A shuffleboard table is an excellent feature to spice up your man cave. Playing games is a proven way to help friends and families bond.
In shuffleboard, the players slide pucks down a table into the scoring area at the end of the table. The game can either be played by two or four players. It is an old game that is slowly making a comeback.
Of course, to get the most out of your experience, you need to get the best shuffleboard table. That’s where we come in!
Best Shuffleboard Table Quick Picks
- Best Shuffleboard Table: Ohausen Shuffleboard – The Breckenridge
- Most Affordable Shuffleboard Table: Hathaway Excalibur 9′ Shuffleboard Table
The Best Shuffleboard Table
In this buying guide, we look at the top five shuffleboard tables you can find online. They have been made with the best materials and have the right specifications to serve you well.
Here is a look at what we have.
1. Atomic 9′ LED Shuffleboard Table
This is a shuffleboard table made of a fiberboard and the playing surface is poly coated surface.
To ensure that the table is level it comes with levels at all four supports on the table. Spin those around and you should get level in no time. A level is recommended to achieve a very flat surface.
The gutters and walls are carpeted to reduce the noise level of the pucks getting knocked around.
Here are some other specs:
- Total assembled dimensions: 108 inch x 24 inch x 32 inch
- Weight: 161 lbs
- 8 chrome metal pucks (blue and red)
- Shuffle dust (used to make the pucks glide)
- Scoring system
- Leg levers
Cons:
This board is not made out of real wood but mdf and some other materials. Don’t expect it to look like the expensive boards but do expect to get a decent price for what it is.
If you are getting an expensive shuffleboard expect it to weigh 300 to 1,000 lbs. Moving that would need a lot of friends or professional movers. That is what is so great about the Atomic shuffleboard. It is not as expensive and doesn’t weigh a ton so it can move easier than the expensive shuffleboards.
2. Olhausen Shuffleboard The Breckenridge
This is a shuffleboard table made of solid pine wood but with a Breckenridge finish. The playfield is characterized by Maplewood but leveled with polymer resin.
Now, this is the type of board we mentioned above that is heavy and expensive!
It is characterized by a cross-brace construction for added rigidity and stability. It has an accu-lock leveling system for a perfect level and prevents the need for any readjustments that are generally done to shuffleboards.
The playfield is hand-built using maple butcher block so that there are fewer chances of warping.
When you buy the package, you get four red pucks, four blue pucks, two abacus scorers, shuffleboard wax and cleaner, shuffleboard spray, and a brush. The company offers delivery and installations too.
The biggest negative about the board is the expense but if you are looking to have a great game piece in your man cave or your game room this is the piece to have. Everyone will want to play it when you throw a party.
Here are some other specs:
- Total assembled dimensions: 150.75 inch x 33.375 inch x 34.75 inch w/ 20 inch wide playing field
- Weight: 600 lbs
- 8 chrome metal pucks (blue and red)
- Shuffleboard wax and cleaner
- Shuffleboard spray
- Brush
- Abacus Scoring for each side
- Accu-lock leveling system
- Built in the USA!
- Delivery and installation by an authorized Olhausen dealer
If you want to learn more about the company check out the amazon link below and they have a video you can watch.
3. Barrington Shuffleboard
This shuffleboard by Barrington can be sized on a 9-foot board or an 11-foot board. You can also order it in different finishes. The one shown here is the
The playing surface is made out of a wood veneer and has a UV coating to offer protection to the playing surface over the years. This item is lighter than the professional shuffleboard but it comes with three supports to offer a sturdy playing field. It also has six leg levelers to make sure you are playing flat.
If you don’t have a ton of room in your game room or man cave the shuffleboard offers a shelf below it. You can place or store other games below it so your room doesn’t fill up and you can make the most out of your space!
Here are some other specs:
- Total assembled dimensions: 108 inch x 24.5 inch x 32 inch w/ 14 wide playing field
- Weight: 203 lbs
- 8 chrome metal pucks (blue and red)
- Shuffleboard wax
- Bead scorers for both sides
- Carpet sides and floors to reduce noise
- Six leg levers support steel legs
- 90-day manufacturer warranty
4. Hathaway Excalibur 9′ Shuffleboard Table
This is a shuffleboard table made of driftwood melamine with a rustic touch through the bronze hardware accents.
It has a sturdy build with a solid X-pattern support system with a support bar to give you strength and stability. This gives it a cool modern look, but we think it would fit in any style room.
The play surface is characterized by a poly-coated engineered wood that is smooth and has padded gutters to minimize noise when you are playing a game.
Here are some other specs:
- Total assembled dimensions: 108 inch x 24.5 inch x 30 inch w/ 14 wide playing field
- Weight: 202 lbs
- 8 chrome metal pucks (blue and red)
- Brush
- Sand Shaker
- Scorers for both sides
- Carpet walls and gutters to reduce noise
- Six leg levers support steel legs
- 180-day manufacturer warranty
5. Barrington Urban Collection Shuffleboard Table
Another Barrington board!
This is a premium quality 9-foot birch wood veneer table that gives high performance and class. It is UV coated to make it scratch-resistant. That gives you a smooth field for playing games while ensuring a fast puck.
The table features a sturdy construction with a faux concrete block leg for stability when playing the game. This is another board that has the modern look to it but because it looks so great could fit into any style room.
