Top 5 Cheap Ping Pong Tables – Ping Pong Table Under $300
Playing ping pong is easy to learn. It can be an excellent hobby for people who enjoy physical activities that do not require much practice. If you insist on playing table tennis at home, then ping pong tables are a must.
High-end ping pong tables can cost anywhere from $500 to $1000 or even $2000. Buying a $1000 table is undoubtedly an investment. But if you do not play table tennis regularly, spending so much on just the table is nothing but a waste of money.
Cheap ping pong tables with flimsy materials ultimately lead to a wobbly table. However, that doesn’t mean all cheap ping pong tables are bad. In fact, there are some with exceptional higher quality in the market.
In this write-up, we will be talking about the top 5 cheap ping pong tables under $300 that are not only cheap but promises great quality to the consumers. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
Cheap Ping Pong Tables: Comparison Table
Best Ping Pong Table for An Affordable Price in 2021
The best table for an affordable price in 2021 is the GoSports Mid-Size table. It is a premium quality outdoor table that costs under $300. We believe outdoor tables do not have to be expensive to be of good quality. And this ping pong table is the perfect example of that claim.
With a heavy-duty aluminum frame, this sturdy yet lightweight table can outperform any ping pong table at this price range. Its compact and smaller design, smoothly constructed tabletop, ease of storage makes this one of the best cheap ping pong tables.
To know more about our best ping pong table, keep on reading.
Top 5 Cheap Ping Pong Table: In-Depth Reviews
In this segment, we have picked the top 5 cheap ping pong tables that comprise the quality of an ideal ping pong table. These tables cost under $300, making them perfect if you are on a tight budget.
We have compared the tabletop, frames, playability, and many more features and concluded that these 5 tables are the best Cheap Table Tennis Table.
1. # GoSports Mid-Size Table Tennis Table
The GoSports mid-size table tennis table is perfect for people who are looking for a premium outdoor ping pong table with a tight budget. It is also a mid-sized table, making it ideal for people who cannot spare a lot of space for an outdoor ping pong table. The essential features of the GoSports Mid-Size Table are:
Assembly and Initial Setup
The setup of this table takes less than 5 minutes. It comes 95% pre-assembled. The rest of the steps are essential and do not require a lot of effort.
All you have to do is unbox the table, unfold it, put it on the net, and start playing. Due to its lightweight frame, only one person can carry the table and do the initial setup without any added help or hassle.
Easy Storage And Transportation
The GoSports mid-size table tennis table is only 6’x3′. You can fold it during storage. Once folded, it is only 3’x3’x4″, making it compact and perfect for storing anywhere you want to.
Due to its lightweight frame, transportation is not an issue at all. This mid-sized table, once folded, can be carried in a car.
This table, once folded, has carrying handles. Due to this, one person can take this table without any hassle. It also has a lock to ensure everything stays inside once folded.
Use Indoors Or Outdoors
The GoSports mid-size table is an outdoor ping pong table. It has a solid and durable, heavy-duty aluminum frame. The playing surface is water-resistant and heat resistant so that you can use it outdoor. The red tabletop color makes it stand out outdoor.
Due to its smaller and unconventional size, you can use this table inside an apartment, game room, or office.
The ends of the legs are designed in a firm way that lets them stay attached to grass, pavement, or your apartment floor.
Playing Surface
The playing surface is made of thin plywood. It is lighter than 15mm tournament ping pong tables. The tabletop is smoother than a regular ping pong table and adds to the playability of the table.
The construction of the playing surface makes this table fun to use. The tabletop comes in red and blue colors. Both of the colors add to the beauty of the table.
Playability
The thin and lightweight tabletop provides great bounce during the play. It is surprising how well the balls bounce and spin on this table compared with the price.
Since the material is plywood, it might absorb a little bounce. Even after that, the bounce provided is excellent.
The legs of the table have height adjusters. The player can adjust their preferred height and experience a level and in-line game.
Weatherproofing
The GoSports mid-size table tennis table’s water-resistant tabletop makes it perfect to use outdoor. However, no matter how strong a table is, prolonged exposure to heat can eventually destroy its durability.
If you want to leave the table outside, we recommend opting for a waterproof ping pong table cover. If you have enough space indoor, then we recommend storing it inside after each game.
Additional Features
The GoSports mid-sized table tennis table comes with all the things you will require while playing table tennis. This game set comes with a complete net set, two ping pong paddles or rackets, and four ping pong balls.
The provided net set is tight enough to experience the right amount of tension while playing.
