Best Cheap Air Hockey Tables

• 1/8-inch “CARB” Certified MDF material for strength and reliability
• Electronic scoring system for easy scorekeeping
• Reinforced L-shaped legs for sturdiness
• Large independent levelers improve stability

• Smooth playing surface for the best experience
• Dimensions of 48(L) x 24 (W) x 31(H) inches to conveniently fit in most places
• Weight of 28 pounds for easy carrying

• Full Panel Legs for maximum support
• Leg levelers for improved balance and easy assembly
• Slide Manual or Side Rail LED Electronic for tracking scores
• 12V DC electric motor for delivering consistent airflow

• Purple color for the royal look
• 1.5- inch thick side rails for good puck rebound
• High-Velocity fan for good airflow
• Manual and Electronic scorer for improved choice

• The dimension of 60 x 26 x 31 inches for the perfect playing surface
• 1/8 -inch CARB Certified MDF construction for straight and long life
• Great hockey graphics for the lush and pricey appeal
• Poly-sealed laminate coating for a smooth and effective playing surface
• 110-vol UL Approved electric blower for high airflow

• 40-inch dimension for a nice playing surface
• High-quality MDF frame for strength and stability
• Maple finished exterior for extra elegance
• UL-certified, 100V motor for producing quality airflow
• Compact design to save space

• 40-inch tabletop for a decent playing surface
• Quality MDF hardwood frame for good support and sturdiness
• UL-approved, 100 cfm air-powered motor for high airflow
• ABS puck catcher for quick puck return

• Tabletop design for the best experience
• Compact design and lightweight for easy carrying and convenient storage
• High-output fan for fast action
• Manual scorers for easy scorekeeping

• Glazier compound coating for resisting wear
• Simple design for quick set-up
• Large size to accommodate up to 4 players
• Automatic LCD Electronic display for keeping scores

• Rotating design for versatility
• Multifunctional table for air hockey, football, billiards, and table tennis
• Smooth surface for a better playing experience

Types of Air Hockey Tables

In principle, air hockey tables fall into four major categories – basic tables, electronic arcade-style tables, portable tabletop tablets, and multi-game tables.

• Basic Tables – These are the most simplistic tables you can buy right now. They do not have any electronic scoring features, music, or flashing lights, although they make up for this by being quite sturdy and easy to set up. They can also vary in quality and price depending on the manufacturer, as well as in terms of size and construction. Speaking of which, we should point out that basic tables are among the largest.
• Arcade-style Tables – These tables are sturdy, tall, and packed with a host of interesting features. Among them, powerful blower motors, electronic scoring, music, sound effects, and a variety of other interesting technologies. It is because of their many features that these tables make a great addition to any arcade room or any gaming area. Needless to say, these tables are also quite expensive when compared with basic tables and understandably so.
• Tabletop Tables – Like the name suggests, these tables are compact, portable, and easy to move. Perfect for rooms where space is of the issue, tabletop tables allow you to quickly set up an air hockey game with the option to take it down with ease at any moment. Given their compact construction, these tables can be placed on any existing table, game room table, or even on the floor if the environment allows it.
• Multi-game Tables – As you would expect, multi-game tables feature a variety of other games along with air hockey. Traditionally, these multi-game tables allow you to not only play air hockey but foosball, table tennis, shuffleboard, bowling, and a host of other games as well. For this reason, you cannot expect multi-game tables to offer too much in terms of electronic features like scoring or sound effects, yet they are good enough for any casual player.

Air Hockey Table Buying Guide

Before you head over to Amazon or another online or local store to check out the selection of air hockey tables, first familiarize yourself with this game room equipment so you know what you’re looking for.

This way, you will know that you are buying a good air hockey table for the money and not just a cheap piece of crap table that won’t even make it to see next month without breaking. Cause let’s face it – some of us get a little aggressive when hitting the puck with our striker, so we need a quality table to prevent any damage.

Table Size

If you have ever played air hockey in a rec room or at an arcade (like Dave & Buster’s), then you have played on one of the regular stand-alone tables. In my opinion, this is really the best type of air hockey table that money can buy. However, it does require a lot of space in your home, which isn’t always possible for people.

Stand-alone full-size air hockey tables range from 7 to 8 feet. These are the types of tables that you will see in arcades and other people’s basements/game rooms. Kids’ air hockey tables range from 4 to 6 feet. They are usually shorter as well so kids can reach all the way to the centerline. Tabletop air hockey tables are almost all 40 inches long with only a few tables longer than that.

So, if you live in a small apartment, condo or have other space challenges in your home, then a tabletop air hockey table might be a better choice for you. With one of these, you can set it on a dining room table or another game table, like a ping pong table, and then store it in a closet or under a bed when it’s not in use. Often, a tabletop air hockey game is the best air hockey table for kids since it not only has a cheaper price than a stand-alone table but because it is easily be stowed away.

