Regulation Ping Pong Tables

The game of ping pong, also known as table tennis, is played both recreationally and professionally throughout the world. For a regulation game to be played the ping pong table must meet certain requirements. These requirements include the dimensions of the table and the net, and the markings on the table itself.

Measurements

The ping pong table must be 2 1/2 feet off the ground for it to be considered official height for ping pong play. The table must be level and maintain that height across the entire plane of the table. The table should be 9 feet long, with the net dividing it in half lengthwise, and 5 feet wide.

Playing

A ping pong ball can strike the lines of the ping pong table and still be considered legally in play. However, if the ball strikes any edge of the table, it is considered to be out of play.

Table Surface

There is no regulation for the type of material the table must be constructed from. Instead, there is a guideline for the amount of bounce a table must provide: when a regulation tennis ball is dropped from a height of 1 foot above the table, it should bounce approximately 10 inches off the table. In addition, the table surface should be dark in color, with a matte finish.

Markings

The ping pong table should have white uniform markings around the edges, running the length of the sides and ends of the ping pong table. The lines should be four-fifths of an inch wide. There should also be a line that is one-tenth of an inch in width down the middle of each side of the ping pong table to indicate areas for doubles play.

The Net

The net on the ping pong table should be at the exact midpoint of the table, essentially dividing the table in half into two 4 1/2-feet sections. The top of the net should be exactly 6 inches above the surface of the ping pong table. The net's posts can extend 6 inches outside of each of the side edges of the ping pong table.