The classic style poker tables are large oblong tables that can usually seat somewhere between four and eight players. They have straight sides, capped with roughly semi-circular ends, having a white padded border about 8” wide running around the outer edge, on which players would typically rest their arms or hands. The poker table top is a soft felt, usually a green similar to pool table material, but sometimes black, red, or other colors. An average example of one of these tables costs somewhere in the $200 to $350 bracket, with features like ease of assembly, quality of workmanship and materials, and the inclusion of extras like a footrest bar running around the legs for the more expensive models. If you are looking for a table of the finest quality and construction then you can pay more than $1000, which will give you a very impressive table.
Due to the size and cost of these tables they are often not a feasible solution for your average Friday-night card player. This is where folding poker tables come into play. Folding poker tables are usually smaller and less expensive than the “professional” style mentioned above, but the principle is the same. Usually hexagonal or octagonal in shape, they have a felt surface sometimes including markings for placing players' chips and the deck, and so on. The legs will fold easily away, allowing the table to be stored flat when not in use. These tables are not necessarily low in quality, nor are they always small. Small such tables can be found for between $50 and $150 and larger ones can be as much as $350. It is also possible to find very good quality collapsible poker tables built to the oblong shape mentioned above which may cost more still. As the cheaper folding tables are not usually used by “pro” players, you can often find poker chips and tables bundled as a single package, which may be cost effective if you're happy with what they're offering.
An alternative to a full table is a poker table top. This is essentially just the crucial top part of the table that you can simply lift into place over your existing dining room table whenever you have your card games. Like the folding poker tables these are easily stored flat when not in use. If you're after a very budget-friendly solution, then consider a poker table pad, which is simply a table-cloth like pad that matches the style of a typical poker table. You simply unroll this out over your existing dining room table.
One final alternative exists for those who are skilled with their hands and desire a table of the highest quality: Make your own. With the wonder that is the modern Internet you can perform a simple web search and find that there are literally dozens of poker table designs with illustrated step-by-step instructions for building your own table, all for no more than the cost of the materials and a few Sunday afternoons in the garage. The end result can be simple and pragmatic with a fairly rudimentary folding table being your end result. If you're more ambitious, and willing to spend a little more, you can be rewarded with a stunning table with lacquered wooden finish on the frame,a soft padded border, and a richly covered poker table top built to your own dimensions.
