Best Pool Table Felt (Reviews)
Best High End
Simonis 860 Billiard Cloth
Best Mid Range
Championship Tour Edition 3030
Best Inexpensive
Championship Saturn II
By Phill Williams
4th Mar, 2023, 12 min read
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Is it about time to change your Pool table felt? Perhaps your existing Pool table cloth is showing signs of wear and tear and needs replacement. Or maybe you just bought yourself a second-hand pool table and are looking to vamp it up. Or perhaps you're planning to upgrade your table with a pro-quality billiard table cloth?
Whatever be the case, you're in luck: We've done the research reviewed five top-quality Pool table felts across different price range and performance.
Choosing a pool felt boils down to your table's size, material type, and color preference. Pool felt can be either Woolen or Worsted. Woolen felts are inexpensive, slow, and have a discernible nap, which is directionally arranged. While the worsted cloth is (often referred to as speed cloth) is made from a blend of nylon and woolen. It plays a lot faster and has a longer lifetime. It's also the preferred choice among professionals or anyone looking for a quality felt.
What's the best pool table felt color? Well, it comes down to your personal liking. Personally, I like (in decreasing order of preference) tournament blue, classic green and steel grey.
The felt ultimately crafts your entire playing experience. You may have the top-of-the-line pool table, but if the felt is of poor quality, it won't play just right. A quality new cloth will give your pool table a new lease of life! Even if you own a cheaper table, using a pro-quality felt would upgrade the overall playing experience.
But there are a lot of choices and many different things to look for when you purchase a new felt, and we know that it can often be overbearing. That's why we've done the hard work for you: Scroll down to find our top five billiard cloth recommendations!
Our Top Picks for Best Pool Table Felt
- Simonis 860 Billiard Cloth - For the Pro's (Best of the Best)
- Championship Saturn II - Editor's Pick [Best for Most]
- Championship Tour Edition 3030 - Runner Up (Pro Pick Category)
- CPBA Competition Pool Table Cloth - Budget Pick
- 21 Ounce Performance Grade Pool Table Felt - Best for Recreational Usage
1. Simonis 860 Billiard Cloth
Best Professional Pool Felt (Worsted)
Specs:
Size: 7ft, 8ft, 9ft, 10ft
Type: Worsted (90% wool, 10% Nylon)
Rail cloth: Not pre-cut
Weight: 24oz per linear yard
Color: Simonis Green, English Green, Blue Green, Dark Green, Spruce, Grey, Powder Blue, Tournament Blue™, Electric Blue, Royal Blue, Marine Blue, Gold, Camel, Olive, Espresso, Red, Burgundy, Wine, Black, Orange, Fushia, Purple, Chartreuse, Slate Grey, and Mocha
Simonis 860 is undoubtedly the best pool table felt out there, suitable for both professional and recreational usage. The 860 has become more of a standard these days with most pro-events using the same cloth. The reason is quite obvious. The company Simonis has been in the business of making billiard clothes for over 300 years. Backed by years of research with unparalleled and precise manufacturing process, results in a consistent, smooth, and precise surface.
Coming to the playability aspect, the 860 is relatively slower than the 760 model. But overall it's faster than the cheaper clothes you mostly find. Being a worsted felt it does not pill, shed, or develop inconsistencies over time, resulting in a consistent performance for a long time. This felt will easily last four to five years, with average to above-average use.
The felt is made of 90% worsted wool, with the remaining 10% being nylon, and it weighs in at 27 oz per linear yard. High thread count and high wool content ensure long-lasting and durable performance. The tight weaves prevent dust/dirt to creep in, while allowing the fabric to repel liquid naturally. At the same time, each felt goes through a 13 step manufacturing process, which results in a high-quality felt devoid of any issue. One area where the felt does not compromise is the quality. It delivers excellent playability, which no other brands can match too. Different manufacturers did try to come out with similar material, but none comes close to the original Simonis.
You can also buy this billiard cloth in a range of colors, from tournament green to a rich burgundy, to make sure it fits the decor of your game room.