How much space do you need for an air hockey table? Well, the general rule of thumb is to allow for a few feet of extra space at each end for the players to move around. So, if you have a full-size air hockey table, then you’ll need a room with at least a 10-foot by 7-foot area of open space.

Multi-game tables often convert to foosball, ping pong and/or billiards – all in this one little table. The benefit of getting a multi-game table that includes air hockey is that you only need space for one full-size gaming table and you get several games in one. The bad thing about these, in my opinion, is that they are never the highest quality, which is really unfortunate.

Scoring methods

As you compare the various models on the market, you’ll notice that there are two different types of scoring methods – electronic and manual slider. The cheap air hockey tables tend to have the sliding scorers, which looks a lot like an abacus. With these, you just slide the scoring bead to keep track of your points. The more high-end air hockey tables come with electronic scoreboards that keep track of your score. This is what you see in arcades and places like Dave & Buster’s.

Fan vs. Blower

If you’ve played air hockey in an arcade, then you’re probably used to the hum of a motor that sort of suspends the pucks on the table and actually moves them a little bit without you touching them. Unfortunately, not all tables include this feature! The cheaper models do not have a fan or blower, which means that you have to actually move the puck yourself. Of course, then benefit here is that you get a quiet air hockey table since there is no motor whirring all the time. But for the best gameplay, we definitely recommend spending a bit more to get a model that has a blower or fan.

Power Source

So, if you have a table that has an electronic scoreboard or a blower/fan, that means that it needs a power source. For some models, this will mean batteries and for others, it means that you need an electrical outlet nearby. We prefer the models that require an electrical outlet because air hockey tables use up a lot of batteries fast, which can get expensive. Plus, you’d hate to run out of batteries in the middle of a game and have no spare ones on hand! This wouldn’t be a problem with a model that plugs into an electrical outlet.

Leg Levelers?

The nicer models all have leg levelers built-into the design and you should definitely choose a model that has this feature. Why? Because it works to ensure that your table is completely level, even if it is sitting on an uneven surface. Sure, you might think that your floor at home is level, but what if it is not? That’s why you need leg levelers to ensure that a fair game is always being played on a level playing surface.

Large puck vs small puck

If you’re interested in the professional quality USAA-sanctioned home model tables that the pros use, then you need a large puck air hockey table. These are generally more expensive, have good airflow, and are designed for heavy-duty playing and regular use.

The small puck air hockey tables tend to be cheaper and have weaker airflow. This is actually the most common type of home air hockey table for kids and occasional players, but do know that the smaller pucks are more lightweight, which means it is easy to accidentally fly them right off the table. For this reason, we only recommend small puck air hockey tables for kids age 10 and under.

Air Hockey Table Cost

Cost is another factor to consider when comparing the top air hockey table brands and models. Maybe you need the best cheap air hockey table under $200 or maybe you just want the best value air hockey table for the money. You can easily spend less than $100 on a good tabletop air hockey game. And the really nice, high-end luxury air hockey tables can cost over $1000. How much you spend really just depends on your budget and what you’re looking for. When I am shopping for something like this, I definitely want to get a good value for the money without sacrificing quality.

However, you don’t need to break the bank for a good air hockey table. High-quality tables can be found in the $500 – $800 range. This might sound like a lot, but it is only a one-time purchase that will last for many years and can be a staple of your game room.

How To Care For And Maintain Your Air Hockey Table

Once you get your air hockey table at home, you may be wondering how to clean it (especially if you have kids) and how to keep it maintained. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to care for your air hockey table and ensure that it lasts for several years of gameplay for your family. Here are a few tips to keep it working as intended:

• Don’t drink or eat at the table. Food crumbs or liquids can block or clog the air holes, which hinders the performance of the fan. the damage can get so bad that the puck no longer floats on the table!
• Don’t sit drinks on the table because they can sweat or spill on the surface. Not only can this stain the table, but the liquids can run into the air holds and damage how the fan makes the pucks float.
• Regularly dust the surface of the table with a vacuum to remove dirt and dust buildup from the air holes. Always do this before wiping down with a cloth – and don’t forget to vacuum the corners of the table!
• A damp cloth can be used to wipe clean the surface of the table after you have vacuumed up any dust that might be clogging the air holes. Never use a waxy cleaner on the table surface cause the wax can build up and clog the air holes. If you have to use a cleaner, then use a glass cleaner, and spray it on the cloth instead of directly onto the table surface.
• Pucks and mallets (paddles) can also be cleaned with a damp cloth to prevent dirt build-up. For stubborn build-up, you can use a glass cleaner only, never a wax-based cleaner.
• When not in use, keep the table covered to prevent dust build-up and never store anything on the tabletop!