Foosball is a quick and entertainment packed game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. If you are thinking about purchasing a foosball table, this buying guide will help you make the best choice for your needs. By reading this guide you will see that there is indeed a lot to consider in buying a high quality table but we hope to break it all down for you here.
Foosball Table Layout
Foosball Table Features and Accessories
- Foosball table cover
- Rod lubricant (silicone)
- Rod safety end caps
- Score counter
- Drink Holders
- Rod grips and wraps
- Rod bushings and bumpers
- Replacement foosmen
- Decorative hanging ceiling light
- Foosbball inspired wall art
- Table leg levelers
- Foosballs
Foosballs
Do you think that foosballs only come in white? Or maybe painted like miniature soccer balls? They can but….
Think again!
They come in many different colors and patterns!
Some even glow in the dark!
Our ball tip: Steer away from shiny foosballs and go for ones that have grip to them for better strategy and control.
Foosball Players
An average foosball table can have anywhere between 18 to 30 foosman at the ready. Each foosman faces toward their target goal. The foosman (or foosers) usually look like soccer players but there are of course many other styles to choose from. We have even seen some Star Wars stormtrooper foosmen! As Yoda may say: “Quite dapper they are!”
Foosball Table Dimensions
The full-sized standard foosball table dimensions are about 36 inches tall, 30 inches wide and 56 inches long. So if the table will be used by younger children look for legs that are adjustable to their height.
How much space is required to play foosball both safely and comfortably? The average assembled table is about 30 inches wide. Add an extra 3 and a half to 4 feet on each side for the players and rods. The math works out to be (30” table width + (42” which is 3 and a half feet) X 2) = 114” = 9 feet 6 inches of space needed to accommodate the table width. So you should be safe at providing a space of about 8 feet by 9 feet 6 inches for your foosball table.
If space is tight some experts say that the required space for a foosball table is smaller than our recommendation at 8 feet by 7 feet. If this is your space availability, make sure that the ball return is on the player-rod side so that the foosball table “goalie” end could go up closer to a wall. You should then be good to go!
Foosball Table Price
You hear it all the time: “You get what you pay for”. When it comes to buying a foosball table this is especially true. The reason being is that in most every place that these tables are enjoyed they tend to take a banging in a friendly bout of “go for the gold” competition. So in the long run the higher quality will pay off.
This graph shows the direct correlation as you would expect between foosball table price and quality.
People get excited and have a lot of fun on these tables. After the game starts it’s not too long before the rods start banging. That is why we recommend buying a higher quality foosball table which ensures that you will enjoy your foosball table for many years to come.
It is difficult to make hard drawn lines about this but to give you a little idea:
Budget tables (less than $500)
Mid-level tables ($500 to less than $1,000)
Higher Quality tables ($1000 and up)
These higher quality tables are comparable to fine furniture and can be a show piece for the most distinguished rec rooms.
What makes a good foosball table?
1) Consider the thickness of the sidewall. The higher quality tables have thicker sidewall widths for good reasons. The thicker sidewall ties the table together and makes it a more sturdy table. It also contributes to overall table weight that is discussed next. We highly recommend foosball tables that have sidewall widths of at least one inch to 1.5 inches thick.
2) The more that a foosball table is used and the more aggressive the play, the more important table weight becomes. Heavier foosball tables are more stable and hold up better when the action heats up. We have seen tables that weigh over 200 pounds but if the foosball table weighs over 120 pounds then you should be good.
3) Foosball Table Materials:
The materials in the table below can be found in the construction of most foosball tables that are on the market today. The strengths and weaknesses of each are also discussed.
 |
Pros | Cons |
| Plastic | Low Cost | Short Lifespan |
| MDF (medium density fiberboard) | None | Vulnerable to humidity.
Tables made out of MDF have shorter warranty periods for good reason. |
| Wood Composites | Nearly as good as solid wood and lower in cost. | Vulnerable to humidity but holds up a bit better that solid wood. |
| Solid Wood | Holds up best to rough play and can take hits better than most other materials. Looks more like fine furniture for the higher end rec room. | Vulnerable to humidity. |
4) Counterweighted foosmen is another popular feature common on the higher end foosball tables. Have you ever seen a comedy where the bumbling deputy struggles to get his gun out of the hoster but ends up shooting himself in his foot? Playing with foosmen that are not counterweighted though less painful can be just as silly when you start blocking your own shots. Counterweighted also known as counter balanced foosmen allows you to place your players at the desired angle and they will stay in that position until moved. This will ensure that you don’t block your own shots and gives you the best overall playing experience.
5) The Playing Surface Field
The main concerns here are durability and ball speed.
First off stay away from surfaces that have peel and stick decals for their markings. They tend to curl up in a short period of time.
Listed below from slowest to fastest according to the material used:
| Material | Speed |
| Particle Board |  |
| Solid Wood | (more controlled but not as fast as laminate or glass) |
| Hard Laminate |  (more controlled but not as fast as glass) |
| Tempered Glass, plexiglass or acrylic | |
6) A good scoring system helps players stay focused on the game and keeps things interesting with added friendly competition. Score keeping devices are usually fixed above the goals at either end of the table. There are abacus-like scoring systems that have physical beads that are slid over to one side to keep track of the score. If you are looking for something with a little more pizazz there are also digital versions available that also have light displays and sounds to add to your game excitement.
7) How important is it to play on a table that is level? It is of the utmost importance! You don’t want to pay for the best foosball table but then soon-thereafter have to prop up one leg by sliding a book underneath it. Make sure that the table comes with leg levelers. The most common system is a threaded leg glide that can be adjusted by turning the screw until your table is completely leveled.
8) The rods (preferably stainless steel)
Maybe you have never considered it but foosball table rods are engineered in a few different ways.
- hollowed out (The advantage of the hollow rods is their speed)
- Telescoping (are safety feature especially for small children)
- Solid (slower but sturdy, commonly found on the mid-level tables)
| hollowed out | The advantage of the hollow rods is their speed. |
| Telescoping | This is a safety feature especially for small children. If you do not have telescoping rods you may consider getting rod end caps also known as rod end guards. |
| Solid | These rods are a bit slower but sturdy. They are commonly found on the mid-level tables |
Foosball is a very fun game to play but while we are talking about rods let us consider rod safety. If small kids are playing around the foosball table there is always the possibility of injury from the rods. For this reason rod guards are recommended to lessen any impact and reduce the possibility of injury. As always good rules and supervision are key to child safety along with the rod guards for extra assurance.
