Quick Summary: Felt Replacement Costs
- Total Professional Cost: $350 to $650 for standard woolen cloth; $550 to $850 for authentic worsted Simonis 860 tournament cloth (including labor).
- DIY Material Cost Only: $90 to $160 for basic felt; $320 to $380 for Simonis 860 cloth bolt.
- Labor Alone: Professional billiard mechanics charge $250 to $450 for 3 to 4 hours of on-site rail recovering, slate cleaning, and drum-tight stretching.
The True Price of Re-Covering: Where Does the Money Go?
Whether you just bought a used slate pool table on Facebook Marketplace or your home table has developed thin spots, chalk burns, and torn pocket bevels, re-felting is inevitable. But when homeowners start calling local billiard service companies, they are often surprised by the quote range: from $300 to nearly $900.
Why such a huge spread? The total cost to refelt a pool table depends on three major variables: table size (7ft vs 8ft vs 9ft), cloth grade (standard woolen vs worsted tournament wool), and whether you hire a certified mechanic or tackle the job yourself.
In this comprehensive cost breakdown, our technicians analyze cloth pricing, labor fees, and hidden maintenance expenses so you can plan your budget with total transparency.
Complete Cost Breakdown Matrix by Table Size & Cloth Grade
| Table Size & Cloth Type | Cloth Bolt Price | Professional Labor | Total Turnkey Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7-Foot Table (Standard Woolen Felt) | $80 – $110 | $250 – $320 | $330 – $430 |
| 8-Foot Table (Standard Woolen Felt) | $90 – $130 | $275 – $350 | $365 – $480 |
| 8-Foot Table (Simonis 860 Worsted Cloth) | $330 – $380 | $300 – $400 | $630 – $780 |
| 9-Foot Table (Simonis 860 Tournament Blue) | $360 – $420 | $350 – $450 | $710 – $870 |
Woolen vs. Worsted Cloth: Which Should You Buy?
- Standard Woolen Cloth ($80–$130): Woven with short, fluffy wool fibers. Plays slow, pill over time, and sheds lint. Ideal for casual family play and children.
- Worsted Tournament Cloth ($320–$400): Combed under tension with zero nap. Ultra-fast, perfectly flat, and highly resistant to ball burns. Lasts 5 to 8 years in home play. See our head-to-head comparison: Simonis 860 vs. Championship Tour Edition.
Order Pre-Cut Tournament Cloth
Save money on dealer markups by buying authentic pre-cut Simonis 860 Tournament Cloth on Amazon.
Hidden Expenses to Anticipate During Re-felting
- Hardened Rubber Cushions ($100–$180): If your table is 15+ years old, the rubber bumpers may have turned rock-hard or developed dry rot. They must be replaced while the rails are stripped.
- Cracked Slate Seams ($50–$100): Mechanics will re-wax the slate seams with fresh beeswax to ensure dead-flat rollout. See: How to Level a 3-Piece Slate Table.
- Replacement Featherstrips ($20–$40): The wooden strips locking cloth into rail grooves frequently crack upon removal.
Frequently Asked Questions: Pool Table Re-felting Costs
Should I refelt my pool table myself?
Stretching cloth across the slate bed is relatively straightforward, but re-covering the 6 rail cushions requires delicate hospital-corner folding and pneumatic stapling. If you lack experience, hiring a pro saves days of frustration.
How often should a pool table be refelted?
In a home setting with regular brushing and clean balls, Simonis worsted cloth lasts 5 to 8 years. Standard woolen felt typically needs replacement every 2 to 4 years.
Marc Robert is the founder and lead equipment tester at Billiard Guides. With over 15 years of competitive amateur league play (APA & BCA) and extensive hands-on experience in slate table leveling, cloth refelting, and cue repair, Marc conducts independent bench tests on cues, cloth, and billiards gear to help players make informed decisions.
