Beer pong guide · Setup · Party planner
Beer pong table guide: size, types, cups and balls
What size is a regulation beer pong table, is a folding table good enough, and how many cups and balls do you need for a tournament? This guide covers the table, the cups, the balls and what a beer pong set should include, with a planner that works out your shopping list.
- 👥 Any beer pong night
- 🎒 A long table, 22 cups, 2 balls
Beer pong table guide: play online
Set your numbers: the shopping list and timings update as you go.
Enter your teams and tables: the planner works out games, time, cups, balls and how much drink the night adds up to. Print it as a shopping list.
Beer pong table guide: quick rules
A regulation beer pong table is 8 ft long, 2 ft wide and 27.5 in high (2.44 m × 0.61 m × 70 cm). Any folding table of about that length works: a standard 8-ft banquet table is a little wider (30 in) and slightly lower. You need 20 cups of 16 oz for the racks plus 2 water cups, and a pack of 40 mm ping-pong balls.
Regulation beer pong table size
Tournament beer pong, such as the World Series of Beer Pong, uses a table exactly 8 feet long, 2 feet wide and 27.5 inches tall, with a flat, smooth top. The height puts the table rim at a comfortable throwing level for most adults, and the length gives the classic arc shot.
| Item | Regulation size | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Table length | 8 ft (96 in) | 2.44 m |
| Table width | 2 ft (24 in) | 61 cm |
| Table height | 27.5 in | 70 cm |
| Cups | 16 oz party cups, 10 per side | 473 ml |
| Cup size | About 3⅝ in across the top, 4⅝ in tall | About 9 cm × 12 cm |
| Balls | 40 mm table-tennis balls | 40 mm, about 2.7 g |
For a party, anything close works. What matters most is a flat top that doesn’t wobble, and the same table for both sides.
Folding, portable and foldable beer pong tables
Most beer pong tables sold today fold in half with a carry handle, so they fit in a car boot and set up in a minute. Here’s what the common types are good for:
| Type | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Folding (fold-in-half) table | Parties, dorms, tailgates; stores flat | The hinge in the middle can make a slight ridge |
| Portable, lightweight table | Carrying to tailgates and the beach | Very light tables wobble; check the leg bracing |
| Adjustable-height table | Matching the 27.5-in regulation height | Make sure all four legs lock at the same height |
| Inflatable or floating table | Pool parties (see pool beer pong) | Plastic cups only; sun weakens the vinyl |
| Light-up (LED) table | Night parties and show value | Charging or batteries; same rules as any table |
| Banquet or dining table | You already own it | Wider and often shorter than regulation |
What to look for in a portable beer pong table
- Length: 8 ft for the real game; 6 ft is fine for small rooms.
- A waterproof, wipe-clean top: every game ends with spills.
- Stable legs with cross-bracing, and feet that don’t scratch the floor.
- Weight you can carry: folding tables range from very light to heavy.
- Printed rack markings help set the triangles in the same place every game (optional).
Beer pong cups
Standard beer pong cups are 16 oz plastic party cups; 18 oz cups work too and are a little easier to hit. You need 20 for two racks of 10 plus 2 for rinsing water, and spares: thin cups split and get crushed.
Reusable hard-plastic cups are a good buy if you play often: they don’t tip over as easily, they can go in the dishwasher, and they’re better for the planet. Whatever cups you use, a little drink (or water) in each is enough.
Beer pong balls
Use regulation 40 mm table-tennis balls. Cheap balls are fine, but buy a pack of 12 or more: they dent, crack and roll under furniture. Keep a cup of water at each end to rinse them, since they spend half the game on the floor. Balls with a slightly rough (matte) finish are easier to grip than glossy ones.
What’s in a beer pong set (kit)?
- A table (in full kits) or a printed table mat or cover.
- 20–24 cups, sometimes reusable ones with markings for fill lines.
- 6–12 balls.
- Sometimes ball washers, cup racks (triangle frames) and a rule card.
You can build the same set yourself: the planner at the top of this page tells you how many cups and balls a party or tournament needs. Rules, re-racks and a cup tracker are on the main beer pong page.
How to make a DIY beer pong table
- Get a sheet of plywood cut to 8 ft × 2 ft (at least ½ in thick) or use an old door or folding table.
- Sand the edges, then paint the top: team colours or a triangle marking at each end.
- Seal it with two or three coats of clear, water-resistant varnish so spills wipe off.
- Put it on sawhorses or trestle legs, adjusted to about 27.5 in high, and check it doesn’t rock.
- Add a handle or hinge only if you need to carry it; a solid top plays best.
No beer pong table? What works instead
A ping-pong table is great (and has the classic look), a dining table works for a shorter game, and a coffee table with small cups makes mini beer pong. Outdoors, play yard pong with buckets on the grass. All of these are on our beer pong variations page.
Beer pong table guide variations
- Half-size table (6 ft)
- Use 6-cup racks and throw from a step further back.
- Floor pong
- Racks on the floor 2.5 m apart, throwers kneel. Great where there’s no table at all.
Tips for a good game
- Put a towel under each end of the table.
- Mark the rack spots with tape so every game starts the same.
- Keep spare balls in your pocket: they always disappear.
Play it safe: every game here works with sips of any drink, or none at all. Only adults of legal drinking age should drink alcohol, alternate with water, and never drink and drive. [How to drink responsibly](/drink-responsibly/)
Beer pong table guide: FAQ
How big is a regulation beer pong table?
8 feet long, 2 feet wide and 27.5 inches tall (about 2.44 m × 0.61 m × 70 cm).
Can I use a folding table for beer pong?
Yes. A standard 8-ft folding banquet table is a little wider (usually 30 in) and slightly lower than regulation, which is perfect for parties.
What size cups are used for beer pong?
16 oz plastic party cups, 10 per side plus a water cup at each end. 18 oz cups also work.
What balls do you use for beer pong?
Regulation 40 mm table-tennis (ping-pong) balls. Buy a pack of at least 12.
How many cups and balls do I need for a beer pong tournament?
About 22 cups and 2 balls per table in play, plus 25% spare cups and 6 spare balls. The planner above works it out for your number of teams and tables.
Can you play beer pong on a ping-pong table?
Yes. A ping-pong table is longer and wider than regulation, which makes shots a bit harder, but it plays well.