The ping pong paddles are of top-notch quality. The ping pong balls might not perform as well as three start ping pong balls or best ping pong balls, but you can use them for casual play.
Pros
- The game set comes with a mid-sized table and ping pong accessories.
- Easy to store due to the ultra-slim design of this Table.
- This mid-sized table is perfect for smaller areas.
Cons
- As the table is relatively lightweight, it can move unintendedly during play.
- The net rods reach up to 6″ only.
2. # STIGA Space Saver Table Tennis Table
Some indoor or outdoor tables are pretty huge. Due to their vast size, there might not be enough room left to play table tennis freely. Mini ping pong tables can become a solution to this problem. STIGA space saver table tennis table is one of the best mini ping pong tables in the market.
This Table is ideal for apartments where space can become an issue. Apart from its compact build, the STIGA space saver table tennis table also has impressive features that can help you make the best out of your time playing table tennis. Here are features of the STIGA space saver table tennis table:
Assembly and Initial Setup
Things can get messy fast when it comes to the assembly and setup of a ping pong table. But this does not apply to the STIGA space saver table tennis table.
This Table from STIGA comes 100% assembled. It makes the setup more effortless than ever. All you have to do is unpack the Table, unfold the legs of the table and start playing. No additional assembling is required at all!
Easy Storage And Transportation
This STIGA space saver table tennis table is ideal for apartments that do not have enough room for a regular-sized outdoor ping pong table. It is a compact ping pong table that can fit inside a closet or even under your bed.
It can be split into two table halves once you are finished playing. Once split, each half comes down to L35.5″ W40.5″ H30″, making it a compact piece of ping pong table that can be stored anywhere in the apartment.
Table Top
The tabletop of this Table is a 5/8″ surface made of MDF or medium density fibreboard. Medium-density fibreboard is usually used to make tabletops of high-end indoor ping pong tables that can cost 2x of the STIGA space saver table tennis table.
The tabletop has multiple layers of paint that contribute to the smoothness of the Table. Along with that, the white lines are painted across the Table, which is a rare scene in this price range.
Playability
The thickness of the tabletop is directly related to the playability of a ping pong table. The thicker the surface, the greater the bounce.
Tabletop surfaces that are made of MDF ensure a great bounce during the play. Along with that, each leg of the table comes with height adjusters that you can use to create a balanced and in-line playing surface.
The Frame
The frame of a ping pong table is one of the deciding factors of whether it is a good ping pong table or not. The biggest problem with the mid-range ping pong table is that the frame is usually flimsy. A flimsy structure will cause all the screws in the frame to fall out within days.
But with the STIGA space saver table tennis table, this is not an issue. The Table comes with a 1.25″ steel apron that protects the Table. Along with this, the thickness of the tabletop also ensures the entire frame of the Table stays durable.
The Legs
The Table comes with 1.25″ steel legs that are made to last. Thinner top ping pong tables within this price range often come with cheap and fragile aluminum legs that are not sturdy and do not last.
The end of each steel leg has a rubber cover. It ensures excellent maneuverability of the Table and a scratch-free floor.
These steel legs have a powder coating that adds to the durability of the steel. It also adds a stylish outlook to the Table.
Thickness
By now, you have probably understood the importance of thickness in a ping pong table. Without a thick playing surface, even the frame of the Table can collapse.
The surface of this table is 5/8″ thick. Due to this thickness, there will be no chipping or scratching on the top, no matter how powerful the shot is.
Due to the medium density flat board in the tabletop and the strong frame of the table, we can consider this as the best ping pong conversion top from our list.
Pros
- It comes 100% pre-assembled.
- The frame and legs of the table add to the durability.
- The tabletop is thick and made of medium-density flat board.
Cons
- Doesn’t come with any hinges.
- Even with the split halves of the Table, it can be heavy.
3. # JOOLA Indoor 15mm Ping Pong Table
JOOLA is considered one of the best brands that make ping pong tables. From tournament-level table tennis table to creating the best indoor ping pong table, JOOLA is unmatchable.
The JOOLA Indoor ping pong table is an ideal indoor table for people with a tight budget. It is a tournament-sized model built for people who want to enjoy a casual game of table tennis at home. The features offered by JOOLA Indoor ping pong table are:
Assembly and Initial Setup
The JOOLA Indoor table tennis table is a four-piece table that attaches during the play. This table ships unassembled. Many people fear assembling ping pong tables due to the complex instructions and missing parts.
