Table Tennis Room Size
Do you know what table tennis room size you need to have?
It's probably more than you think ...  Compared to most other sports, the size requirements for table tennis are quite small. Therefore you can play the game almost anywhere.
However, the main factor in determining what table tennis room size you'll need will be the standard of competition being played. Ideally, table tennis should be played in a dedicated space with appropriate facilities permanently available. But as that's not always possible, let's take a look at some other options. So what table tennis room size do you need? It's probably more than you think ...  Playing area
These are the size dimensions you'll need for the playing area, based on the standard of competition being played ...
International Events, World Championships & Olympic Games
14m x 7m (46 feet x 23 feet)
National tournaments
12m x 6m (40 feet x 20 feet)
National league / Representative matches
10m x 5m (33 feet x 16 feet 6 inches)
Local league / Local tournaments
9m x 5m (30 feet x 16 feet 6 inches)
Recreational play and coaching
8.5m x 4.12m (28 feet x 13 feet 6 inches) Of course, the size dimensions of the playing area are very important, but something else that's often overlooked is ... Lighting Uniform lighting over the whole of the playing area is essential. In my experience, lots of places which are used for table tennis don't have any specialist lighting. Instead, they rely solely on general room lighting which is just not good enough. Consequently, many venues are too dark. The minimum light intensity over the whole of the playing surface - measured at the table surface height - and the clear height from the floor to the light should be as follows:
World Championships & Olympic Games
1,000 lux
5m (16 feet 6 inches) above the floor
Other International and National tournaments
750 - 1,000 lux
4m (13 feet) above the floor
National league / Representative matches
500 lux
3m (10 feet) above the floor
Local league / Local tournaments
500 lux
3m (10 feet) above the floor
Recreational play and coaching
300 lux
3m (10 feet) above the floor
For some players though, something even more important than the table tennis room size and good lighting is the ... Type of floor and/or floor covering A good floor and/or floor covering is of paramount importance and, as your standard of play increases, it'll probably become your number one priority. Whatever type of flooring you have, the most important criteria is that it's non-slip, because players must be able to move rapidly and re-position their feet without slipping. The floor must also be smooth and level and able to support the weight of the table tennis table and the players. Wooden semi-sprung floors provide the best surface whilst solid concrete and carpeted floors are totally unsuitable. The flooring must also provide a good contrast between the table top surface and the surrounding areas, both for the benefit of the players and the spectators, so it should be non-reflective.  All the top international table tennis tournaments now use specialist sports flooring such as Taraflex® made by French company Gerflor.
The reddish colour of this flooring, together with blue tables, provides a fantastic setting for table tennis.
However, it's also important that you have the right ... Room Temperature The ideal room temperature is 15-20°C with a relative humidity of 40-50%. It's also important that there's adequate ventilation because any condensation will make the floor slippery and will cause the ball to slide off the racket if you're using reverse rubber. If there are any air conditioning units, you'll also need to ensure that they don't cause any air currents which will deflect the flight of the ball. Spectators' comfort should also be considered, but obviously the playing conditions take priority.
And don't forget about the ... Wall Colour The colour of the walls is important because the players need a good contrast between the floor, table and wall colours. They should be non-reflective and painted with a dark colour up to a height of at least 2.5m (8 feet). Above 2.5m the walls should be painted a lighter colour so that you get maximum benefit from the lighting. Also, if there are any windows or other external light sources, they'll need to be covered up.
So, what else is there to consider? ... Multi-table venue If you're using a table tennis room size that can accommodate multiple tables, they should be arranged side by side rather than long ways. For example, in a badminton court you can get four tables side by side. This provides enough room for recreational play or coaching ... 
Ideally, you should also leave a gangway between the playing areas. This will give you access to each court without the need to disturb the other courts.
If you're using more than one table you'll also need some ... Barriers Barriers between your table tennis tables will be very useful to stop the ball from straying too far and minimise interruptions from other tables. However, these barriers must be collapsable rather than solid, so that they won't harm any player who runs into them. Ideally they should be about 1.5m (5 feet) long and 75cm (2 feet 6 inches) high and should completely enclose the playing area. 
Want to know more about the rules? ... Take a look at my other pages which explain the rules in more detail.
 The basic rules of table tennis
If you're just starting to play and you need to know the basic rules of table tennis, you can find them here ...
The official laws of table tennis The official rules of table tennis are known as The Official Laws of Table Tennis ... so if you need to check the official wording, you can read them here ...
Table tennis terminology Do you know your table tennis terminology or are you confused by your chops, pimples and twiddles? Here's my table tennis glossary ...
Table tennis table dimensions What size is a table tennis table? Do you know what the official rules of table tennis say about the size dimensions of a table tennis table?
Expedite system Do you know how long a game of table tennis can last? If both players keep the ball in play, can they continue playing forever? What do the rules of table tennis say about this? Find out here ...
When is the ball in or out? What do the table tennis rules say about the ball hitting the white lines, net or edges of the table? Is the ball in or out? Find out here ...
What is a good return? What do the rules say about what constitutes a good return? Can you use your hand to play a shot? What happens if you touch or move the table? Find out here ...
What do the rules say about your racket? Do you know what the rules say about the size of your racket? Which colours are allowed? When can you change your racket? Is your opponent allowed to examine your racket? Find out here ...
What do the rules say about the serve? The table tennis service is one of the most controversial aspects of the game. Make sure you know the service rules. Read them here ...
What do the rules say about playing doubles? Whether you're playing singles or doubles, the rules of table tennis are essentially the same. However, for doubles play there are a few subtle variations to the rules of table tennis. Read them here ...
What do the rules say about volleying the ball? Do the table tennis rules allow you to volley the ball?
Yes and No ... Let me explain ...
Are players allowed to take breaks during matches? What time limits are specified in the official table tennis rules?
What happens if a player is time-wasting? Find out here ...
Go to Rules of Table Tennis page from Table Tennis Room Size Go to All About Table Tennis home page from Table Tennis Room Size
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