It comes with everything you need to get started with the game such as two integrated abacuses, 8 pucks, and a shuffleboard powder.
Here are some other specs:
- Total assembled dimensions: 108 inch x 24 inch x 32 inch w/ 14 wide playing field
- Weight: 202 lbs
- 8 chrome metal pucks (blue and red)
- Scorers for both sides were built into the board
- Carpet walls and gutters to reduce noise
- Six leg levers support steel legs
- 90-day manufacturer warranty
Buyer’s Guide
It may be challenging to choose a specific shuffle table for your man cave when you have five excellent options. In this section of the guide, we hope to make it easier for you to settle on one. Here is a quick guide:
Shuffleboard Table With a Professional Leveling System:
Leveling is vital when it comes to shuffleboard tables. Though all of these tables have some type of accu-leveling system, the Olhausen Shuffleboard Table is the most precise because of its accu-lock leveling system. This makes it a breeze to put it to level and maintain its level.
Table With the Smoothest Playing Surface:
The Barrington shuffleboard table is UV coated giving it a smooth surface and making it scratch-resistant. The less resistance your shuffleboard table provides, the better, and this table is the best on our list in this regard.
The Least Expensive Table:
In terms of affordability, the cheapest table is the Hathaway Excalibur 9′ Shuffleboard Table which retails at only about $600 to $700, which is several thousand dollars cheaper than the most expensive table.
Our Overall Recommendation:
When we compare the five, our favorite is the Hathaway Excalibur 9′ Shuffleboard Table, as it is wallet friendly and has great features that you will love.
Unless you’re a professional shuffleboard player or a huge enthusiast, spending thousands on this one piece for your man cave probably won’t be worth it. However, the Excalibur still offers great performance so it’s not like you’re cheaping out too much.
Other Factors to Consider:
If you are still undecided on what to choose, here are some additional factors to consider:
Size
This is very important to think about, as it needs to be the right size for you. You need to identify the space where it will be kept. Shuffleboard tables range in length from 9 to 22 feet.
It is also good to know how the table will get into the room. Some tables are very heavy. Although many people consider the length of the table, the width is equally essential.
The board surface should give you enough space for puck movement. Additionally, the size of the table has a significant influence on the price.
Design of the Shuffleboard
Most shuffleboards more or less have the same design. Most of the time, the playfields are the same, but the cabinets are the parts that differ in structure and design.
As critical as the shuffleboard material is, you need to check that it is durable, playable, and beautiful. Shuffleboards get damaged from dropped pucks and high-impact forces.
When the table gets damaged, it is expensive to fix. If you can, it is better to go for wood as it can endure high impact well. The common materials used are maple wood, mahogany, oak, and Russian Birch, as they are versatile and resistant to dents.
Again, the material used will affect the price as some materials are more expensive.
Finish
When you are shopping for a shuffleboard, you also need to consider its finishing. There is a chance that you will dent and scratch your new board, especially if you are a beginner.
Spray-on finishes are getting out phased with time as they are not as durable. The best quality finish is probably epoxy resin, which ensures a perfectly smooth surface and helps achieve accuracy when you are playing. It is also durable and does not need much maintenance.
Playfield
This is like the heart of the game. The right materials should be used in the playfield so that it is durable. It should have a low moisture content with rails on the side.
The playfield needs to have the right thickness to give you enough stability. If possible, aim for a thickness of three inches. In addition to being stable, it will provide you with sanding options if you need to change the finishing in the future.
When checking the thickness of the playfield, check the wood’s width too. (Most companies will refer to the thickness to mean a combination of the wood and the finishing.) If you do not get sufficient information from the product description, you can always confirm with the manufacturer just to be sure.
Shuffleboard Climatic Adjusters
Even though climatic adjusters are ignored most of the time, they make a big difference. Climatic adjusters are metal bars under the table that run across the width of the table. Climatic adjusters reduce resistance when you are moving, especially when there is high humidity or rapid temperature changes.
When a table has a climatic adjuster, the table will maintain its level better because they protect the table from warping. Since there is less misalignment, the quality of the game is not impacted.
If you are interested in a table but it does not have climatic adjusters you can install them on your own, though it may cost you a little bit of money.
Tables will come with a different number of climatic adjusters. Most of them will have two to six adjusters.
The Outer Cabinet
Many people only associate the outer cabinet with aesthetics, but it has a more critical role. It affects the weight and stability of the cabinet too, which affects its structure.
For example, cabinets made of solid wood are sturdier, keeping the shuffleboard from not being affected when you have intense games.
Shuffleboard Accessories
Many shuffleboard tables come with accessories such as a full maintenance kit to help you maintain your unit. Whatever table you get, you need wax, which is mostly in a powdered form.
A dust cover is also essential to keep dust and dirt off.
Shuffleboard Scoring System
Shuffleboards have scoring grids on them. Most of them have a 1-2-3 system though some tables have a triangular scoring grid.
It is best to confirm that the board you are looking at has the scoring system you want.
Cost
Most shuffleboards are expensive, but the beauty of it is that they are a one-time purchase. Prices are based on the materials, the size, and other extra features.
If you want quality, you should be ready to pay more. However, also consider how often you expect to play. You don’t want to overpay for something you’ll only use sparingly.
Final Thoughts
When you know what to look for and do your research right, you will land yourself a good shuffleboard table. Just make sure you give it the maintenance it deserves, and you will be happy for a long time.