But this problem will not occur with JOOLA Indoor table tennis table. A detailed step-by-step guide is provided with the table. It takes less than half an hour to assemble the entire table.
Easy Storage And Transportation
The JOOLA Indoor table tennis table comes split into four pieces attached to complete the assembling before playing. Once the game is over, you can store the four separate pieces in a closet or under the bed.
Although it is not a lightweight ping pong table, the table’s wheels make it easy to maneuver. Each of the separated four parts has wheels, making it easier to move them to the storage place.
Playing Surface
The playing surface of the JOOLA Indoor ping pong table is made of 5/8″ or 115mm wood composite materials.
Although it is a four pieces table, once attached together, the tabletop comes together as well. The sections do not hinder the tabletop or the game. The wood composite table top is well constructed, smooth, and performs excellently.
The playing surface of this Table performs better than any other indoor ping pong table that falls into this price range.
Safety System
The safety system of the JOOLA Indoor 15mm ping pong table is highly elaborate and well planned. All the wheels of this Table are 2-inch caster wheels that glide over the floor effortlessly.
But the wheels also come with a locking system. Each wheel has locking devices that you can enable once you start playing and store away the Table.
The Table also comes with Velcro straps and a gravity lock. These can be used to keep the Table unfolded while it is stored away.
Playability
The tabletop of the JOOLA Indoor 15mm ping pong table is 5/8″ thick. This is the thickest surface available in this price range.
The bounce provided by this table is entirely unexpected and up to the mark.
Paired with 3-star ping pong balls or the best ping pong balls and best ping pong paddles or rackets, this table can outperform any high-end indoor ping pong table in terms of bounce and spin.
The Frames
The frame and undercarriage of the JOOLA Indoor 15mm table tennis table are solid and heavy-duty. The frame of the Table is made with a 1″ thick steel apron that keeps the Table durable for a long time.
Just like the frame, the legs are made of 1″ thick steel. All of these legs are foldable. On each half of the Table, there are four wheels.
Each of these wheels is 2″ caster wheels with excellent mobility and easy track. The Table offers height adjusters at the end of the legs too.
Additional Features
The JOOLA Indoor ping pong table comes with a premium net set from JOOLA. The nets are custom screw-on nets and require assembling. They are pretty strong and create quite the tension during the game.
By using the split halves of the table, you can create your own single-player ping pong game. Just make a shot, and the ball will bounce back to you after hitting the other folded half.
It is a great feature for beginners who are just learning to play table tennis.
Pros
- Can be stored anywhere inside the house.
- It has multiple safety systems.
- The frame and legs are made of 1″ steel.
Cons
- Can be quite heavy.
- Does not come pre-assembled.
4. # Pick-Up-And-Go Ping-Pong Table
Teaching your kids how to play table tennis with a regular-sized ping pong table can be pretty time-consuming. The height and weight difference between standard-sized tables and ping pong tables for kids are essential for this delayed learning.
The Pick Up And Go ping pong table is the ideal ping pong table for kids that can help them learn, and the other family members enjoy table tennis at the same Table. The features of this table are:
Assembly and Initial Setup
The Pick Up And Go ping pong table comes 100% pre-assembled. There is no need to assemble it upon arrival. All you have to do is remove the table from the packaging, unfold it, put the net on, and start playing!
With no assembly required, the initial setup takes less than thirty seconds.
Use Indoors Or Outdoors
The Pick Up And Go ping pong table can be used both indoor and outdoor. It is built to be used outdoor with necessary weatherproofing, water-resistant, and heat-resistant qualities.
However, as we have mentioned previously, despite weatherproofing, leaving ping pong tables in extreme heat or soaking in the rain will ultimately affect their durability and ruin them within months.
Due to its compact size, it can be used indoor, inside an apartment. Due to the firm grip at the end of the legs, you can also use it on grass.
Easy Storage And Transportation
The Pick Up And Go ping pong table is smaller since it is a kid ping pong table. It is ideal for use in a small space, e.g., inside the apartment.
When unfolded, this Table measures 59 “L x 27 “W x 26 “H. Once folded, this Table measures 30 “L x 27 “W x 5 “H. This Table can fit inside a closet, under the bed, or even in a tiny car.
This Table comes with handles on the sides of the Table. Once folded, you can use these handles to carry the Table around.
It weighs only 29 lbs. Carrying it outside before a game will not require a lot of hard work. And with the handles, one adult can move the Table to the play area quickly.