One slight issue with this felt is that you get just enough cloth to cover the table surface and rails. There is no scope of error, something to keep in mind if you're doing a DIY installation. Also, the rails are not pre-cut, something to keep in mind.
The felt is priced at a premium, but the high-performance with excellent durability justifies the cost. If you're looking for the very best pool table felt, it doesn't get better than this!
What We Liked
+ Currently, the best felt available
+ Very durable
+ Does not pill or shed
+ Fairly fast but slower than 760
+ Wide range of color options
+ Naturally stain resistant
Watch Out For
- High price point
- Cut very close, not much spare cloth if you make a mistake when installing
2. Championship Saturn II Billiards Cloth Pool Table Felt
Best Wool Felt
Specs:
Size: 7ft, 8ft, 8ft oversize, 9ft
Type: Worsted (80% wool, 20% Nylon)
Rail cloth: Pre-cut
Weight: 24oz per linear yard
Color: Tournament Green, Tournament Blue, Wine, Green, Electric Blue, Red, Camel
Next, up is a mid-grade woolen felt - Championship Saturn II. It's also the second championship felt to feature on the list. Being a woolen felt, the Saturn II plays slower than worsted felt while still offering decent overall performance at an affordable price. The felt is designed for commercial and home usage and comes in 9 different colors with a pair of matching chalk. The performance is more than adequate for recreational play, while lower cost makes it a preferred choice in a commercial setting.
The felt is made of 75% wool, and 25% nylon blended together in a tight weave resulting in superior finish and stretching capability. This makes this felt relatively easier to install in comparison to worsted felt while the precise finish ensures smooth ball roll. Additionally, the cloth is treated with DuPont Teflon coating to protect the felt from accidental liquid spills and easy cleaning. The cloth is pre-cut liberally with six rails and a bed for ease of installation.
If you're looking for a budget pool table felt that plays decent, look no further!
What We Liked
+ Reasonably Priced
+ Includes table spot and two pieces of color-matched cue chalk
+ Liberally cut with pre-cut rails
+ Suitable for beginners to intermediate-level players
Watch Out For
- Slower than a worsted cloth
- Slightly thinner
3. Championship Tour Edition 3030 Pool Table Felt
Runner up (Worsted)
Specs:
Size: 7ft, 8ft, 9ft
Type: Worsted (70% wool, 30% Nylon)
Rail cloth: Pre-cut
Weight: 24oz per linear yard
Color: Championship Green, Dark Green, Olive, Bottle Green, Electric Blue, Camel, Euro Blue, Navy, Burgundy, Wine, Steel Grey, Black
If Simonis 860 is out of your budget, then your next best option is Championship Tour Edition 3030. The cloth is faster than both 860 and 760 and is priced 30% cheaper. By composition, it's a 70/30 blend (70% woolen, 30% nylon) similar to Simonis 760, but it plays crazy fast.
It's a 24 oz fabric made from the finest Merino wool with nylon mixed in the ratio of 70:30. The heavier fabric ensures durability and consistent performance, while the long woolen threads result in a smoother surface. Being a heavy cloth, it still plays quite fast thanks to the Championship's Vacuum Decating process. The special steam and pressing technique, compresses the fabric together, creating a solid and sturdy playing surface. The company claims it outlasts Simonis by 30% in similar playing conditions.
This felt clearly outscores in the installation department. The cloth is liberally cut with pre-cut rails. Additionally, cloth stretches more than the Simonis, making it a lot easier to install.
The felt is available to two sizes - 66" and 78" and 11 standard color options to suit your needs. It fits 7' to 8' tables and comes with a pre-cut bed and rails.
Who is it for: If you're looking for a relatively cheaper pro-quality felt that plays fast, the Champion Tour Edition 3030 might be for you.
What We Liked
+ Excellent performance at a reasonable price
+ Durable
+ Easy installation with pre-cut bed and rails
Watch Out For
- The surface is quite fast
4. CPBA Competition Professional Pool Table Cloth
Budget Pick
Specs:
Size: 7ft, 8ft, 8ft oversize, 9ft
Type: Worsted (80% wool, 20% Nylon)
Rail cloth: Pre-cut
Weight: 24oz per linear yard
Color: Tournament Green, Tournament Blue, Wine, Green, Electric Blue, Red, Camel
If you're looking for a competitive-grade pool table cloth without putting a hole in your pocket, the CPBA Competition may be the one to go for. It's a perfect mid-range entry that offers an optimum balance of speed and accuracy, making it an ideal choice for home, clubs and pool halls.
