Should you recloth when moving a pool table?
By Pool Table Movers team · Published · Updated
If your cloth is worn, marked, glued down or more than a few years old, recloth while the table is being moved. The bed is already stripped bare, so fitting new cloth adds little time and costs far less than a separate visit. Good stapled cloth in fair condition can usually be reused.
Why a move is the best time to recloth
Reclothing a pool table means removing the cushions, lifting the old cloth from the bed, preparing the slate surface and fitting new cloth to the bed and every cushion. When a table is moved, most of that work happens anyway: the cushions come off, the cloth is lifted and the bed is exposed. Fitting new cloth during the rebuild is therefore a small extra step rather than a separate job.
If you leave it until later, a fitter has to come out again, strip the table down again and rebuild it again. That means paying for much of the labour twice and putting up with a second disruption. Our recloth service starts from £150 when the table is already apart for a move.
Signs your cloth needs replacing
Look closely at the bed cloth under good light. Worn patches around the break area, the spots and the pocket entrances are the first signs of age. If you can see the weave clearly, the nap has gone, or the ball tracks are visible, the cloth is past its best. Burns from cigarettes, chalk stains that will not brush out, spills and small tears all affect play.
Feel the cloth too. A good cloth is smooth and even; tired cloth feels thin, bobbly or loose. If the cloth has been glued down rather than stapled, it usually cannot be lifted without tearing, which makes a recloth almost unavoidable during a move. The same goes for cushion cloth that is split or coming away from the rubber.
Finally, think about play. If the balls run slowly, drift off line or bounce unpredictably from the cushions, new cloth combined with the re-levelling that happens during a move can transform how the table plays.
When you can safely reuse the old cloth
Plenty of tables have cloth in perfectly good condition, especially if they are only a few years old or were lightly used. If the cloth is stapled to timber backing strips on the slate, it can usually be lifted carefully, kept flat or rolled, and re-stretched on the rebuild. Cushion cloth can often stay on the cushions if the rubber is sound.
Reused cloth will be re-tensioned on the bed, so it should look and play much as it did before. The crew will tell you if they see any damage once the cloth is lifted. If there is any doubt, we discuss it with you before fitting.
Choosing a cloth
English pool tables usually use a napped woollen cloth, while American tables often use a worsted cloth with a smoother, faster surface. Snooker tables use a fine napped cloth, and the direction of the nap matters for how the balls run. Cloth comes in different grades: hard-wearing pub-grade cloths suit tables that see heavy use, while higher-grade cloths offer a faster, more consistent roll.
Colour is a personal choice. Traditional green remains popular because it is easy on the eyes and hides chalk, but blue, red, grey and black are common in modern games rooms. Darker cloths show chalk and dust more easily. We can bring samples or advise on matching your room.
Cushions and other parts
A move is also a good time to look at the cushions. Over many years the rubber can harden and lose its bounce, and pockets and leathers can wear. If the cushions feel dead or the ball comes off them inconsistently, new rubbers can be fitted while the rails are off. Pocket nets and leathers can be replaced at the same time. We source matching parts where possible and quote any extra work separately.
What a recloth during a move involves
With the table rebuilt and the slates levelled and seamed, the new bed cloth is laid over the bed, stretched evenly from the centre outwards and fixed at the edges. The cushion cloth is wrapped tightly around each rubber and secured to the rail, with neat folds at the pocket cuts. Once the cushions are bolted back on, the pockets are refitted and the crew checks the table with the level and a few test shots.
On a typical pool table the recloth adds an hour or two to the rebuild. New cloth may feel slightly slower or faster than you are used to for the first few games while it beds in, and a simple brush in one direction after play keeps it in good condition for years.
Looking after new cloth
New cloth lasts much longer with a little care. Brush the bed in one direction, from the baulk end towards the top cushion on napped cloth, using a proper table brush rather than a vacuum on high power. Keep the table covered when it is not in use, because sunlight fades cloth and dust wears it. Avoid putting drinks on the rails, and chalk cues away from the table so chalk dust does not settle on the cloth.
Keep the room at a steady temperature and humidity if you can. Wool cloth relaxes slightly in damp conditions and tightens in dry, heated rooms, which can make the table play differently through the seasons.
Recloth or replace the table?
If your table has a good slate bed and a sound frame, it is almost always worth reclothing rather than replacing. Slate does not wear out, and a well-made table can last for decades with new cloth and occasional cushion rubbers. The exception is a table with a cracked or warped bed, a damaged frame or a non-slate bed that has sagged. If you are unsure, ask us to look at it during the move and we will give you an honest opinion.
If you are unsure whether your cloth will survive being lifted, tell us when you ask for a quote and send a close-up photo of the bed and cushions. We will tell you honestly whether it is worth reusing, and you can decide on the day once the crew has seen it lifted.
Costs
A local move of a 6–7ft English pool table starts from £195, an 8–9ft American pool table from £295 and a full-size snooker table from £595. A recloth while the table is apart starts from £150, depending on the size of the table and the grade of cloth. Distance, stairs and access affect the final price of the move.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to recloth a pool table during a move?
Recloth starts from £150 when the table is already apart for a move. The final figure depends on table size and cloth grade.
Can old pool table cloth be reused?
Yes, if it is stapled and in good condition. Glued, worn or damaged cloth usually tears when lifted and is best replaced.
How long does pool table cloth last?
It depends on use. A home table may go many years, while a busy pub table may need new cloth far more often. Visible wear, tears and slow play are the signs.
See our pool table moving prices or find pool table movers near you.