How to Dispose of Old Pool Table (the right way)

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Pool tables are often the center of a recreation room.

They are ideal for enjoying casual games with friends, and players of almost all ages and skills can compete in various billiard games. 

But, when they become disused, or you want a new centerpiece for the room, their extreme weight often makes homeowners wonder how to dispose of an old pool table.

They’re not something you can easily move, and they’re probably too big to even fit through the doorway. 

If you find yourself looking to get rid of an old pool table, don’t worry. There are a few practical solutions to getting rid of old pool tables. 

I’ve moved my table quite a few times, so let’s look at some different strategies that might work for you. 

Do You Really Want it Gone?

Before you make the decision to get rid of the pool table outright, consider refurbishing or repurposing the table. 

Pool tables are often quite expensive and retain some value even after many years. 

Refurbish

Would replacing the worn felt on your pool table breathe some new life into your table? Or maybe attract your kids back to playing games with their friends and yours?

Replacing the felt isn’t difficult. You need some hand tools, including a pneumatic stapler. So, a typical DIYer can handle the job with a helper and a bit of patience. 

You can even use a different color to change the table’s look or match the new decor in your game room. 

And, by combining fresh felt with and a set of new balls and cues, your pool table might feel brand new.

And that may generate a bit more excitement when it comes to playing a few rounds with friends and family.

Repurpose 

If you really don’t want to keep the pool table, consider your initial investment. You likely spent quite a few hard-earned dollars on your pool table and all the accessories. 

Perhaps converting your pool table into something a bit different could let you keep it without it dominating your limited space. 

You could potentially convert the table into a surface for table tennis.

Some conversion systems will allow you to switch back and forth from one game to another relatively quickly and easily. 

Or, with a little bit of DIY skills, you could simply add a new wood covering to your pool table.

The addition of a wooden top can turn your pool table into a new dining table or a storage space.

Adding some locking caster wheels to the feet means you could roll the table out of the way when it’s not in use. 

Disposal Methods

If repurposing or refurbishing the table is not viable for you, there are still multiple disposal strategies to consider. 

Since pool tables are quite heavy and even disassembling one may take quite a few strong helpers, there are a few options that may appeal to you. 

Give Away or Sell

Just because you want your pool table gone doesn’t mean someone else wouldn’t love to have it. 

Consider asking family and friends if they would like it. This is also much more environmentally responsible than scrapping it and adding it to a landfill. 

You might be able to share the cost of having a professional mover relocate it with the recipient.

Or you can tell them that the table is free, but they have to figure out how to get it to its new home. 

If your pool table is in decent shape, it may be pretty valuable. Consider posting on social media marketplaces or even contacting local charities and pool halls.

Perhaps they would like to have your table and would be willing to compensate you for it with cash. If you donate it to a charity, you could potentially write it off in your taxes. 

Pool Table is Junk

Once you have decided your pool is junk, you have a few avenues to consider taking. 

Disassembly

If your pool table is in bad shape, and you don’t think anyone else would be interested in relocating or rehoming it, you might want just to toss it in a dumpster. 

But, in reality, that is much more easily said than done. 

The slate tabletop of a pool table typically comes in three sections, and each one can weigh anywhere from 150 to 300 pounds. 

Some tables have single-piece slate tabletops and can weigh up to 900 pounds. 

The slate is also pretty fragile and expensive, so if you have any lingering thoughts of selling it, be very careful, as even a slight chip can render it useless as a pool tabletop. 

Breaking it Down

At this point, your disassembled pool table is ready to go in a dumpster. But that is an added expense that can cost hundreds of dollars. 

So, to save money, consider going a step further and breaking things down even more. 

The slate can be broken into smaller chunks quite easily by hitting it with a sledgehammer. 

Those smaller chunks will be much more manageable to carry, and you may be able to dispose of them by burying them in your yard.

If you leave big chunks of slate, it is doubtful that your local garbage company will haul them away. 

But by breaking them down and putting them into a bunch of contractor size garbage bags, and adding them in small doses to your weekly trash pickup, you might be able to save some money by avoiding a separate dumpster or bulk hauling fee.

The pockets, rails, and frames are similarly unwieldy and unlikely to be easily added to weekly trash pickups. 

But, by following the same strategy of breaking them down into manageable pieces, you can once again avoid paying extra. 

And, if you have a fire pit or fireplace, you could conceivably burn all of the wood products that were once part of your pool table. 

Be careful to avoid burning glue and plastic products, as they can become quite hazardous when burned. 

DIY Dump Drop Off

If you have a truck with a full-size bed, you might be able to skip all of the extra breaking-down and the added fee of a dumpster rental. 

Simply load up your truck with the disassembled table and bring it to your local dump. Many such facilities have a weighbridge at the entrance. 

Your vehicle is weighed on the way into the facility and again after dumping your old pool table. 

The difference between those weights is the weight of the garbage you deposited into the dump.

By using that weight measurement, the landfill charges you a nominal disposal fee. 

Bring in a Professional 

If you have a short timetable, aren’t willing to put in the DIY time, or just want to pay for the convenience, you can hire a hauler to dispose of your old pool table. 

There is likely to be a moving company or junk hauler in your area that would take your table off your hands. 

Going this route might mean paying a considerable sum, and don’t be surprised if the company your hire ends up reselling your table if it is in even decent condition. 

They may even refurbish it themselves and try to sell it for top dollar. 

Old Pool Table Disposal: Final Thoughts

If your pool table has seen better days or has become disused, consider giving it one more go. 

Changing the felt, buying a new cue or two, and having a weekend tournament with some friends can breathe new life into your hobby. 

If all of that fails or you just want to get rid of it, you can follow a few different paths for removing it from your home. 

Donation or a private sale is probably the best idea to pursue first. If someone wants the table, they might be willing to pay for a service to relocate it to their home or business. 

If you strike out giving it away or selling it, you can pay to make your problem disappear. But, pool tables are large and heavy, so you’re going to have to put in some work if you go the DIY route. 

The best means of disposal might be taking a hybrid approach. Do some of the work yourself, like the dismantling and breakdown, but leave the hauling to others. 

And if you end up renting a dumpster yourself, you can also use it to dispose of other household junk. 

Consider using a chainsaw and cutting the wood parts from your pool table into a few smaller pieces. You might even burn them in a fire pit. Free firewood! 

Whatever method you choose, you should have a good idea of how to dispose of an old pool table. Now you just need to decide what to do with all your newly freed-up space!

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