As it's made in China, there is obviously a cost advantage, but the felt isn't cheap on quality. This is a 24 oz worsted felt, made of 80% pure Australian wool and 20% nylon. The surface is smooth and dense without notable irregularities, resulting in consistent speed, better English, and cushion rebound. Moreover, the dense inter-woven fabric adds to the durability and longevity of the cloth.
The felt has no nap and does not shed or fluff over time. The exact same cloth has been used in several international tournaments since 1988, so you can definitely be assured of the quality. While the performance isn't the same as that of Simonis or Championship, it's good enough for serious and competitive play.
In short, the CPBA pool table may be cheap in price but offers excellent performance. It's an ideal choice for homeowners, clubs, or pool halls looking for an affordable pool table cloth.
What We Liked
+ Value for money
+ Decent performance for the price
+ Easy to install
+ Pre-cut bed, including 6 rails
Watch Out For
- Slightly thinner than the top picks
- Prone to ball burn
5. 21 Ounce Performance Grade Pool Table Felt
Best for Recreational Usage
Specs:
Size: 7ft, 8ft, 9ft
Type: Worsted (80% wool, 20% Nylon)
Rail cloth: Not Pre-cut
Weight: 21 oz per linear yard
Color: English Green, Standard Green, Burgundy, Blue, Light grey, Navy Blue, Black, Red or Tan
I recommend this felt for all the recreationally-serious players, even more, if you are re-felting for the first time. It costs less than $100, performs decently, and is easy to install. If you're a casual player, I bet you won't be able to tell much of a difference between this and a top-quality felt.
The cloth weighs 21 oz and is made from a blend of 80% wool, and 20% nylon. It comes in 9 different colors and fits 7' to 9' pool tables. The felt plays medium-fast and offers a smooth and consistent playing surface. However, it isn't as durable as some of our top picks and would need regular brushing to remove the pilling of broken fibers. The other downside of this felt is that it's shipped folded, which may result in crease formation on the cloth. To remove the crease, you can either use an Iron or stretch the cloth tightly while re-felting.
The cloth doesn't come pre-cut either, and you would need to cut it yourself.
To sum it up: If you're re-felting for the first time or are looking for an inexpensive cloth for casual play, this might be the best choice for you.
What We Liked
+ Reasonable pricing
+ Decent performance
+ Medium-fast
Watch Out For
- Tendency to pill
- Prone to ball burn
Buyer's Guide to Pool Table Felt
Purchasing a billiard cloth is no Joke! You ought to do the necessary research. You don't want to be in a situation where, after re-felting your table, you realize the performance of the cloth isn't adequate. But there are quite a lot of factors you need to consider, and it can become a little confusing - especially if this is your first refurbishment job.
But don't worry, we've got you covered. In this buyer's guide will outline what specs you should be looking at, and the essential things to consider before you make your purchase.
So let's jump right in:
Material: Worsted or Wool Felt
So the first and the most important factor is to decide upon the material type. Pool table felts can be either Woolen or Worsted.
Woolen Felt:
Woolen or napped felt plays a bit slower than worsted felt. Due to the loose weave fiber, it's more likely to pill and requires regular maintenance and cleaning. Some players also say that it decreases accuracy, though this is more to do with the likelihood of the cloth pilling. They're inexpensive and are generally used in pubs and bars where pool tables see a lot of use. The other downside of woolen felts is that they aren't durable and are prone to ripping, especially around the pocket area.
If you're a recreational player, it's best to settle with a woolen felt.
