Are you a recreational ping pong player looking to set up your own, personal table tennis area? Or are you a budding professional seeking to create your own training space in the comfort of your home? In any case, you should be looking for a sound investment that will give you the best value for your money.
If you’re hoping to establish a set-up that’s as close to the real deal as possible, you should consider designating a space for your table indoors. With no wind, no elements, and conditions that are easier to manage and adjust, indoor spaces are considered the optimal setting for a game of table tennis.
Now, the only question is – what is the best indoor ping pong table currently on the market? Discover all the best picks here.
What Should You Look for in an Indoor Ping Pong Table?
Not all indoor tennis tables are made the same, and not all buyers look for the same qualities in their purchases. So what might have worked out for your neighbor or friend might not work the same way for you.
To make sure you’re buying a ping pong table that truly meets your needs, consider these factors when you sift through your choices.
Size
How much room do you have to spare in your home? A standard sized ping pong table measures 9 ft. x 5 ft., so it does take up quite a substantial amount of space. You also need to consider the fact that you need to allot space that’s enough for at least 5 strides around all the edges of your table. Easily, that could eat up floor area that measures 15 ft. x 10 ft.
If you don’t have an empty space big enough to accommodate that, you can consider smaller ping pong tables. Half tables can accommodate one player at a time, returning the ball by way of a wall where your ball bounces off and back to you. Miniature tables are also available, which can measure up to only half the size of standard tables.
Keep in mind though that if you were hoping to train for a tournament or an official event, it would be best to invest in a table tennis table that features the standard ITTF measurements. This should help you familiarize with the actual playing surface used in official tournaments.
Storage
If you were hoping to be able to use your space for other purposes while your ping pong table isn’t in use, then you might want to consider buying one you can collapse and store. Foldable ping pong tables can collapse in a variety of different ways, and manufacturers often battle it out neck and neck to come up with slimmer, sleeker, smaller collapsed silhouettes to make it easier to store their tables.
The only downside with a foldable table is that they’re often made from two separate pieces. As a general rule enacted by the ITTF, official tables need to be constructed from one, continuous piece of material. So individuals training for official events might experience different conditions playing on a collapsible table.
Legs
One of the factors that could affect the way you enjoy your table is its levelling. If you suspect that the space you intend to put it in doesn’t have a level floor surface, the table might tilt and cause a different trajectory every time the ball lands on it. For those practicing for official tournaments, this can be a major setback.
Consider inspecting the legs on your chosen table. Those that have adjustable feet can make it easier to level your table even on an uneven surface. It’s also worth inspecting whether your table’s legs are sturdy enough to sustain long term use without giving in to wear and tear.
Warranty
Ping pong tables aren’t cheap. So if you were hoping for the best value for your money, aim for a brand that offers at least some form of warranty coverage. This should help protect you against possible damages and defects that result from faulty manufacturing.
That said, it doesn’t hurt to learn more about the company behind your chosen ping pong table. More reputable brands can be much more reliable when it comes to the quality of their tables. They also tend to offer better warranty coverage for their products.
Cost
Finally, it’s important to consider how much you’re willing to spend. The range of prices for indoor ping pong tables is pretty wide, so it pays to set your budget before you even go out to make a purchase.
As with anything else, you get what you pay for. More affordable choices are ideal for recreational use, particularly for players who don’t necessarily need a playing surface that mimics tournament standard equipment.
But for players who want to practice for events, it would be best to really invest in something a little more expensive. Pricier ping pong tables mimic tournament conditions more closely, so it’s easier to learn the ropes of professional ping pong with a table that follows ITTF standards.
The 5 Best Indoor Tables for Table Tennis
1. STIGA Advantage Competition-Ready Indoor Table
If you’re looking for the very best indoor table tennis table, this one is it. With thousands of verified reviews online, the STIGA Advantage Competition-Ready Indoor Table is possibly the most popular ping pong table for indoor use. Featuring impressive functionality and a convenient design, this table can help you improve your game and rise up the ranks towards becoming a ping pong pro.
The table features a two-piece construction, held together with reliable locking mechanisms and sturdy legs. Along either side of the table are convenient caster wheels that let you move it around your space for effortless storage and set up. When folded down, this STIGA table stands upright on its caster wheels, and takes up just a few inches of space so you can keep it in even the smallest of closet spaces.
Performance wise, it definitely plays like a professional table. So although it might seem a little pricey, it does give you superb value for your money.
2. Killerspin MyT7 Blackstorm Table Tennis Table
With an aesthetic that’s as bold and daring as the name that comes along with it, the Killerspin MyT7 Blackstorm definitely has the looks to keep your space looking clean and sophisticated – even with a full sized ping pong table right smack in the middle of it.
This Killerspin ping pong table pays a lot of its popularity to the fact that it’s a lot more handsome than other choices on the market, but that’s not all it has to offer. Durable construction, professional-grade performance, easy assembly and collapse – all put together with stunning style – make the MyT7 a solid investment for budding pros.
The only downside? The MyT7 comes with a pretty hefty price tag that might not seem practical for most buyers. Make sure you consider your budget before falling in love with this top of the line pick.
3. JOOLA Midsize Compact Table Tennis Table
Apartment dwellers, rejoice! Even the smallest spaces can have a dedicated ping pong table set-up thanks to midsized designs like the JOOLA Midsize Compact. At just 2/3 of the size of an actual ITTF regulation ping pong table, the JOOLA Midsize Compact Table can easily fit in apartments, kids’ rooms, and other areas in homes with small spaces.
Designed for individuals who want to make the most of a limited space, this table also features a versatile table top that can withstand different kinds of damage. This simply means that the design can be used for other functions like for dining, table top work, and similar activities.
Other than that, the JOOLA Compact Ping Pong Table is also fairly easy on the pocket. It’s the perfect budget table tennis set-up for recreational players.
4. Funmall Full Size Indoor Folding Table Tennis Table
This regulation size ping pong table meets ITTF standards in terms of size, so it’s a suitable choice for competitive players. But more than that, the Funmall Full Size Indoor Folding Table has quite a lot of impressive features to offer despite its affordable cost.
For starters, it comes with a durable high-density MDF table top that’s resistant to lots of different types of damage, so it can be used for traditional table top activities as well. Other than that, the table can also be used for solo play by folding up one half to turn it into a playback position.
It might not be as fully featured or as sturdy as some of the other choices on our list, but at a slightly more affordable cost, the Funmall Full Size Indoor Folding Table can be a suitable choice for budget buyers who want a regulation size table.
5. MD Sports Table Tennis Set
Don’t want to have to purchase all the different table tennis essentials separately? The MD Sports Table Tennis Set can be a perfect choice. This set combines all the necessary pieces to give you a complete table tennis set up at a very low price.
The set comes with a table, a net, 2 paddles, 2 ping pong balls, and 2 posts, giving you the ultimate starter package to have your ping pong space up and ready with just one purchase. Of course, don’t expect the table to be too sophisticated – it’s a basic design that really just gets the job done. But for recreational players, this set can be the perfect choice that combines convenience with loads of endless fun with family and friends.
In Summary
An indoor ping pong table is an investment – so make sure to treat it like one! There are lots of choices out there, and some might not be as good as others, so take your time, do your research, and consider your needs before you settle on a choice.
Our bet? Well, after researching all the different designs available, we think the STIGA Advantage Competition-Ready Indoor Table is the one to beat. So if you don’t want to settle for anything less than the best indoor ping pong table, go ahead and click that link to see why we think it’s the ultimate pick.