When people hear the word shuffleboard they often think it’s an activity that only old people do. That’s if they even know what shuffleboard refers to. Nowadays, when you say the word shuffleboard you first need to distinguish between the two types of shuffleboard games:
Outdoor deck shuffleboard (or floor shuffleboard) played with long handheld cues and heavy weighted discs that are pushed along the ground towards a scoring target. This type of shuffleboard is typically found at a hotel, motel, on a cruise ship or at a senior’s residence since it is a fun activity but also low impact.
Table shuffleboard which as the name suggests is played on a table and involves you pushing weighted pucks down the table with your hands directly towards the target. You’ll find these in bars, pubs and pool halls.
A table shuffleboard game is also one that you might consider putting in your basement or game room. The good news is that there are a wide range of table lengths to fit your room size.
Table shuffleboards come in a range of sizes measuring 9′ to 22′ in length and can range in weight from 175 lbs – 1,000 lbs. Larger tables may weigh even more. The smaller tables are ones you can purchase for home use whereas longer tables are ones you will typically find in a bar or billiards hall. A 9′ table may weigh from 175 lbs – 350 lbs. A 12′ – 14′ table may weigh 260 lbs – 600 lbs. A 16′ – 18′ table may weigh 340 lbs – 750 lbs. A 22′ table is the regulation table size for tournaments and may weigh more than 1,000 lbs.
Tables range in price from $740 – $17,000 depending on size, brand and model. A 9′ model will cost $740 – $6,000 and 12′ – 14′ models tend to range in price from $1,600 – $9,100 which are the most common models for home use. Larger 16′ – 18′ models cost $2,000 – $16,000 and 22′ full size models range from $6,000 – $17,000.
The overlap in weights and prices is largely due to the material that the tables are built, the model and manufacturer. A smaller table built with hardwood may be heavier than a larger table built with a cheaper and lighter wood. Certain brands cost more than others. More on that below.
Table Shuffleboard Dimensions
While table shuffleboards come in a wide variety of lengths, the mostly commonly found ones for home use are between 9′ and 16′ often in intervals of 2′ between models.
| Model | Assembled Dimensions | Features |
| Hathaway Excalibur 9′ Shuffleboard Table | 108” L x 24.25” W x 30” H 202 lbs. | Has manual scoreboard, gutters, leg levelers, polymer coating. Includes pucks. Indoor use only. Driftwood finish. |
| Kirkwood American Legend 9’ Shuffleboard Table | 108” L x 24” W x 32” H 176 lbs | Has manual scoreboard, leg levelers. Includes pucks. Indoor use only. 2 in 1 game as it also comes with 10 pins for bowling. Dark brown finish. |
| Georgetown Shuffleboard Table | 12′ table: 144” W x 24” L x 32″ H, 260 lbs 14′ table: 168” L x 25″ W x 32″ H, 315 lbs 16′ table: 192″ L x 25″ W x 32″ H, 345 lbs | 3 options: 12′, 14′ and 16′ tables. Has manual scoreboard, gutters, leg levelers, polymer coating. Solid wood (maple). |
| Collins 9′ Shuffleboard Table | 110″ L x 29.75″ W x 34″ H 395 lbs | Includes manual scoreboard, pucks, wax, playfield brush, table cover and drawer for storing equipment. |
| Brunswick Delray II, 12′ | 146.13 L x 28.63 W x 32.25 H 590 lbs | Includes manual scoring, pucks, wax, brush, storage shelves. Also comes in 9′ and 12′ models. Maple finish. |
Shuffleboard Table Materials
The wide range in table weight is largely due to the material used to build the shuffleboard. The best shuffleboard surface material is a hard wood like maple, birch, oak or mahogany which adds to the weight. Hardwoods provide a strong playing surface that is less likely to warp or get dented, scratched or suffer other damage with use. Russian Birch, Canadian Maple, Canadian Soft Maple, North American Maple and White Maple are all popular and reliable shuffleboard materials.
A good quality shuffleboard will also have a polymer coating typically made of epoxy or polyurethane. Epoxies tend to be strong and offer a long lasting finish. Polyurethanes are very scratch resistant, flexible and handle humidity very well.
Chinese Birch, rubber and poplar tend to be the cheapest options for a shuffleboard table and should be avoided if possible. Cheaper shuffleboard tables also tend to have shellac or lacquer finishes which aren’t as good as polymers.
Shuffleboard Manufacturers
Other than the examples shown above, major shuffleboard table manufacturers include names like:
- Venture Shuffleboard – High quality, made in the USA, hard wood materials.
- Hudson Shuffleboards – High quality, indoor and outdoor models, made in the USA.
- California House Fine Gameroom Furniture – Makes artisan products, offers deep wood tones, has unique designs.
- C.L. Bailey Co. – Offers Level Best lineup of products, industry leader in gameroom furniture.
- Plank & Hide Co. – Offers fine furnishings including shuffleboards and pool tables, focuses on 12′ and 14′ tables.
- Imperial – Has produced gaming tables since 1955, offers a variety of styles and prices.
- Playcraft – Mid range tables, good value.
Deck Shuffleboard
Let’s go back to the shuffleboard option we discussed earlier. The one that uses a cue with large weighted discs. Can a person have an outdoor shuffleboard court in their backyard for home use? Sure, why not. It’s certainly possible.
An official outdoor deck shuffleboard measures 6′ wide by 39′ in length with a 6′ shooting area at each end. The scoring area is an isosceles triangle measuring 6′ x 9′. Both ends typically have a triangular scoring area painted so that you can play one end, walk to the other end to retrieve the discs and then play in the other direction.
My first experience with shuffleboard was at a Florida motel in 1981 when my sister and I discovered that they had a shuffleboard court near the pool on vacation. We quickly picked up the game by watching others playing it and spent each day playing it a few times while we were there.
Deck shuffleboard (also known as floor shuffleboard) like the game shown above is the activity many of us are familiar with. The first time I saw shuffleboard at the Florida motel, it didn’t take long for my sister and I to become interested in it and give it a go. Since then I’ve seen deck shuffleboard courts at other hotels and motels, on cruise ships and sometimes in outdoor bar areas.
Nowadays it’s possible to have both indoor and outdoor deck shuffleboard courts. And you can also purchase smaller sets for kids to use indoors or around the house, too.
Conclusion
- Shuffleboard is traditionally known as an outdoor game with deck (floor) shuffleboard taking place on a painted shuffleboard court with numbers denoting points painted in different squares. Players push weighted discs along the ground using a long cue held in one hand to score points.
- Table shuffleboard is a newer game that is played on an elevated table using small weighted pucks that are pushed by hand down the court. Table versions are particularly popular in bars and billiard halls.
- Table shuffleboards are typically 9′ – 22′ in length and may weigh from 175 lbs – 1,000 lbs or more for high end 22′ tournament models.
- A small recreational shuffleboard table measures 9′ – 12′, a medium length table is 14′ – 16′ and a full-length table is 18′ – 22′.
- To learn more about shuffleboard, visit the International Shuffleboard Association (ISA) website. The ISA was set up in Florida in 1979 to build the game outside North America and has since grown the game globally.