Many of the supplies needed to build a poker table can be purchased locally. The wood can be found at a local lumber yard, poker table felt can sometimes be found at billiard table supply stores and used billiard felt can be found at local pool halls. Velveteen can be purchased at Wal-Mart or Jo-Ann Fabrics. Cloth, vinyl and foam can all be found at Jo-Ann Fabrics. Drink holders can be purchased from local RV or Marine shops.
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If you cannot find poker table supplies locally, there are numerous online suppliers that offer one-stop shopping for all your poker table materials. Some sites even offer all-in-one kits containing poker cloth, padding, and vinyl.
Visit the How To Build a Poker Table page to view dozens of free poker table plans.
My Recommended Supplies for Building a Poker Table
The best surface for a poker table would be Suited Speed Cloth. It is durable, repels water well, and the playing cards slide across it very well. It is a bit rough on your hands so if you are looking for something softer, regular Poker Cloth might be your best choice. Whisper Vinyl is my preferred material to build the rail for your poker table. Volara padding is the best padding for the surface of your poker table. I would not build a racetrack for my poker table because it makes it difficult to shove your poker chips into the center of the table, and it makes things noisier as the chips are shuffled on the wood surface of the racetrack. I would embed cup holders directly into the poker cloth or the rail. I would use two pedestal legs to support my poker table.
Tools Needed to Build a Poker Table
You need some basic woodworking skills and a bit of time and patience. It can be a little difficult to do a good job on your poker table rail due to all the bending and stretching of the vinyl. Using a router, rather than a saw, to cut your wood will make your rounded corners much easier.
Poker Table Info
How to build a poker tableTypes of poker tables
Temporary poker table
Poker Table Supplies
Buy a poker table- Saws (circular, jig), router (optional), drill, sander, clamps, hammer, screwdrivers - For working with wood
- Staple gun (preferably powered) - To secure the vinyl
- Blow dryer - To heat the vinyl while stretching
- Razor, box cutter, or electric knife - To cut the foam
- Nails, screws, staples, nuts, bolts, glue, sandpaper
Poker Table Parts List
It costs a couple hundred dollars to build a poker table. Visit the HPT Forums for a discussion thread about the cost to build a poker table. Here is a brief parts list of the materials needed to build a poker table ...
| 3 sheets of 4' x 8' plywood | $ 60 |
| 3 yards of cloth (speed cloth, felt, velveteen, etc.) | 50 |
| 3 yards of 1/4' foam (table padding) | 35 |
| Vinyl (for the rail) | 25 |
| 1' Foam (for the rail) | 40 |
| Folding Legs | 20 |
| Drink Holders (optional) | 20 |
| Total cost to build a poker table | $ 250 |
You can build a poker table for about $50 less than what is quoted here. These estimated costs are for a higher quality table. You might need only two sheets of plywood, use cheaper poker cloth, and have no need for cup holders.
Poker Cloth Supplies
Auto Headliner
This is the material used by auto manufacturers to cover the inside of a car roof. It has padding on the back and many different colors are available. Auto headliner may be purchased locally at automotive supply stores. It is just barely acceptable for use as a poker cloth and there are certainly better options available.
Faux Suede (Sherpa Suede)
Not bad but the playing cards do not slide very well.
Fabric-online(U.K.)
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store
Felt
This is the material used to cover billiard tables. It is durable and the playing cards slide well but it is a bit rough and may produce lint. Billiard cloth is about $100 per table if purchased new and $25-$50 if purchased used. You can try locating used billiard cloth at a local billiard table retail store, billiard hall (downtown pool hall), or at local bars & saloons. Be warned of brand new colored billiard cloth - it may stain your cards and chips. Billiard cloth can be a bit rough on your hands. The playing cards slide well. It is very durable and hides stains well.
CueSight
Cue Store
DB Entertainment Company
Kardwell
Felt (Fabric Store)
This is a poor surface for a poker table! Fabric store felt will ball-up and shed lint. It will be horrible after only a couple hours of play.
Micro suede
Okay to use as a poker table surface but the cards do not slide well.
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Casino Supply
Fabric.com
Fashion Fabrics Club
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store
Spinetti's
Moleskin
Good and inexpensive. Very soft. Made of cotton (not moles!).
Brisbane Moss(UK)
Fashion Fabrics Club
Poker Cloth (Wool)
This is the most common fabric used as a poker playing surface. It may be purchased at many online sellers but will probably be a bit hard to find locally. The playing cards slide well, it feels very good and soft and it repels liquids. Cost is about $10-$15 per yard.
Old West Poker Supplies
Premium Poker Chips
Playing Cards and
Table Building Supplies
10% off: HPT10
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Bullets Poker Tables(U.K.)
Casino4you
Casino Supply
Drink Stuff(U.K.)