Table Top
The tabletop is made out of wood. It is painted in two different colors. One of the halves is painted blue, and the other part is lime green. Since it is a kids’ ping pong table, this décor of the Table makes it look fun and exciting. The tabletop is smooth and adds to an excellent gaming experience.
Playability
Even though this is considered a kids’ ping pong table, the tabletop is not built any less than a standard ping pong table. The well-constructed tabletop made of wood offers a great bounce and spin.
Along with kids, adults can enjoy playing at this Table.
The Frame
The frame of this ping pong table is made of heavy-duty aluminum. It is a portable and lightweight table, but the heavy-duty aluminum frame offers excellent stability.
Although the frame and legs are made of aluminum, it is pretty lightweight. The heavily built frame ensures a premium quality experience at a low price.
Additional Features
The Pick Up And Go ping pong table comes with all types of ping pong accessories needed to play table tennis. The set includes one ping pong table, net set, two ping pong paddles or rackets, and three ping pong balls.
The nets are quite decent. The ping pong paddles are colorful and bright, and the ping pong balls are of good quality.
Pros
- Made of heavy-duty aluminum, so quite durable
- It is quite lightweight.
- Comes with all kinds of ping pong accessories.
Cons
- Included accessories are of average quality.
- The table can move unintendedly while playing due to its weight.
5. # Butterfly Family Mini Ping Pong Table
The Butterfly family mini ping pong table is the ideal mixture of kids’ ping pong table and standard ping pong table. It closely replicates a standard ping pong table, except it is smaller in size.
If you are looking for a mini ping pong table but do not want to waste your money on something low quality, then this table is the ideal choice for you. The Butterfly Family Mini ping pong table is great for beginners, adults, and children who want to practice and learn table tennis with ease.
Assembly and Initial Setup
The Butterfly Family Mini ping pong table does not require any assembling. It comes 100% pre-assembled. Just unpack, unfold the Table, put the net on, and start playing.
This mini Table is so lightweight that one person can carry it to the destination of the game without any hassle.
Easy Storage And Transportation
Once you are finished playing, the Butterfly Family Mini ping pong table can be folded in half to make the storage easy. The Table weighs 14kg only so that it can be stored easily without a lot of hassle.
Once folded, the Table measures 2’3 high x 3′ wide x 3′, and once unfolded, it measures 4’6 long x 3′ wide x 2′ high.
Once unfolded, this Table is so small that it can be stored inside the garage, in the closet, or even under the bed. And due to its lightweight built and small size, it can be transported in the car as well.
Table Top
The Butterfly Family Mini ping pong table has a 12mm tabletop made of wood. It is built smoothly and offers a great bounce for casual play. 12mm is a lot thinner than what we usually recommend, but considering this is a mini table that is too available at this price, it performs excellently.
Even though it is a mini table, it closely replicates all the qualities of a tournament-sized model ping pong table. The tabletop can be kept flat and tilted for different types of plays by both adults and children.
Playability
The Butterfly Family Mini ping pong table is the ideal mixture of a ping pong table for both kids and adults. The bounce provided by the Table supports this claim.
The tabletop can be kept flat for casual play by adults. The provided bounce is quite good. And then the top can be tilted to have a slower bounce. This feature helps children to learn table tennis without any hassle.
Additional Features
The Butterfly Family Mini ping pong table comes with a net post set. The quality of the nets is quite decent. Children would enjoy playing with it.
Pros
- Foldable and portable.
- Does not require any assembly.
- It is lightweight and easy to store.
Cons
- The Table does not come with all kinds of ping pong accessories.
- It is not of standard size.
Cheap Ping Pong Tables – Buyer’s Guide
If you take a peek at the ping pong table market, there are thousands of options available. Finding the right one can be overwhelming and confusing at the same time.
Before you pick any cheap ping pong tables from the market, it is essential to understand the deciding factors of a good ping pong table. Each ping pong table has both essential features and additional features that can add to the nice experience you are looking for.
Here are some of the features you should keep in mind while looking for a cheap yet high-quality ping pong table:
Indoor vs Outdoor Ping Pong Table
Ping pong tables are mainly divided into indoor ping pong tables and outdoor ping pong tables. The price range between indoor ping pong tables and outdoor ping pong tables is quite eye-striking.
This difference in price is due to the weatherproofing materials used on outdoor tables. However, the weatherproofing materials help outdoor ping pong tables to last even in the toughest weather.
Indoor tables do not come with weatherproofing, so it is best not to use one outside. It is okay to use an indoor table outside for a short period. Our recommendation is not to use indoor tables outside in extreme heat.