Worsted Felt:
Worsted is the professional standard, for a number of reasons. It offers a consistent play, as the yard doesn't ball up as woolen felt, and neither does it show signs of ball burning. Due to the flatter and smoother weaves, it's also faster than the woolen felt. In terms of playability, it offers superior performance, and the pool balls roll true on the surface. The other major benefit is that they're very durable and maintain excellent performance throughout. Worsted felt is made from a blend of wool and nylon with varying composition. Higher the percentage of nylon, the faster it will be. On the downside, it's more expensive than the woolen felt.
If you're looking for professional-grade performance and longer life, a worsted felt is an ideal choice for you.
Lately, manufacturers are coming with Teflon coated felt to provide additional safety against liquid damage. Something definitely worth considering, if you or your friends prefer to have drinks around the table.
Size
Next, based on the size of your table, choose the appropriate felt. If you don't know the size - Measure it!
If you're planning to install the felt yourself, it's a good idea to choose a felt which comes with extra clothing to account for any errors while cutting. But don't order a plus size felt as it would be tough to get it to the right fit. Also, look for a cloth with pre-cut rails as that's the most difficult part of the whole re-felting process.
Durability
Durability is something that is quite subjective and depends on how regularly you maintain and clean the billiard cloth. Having said that, worsted felt with higher wool content will generally last longer without major upkeep. Manufacturers mark each cloth with exact composition. Look for clothes with at least 90% wool.
Weight is another indicator of the durability of the cloth. It's measured in ounces per yard figure like 20oz, 24 oz etc. Heavier the cloth, the more durable it is, but that also makes it slower. Something like 24 oz cloth strikes a fine balance between performance and durability.
Price (Cheap Vs. Expensive)
You can get a decent felt under $100, and a pro-quality felt can cost you as high as $400. It's essential to estimate your needs and usage, and only after that, decide what price range felt you should go for. Cheaper clothes generally have higher wool content and are prone to pilling and ball burn. In contrast, with expensive felt, you get better playability and durability. It has a more uniform and smoother feel to it.
Note: If you have a cheaper table, it makes more sense to go for the heavier worsted cloth to compensate for the low-quality table bed.
If you're a recreational player or are looking for a felt for casual practice, go with a sub $100 felt like Championship Saturn II. It's also coated with Teflon to protect the table from spills and stains. A beginner to intermediate level, it's best to use medium-fast felt as anything too fast may be a bit too much for them to handle. You can still practice and improve your game without noticing much difference in playability.
If you're an experienced player or are looking for a pro-quality felt, Simonis is the brand you should choose. They usually cost above $200 and are commonly used in most professional leagues worldwide. For home usage, stick with Simonis 860 cloth as it's a bit slower and plays quite well. Also, Simonis is known for its durability and is sure to last you for a long time.
Intended Usage
The last thing to consider before you make that final decision is how often you intend to play. If you plan to play occasionally, it makes more sense to go for a mid-range or budget option. While an expensive table cloth can massively improve your game-play experience, it only makes sense to purchase one if you're going to use it.
If you're looking to re-felt a communal table that sees a lot of use, an expensive option might not be the best choice. You won't know how other people will treat it, and you may not benefit from it yourself.
Installation: DIV Vs. Professional
If you had asked me the same question a couple of years back, I would have plainly said, go for professional re-felting service. However, these days, the internet is filled with hundreds of DIY videos on how to carry out the pool table felt installation properly. Doing it the DIY way isn't that complicated; all you need is a lot of patience and a weekend to finish off the job. You do need a couple of basic tools like a nail gun and a screwdriver, but the cost is negligible compared to what you would pay for a typical re-felting job.
On average, you would spend close to $300 to $400 on labor charges, if you were to engage a professional service. In contrast, in the DIY method, all you pay is for the billiard cloth, which should cost you anywhere from $100 to $200 depending on your choice.
Summing Up the Guide
Nothing beats the joy (for the most part) of playing your first game of pool on a newly re-felt table. All in all, the quality of your pool table cloth will drastically affect your game. It's crucial to adjudge your skill-set and requirements before buying one. Recreational or casual players may not enjoy playing on a super-fast worsted felt. Similarly, serious players may find the woolen felt too slow to their liking.
Hopefully, this guide has helped you choose the best pool table felt for your needs!