Kardwell
Magnus Andersson(Sweden)
Old West Poker Supplies10% off: HPT10
Poker Chest$10 off: HPT10
Poker Chips
Poker-Chips.co.uk
Poker 'n Stuff10% off: HPT10
Poker Cloth (with customized logo)
There are several methods to have your logo or other graphics printed on poker cloth. A local airbrush artist (inquire at your friendly neighborhood Harley-Davidson motorcycle shop) should be able to paint your logo on most types of poker cloth and felt. You can paint or screen print your graphics on the fabric using acrylic artist's paint available at many hobby shops. You can even print your graphics on an 'iron-on' sheet using your computer ink-jet printer and iron it onto your cloth, but don't expect it to last very long and don't expect the playing cards to slide unaffected across it. Certain types of fabric can be dyed, rather than painted on, meaning that the graphics will never wear away. When choosing a method to have your graphics printed on your poker cloth keep two things in mind, how long will my graphics last, and how well will the playing cards slide? The clear winner is dye - it absorbs into the fabric rather than lay on top of it!
Acid DyesDharma Trading Company
All In Poker ClothDye Sublimation
CueSightNEW
Custom Poker Cloths
Custom Table Felt
Iron-onScott's Table Talk Forum thread
Rye Park Gaming Supply
Screen PrintingSpeedball
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Speed Cloth
Similar to poker cloth but more slippery and has a plastic or nylon feel to it. This is a very good poker table surface. It is extremely durable and repels liquids very well. Playing cards slide across it very easily. it is a bit hard to work with because it does not stretch as much as other poker table surfaces. Cost is about $20 per yard.
Suited Speed Cloth
Similar to Speed Cloth except it has the four card suits sewn into the fabric. This is probably the best poker table playing surface. It is a bit stiff and has a nylon/polyester feel to it. Suited Speed Cloth is coated in Teflon to repel liquids. It is available in about ten different colors for your poker table. Cost is about $20 per yard.
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Casino4you
Casino Supply
Custom Table Felt
DK Gameroom Outlet
MRC Poker Store(Canada)
Nashpoker.net(Ukraine)
Old West Poker Supplies10% off: HPT10
Poker Chest$10 off: HPT10
Poker Chips
Poker 'n Stuff10% off: HPT10
Spinetti's
Straight Poker Supplies (Canada)
Texas Poker Supply10% off: TPSHPT
Your Auto Trim
Velvet
Okay to use as a poker table surface and the playing cards slide well but it is not durable. Cost is about $15-$25 per yard.
Distinctive Fabric
Fabric Land (Available locally in Canada)
Hobby Lobby (Available locally)
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store
Wal-Mart (Available locally for about $4.44 per yard )
Your Auto Trim
Table Building Supplies
Velveteen
Good and inexpensive.
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Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store
Wal-Mart $4.50 per yard
Your Auto Trim
Foam, Padding, and Rails
Foam & Padding
You will need one or two different types of foam. You will need 1/4' foam to place under your playing surface. This foam should be closed-cell to prevent fluids from spoiling it. It should also 'recover' quickly when indented. If you are building rails for your table, you will also need 1' thick foam for the padding under the rail vinyl.
American Gaming Supply
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Casino Supply
Custom Table Felt
DK Gameroom Outlet
Foam By Mail
Foam Order
Home Depot 1/3' (8mm) Eco-Foam may be purchased in the carpet section
Jo-Ann Fabrics
Kardwell
Magnus Andersson(Sweden)
Poker 'n Stuff10% off: HPT10
Spinetti's
Straight Poker Supplies (Canada)
Texas Poker Supply10% off: TPSHPT
Your Auto Trim
Vinyl
Building a rail without wrinkles might be the hardest part of building a poker table. Use a blow dryer to heat the vinyl and have more than one person available to stretch and staple. Most poker table builders seem to use Whisper or Marine vinyl. The Whisper vinyl is easier to work with.
American Gaming Supply (Passion Suede)
American Gaming Supply (Vinyl)
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Casino Supply
Jo-Ann Fabrics
Poker Chest$10 off: HPT10
Poker Chips
Spinetti's
Straight Poker Supplies (Canada)
Texas Poker Supply10% off: TPSHPT
Your Auto TrimWhisper VinylDiamond Plated Vinyl
Pre-made Rail
This pre-made rail will save you a lot of time and effort but is a little 'cheesy'. You should probably spend the time and effort to build a real rail from vinyl. This rail is 3/4' thick, 2.5' in diameter, and is made of black rubber.
Casino Supply
Texas Poker Supply10% off: TPSHPT
Complete Poker Table Supply Packages
Cloth, padding, foam, vinyl and drink holders all grouped together into one package deal.
Your Auto Trim10% off: TPSHPT
Links To Poker Table Supplies
Cup HoldersBuild Your Own Poker Tables8% off: HPT08 Poker Table Chip TraysCasino4You | Table Legs & PedestalsAmerican Gaming Supply Poker Layouts & TabletopsPokerFleece.com Banquet TablesLightingRope Lights - Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, etc. Misc Adhesive - American Gaming Supply |
Warning about SuitedSpeedCloth.com (aka PokerSuppliesLtd)
Poker Supplies Wholesale
Make sure you check out the reviews of suitedspeedcloth.com before you purchase from them. I suggest that you check out the HPT Forums and the ChipTalk.net Forum.