensure it is moved properly.
Disassembling, transporting, and reassembling a pool table yourself could easily lead to a series of issues that could damage your pool table and reduce its longevity. Not only are these items a gateway to a fantastic sport, but they’re also great statement pieces to any room, and the last thing you want to do is visibly damage it because you wanted to spare a few hundred bucks rather than hire professionals.