Indoor tables do not provide as much bounce as outdoor tables, but many do not consider it as an issue.
Outdoor tables can be used both indoor and outdoor. Outdoor tables do provide more stability overall, but stability also depends on the materials and thickness of the frame.
Playing Surface
Regular-sized tables offer a 9×5 ft playing area. If you do not have issues regarding space, then buying a full-sized table will ensure the best play. But if you live in an apartment, then opt for a compact indoor table.
If you do not have enough space but still would like to enjoy table tennis, we would recommend you to buy a ping pong robot.
The Frame
The ideal frame for ping pong tables is made out of a thick apron of steel. Many 5/8″ ping pong tables have fragile frames made of aluminum. These tables are flimsy and will start to collapse within days of purchase. For foldable tables, opt for thick steel or stainless-steel frames.
For outdoor tables, frames made out of galvanized steel are ideal to withstand the damage of the weather.
The Legs
The legs are as important as the frame. Just like the frame, the legs should be made out of stainless steel or thick steel. Some tables have a steel frame and frail aluminum legs. We would recommend you avoid those.
If you are buying an indoor table or a foldable table, make sure the legs have a rubber coating to avoid scratches on the floor.
Safety System
Safety systems are essential if you are buying a ping pong table for a kid or have a kid who is going to use it.
Kids often like to bend on the Table while playing, so getting a table with a strong chassis will ensure they do not get hurt.
For an indoor table, opt for one that has heavy-duty lock mechanisms. This will ensure the table doesn’t move while you are playing.
Weatherproofing
Weatherproofing is only done on outdoor tables. If you plan on using your table outside, then opt for an outdoor table. Indoor tables are not water-resistant or heat resistant, so they can’t be used outside.
But if you store your indoor Table in a humid place or in the garage where it gets hot in the summer, then your tabletop may warp or get ruined.
Keep in mind that storing your indoor ping pong table in an uninsulated place or where the temperature is constantly changing can ruin it.
Thickness
The thickness and materials of the tabletop decide the playability of the Table. The thicker the top, the greater the playability.
Outdoor tables have weatherproofing, which contributes to the great bounce and playability even if the tabletop is not thick enough. 6mm and 7mm thickness for the tabletop offers the best play.
The ideal thickness for indoor ping pong tables should be 5/8″, ¾”, and 1″. These offer great bounce and durability. Although some ½” indoor ping pong tables perform great, generally, these do not have as much bounce or playability.
Ease Of Storage
If you have enough space, then opt for an outdoor table. Outdoor tables can be stored at the garage or left outside. You can use a waterproof cover on the table during rainy days. For mobility, opt for tables with wheels.
For ease of storage, opt for foldable tables. Indoor tables should not be kept in a humid place as it can cause damage and affect durability.
Additional Features
Here are the additional features you should look for in your ideal ping pong table.
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Table Corner Pads
Table corner pads are an important safety feature, especially if there are kids in the house. One of the most common injuries during playing table tennis is getting scratches and knocks from the table corners.
A good ping pong table comes with table corner pads that cover the pointy corners of the Table. If the corner pads get broken, then replace them immediately.
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Wheels With Brakes
Wheels with brakes are another safety feature of a good ping pong table. Even though ping pong tables are quite heavy and hard to move, tables with wheels can move during the play due to unintentional pushes during the game.
This can cause mishaps like the table running over the player’s foot. To avoid this, make sure the table you are buying has wheels with brakes.
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Ball Dispenser
Ping pong ball dispensers are an essential ping pong accessory if you are willing to learn the game on your own. Automatic ping pong ball dispensers can act as a substitute for ping pong robots.
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Easy Track
Easy track handles are built with the table for an easy transportation experience. Many outdoor tables come with easy track handles that can be used to carry the Table.
For example, the GoSports Mid-Size table tennis table has easy track handles that can be used to carry the table while folded.
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Racket Holder
Racket holders or ping pong paddle holders are usually bought with the table or comes with one. Most good ping pong tables have spaces where the racket holder can be attached. Some racket holders come with ball storage as well.
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Retractable Net
Retractable net makes the setup before the play easier. Easy to store ping pong tables, foldable ping pong tables, etc, come with a retractable net.
With this feature in your ping pong table, all you have to do is set the table, put the net on, and start playing. And once you are finished with playing, fold it and store it.
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Adjustable Net Height And Tension
Adjustable net height and tension allow you to customize your playing experience.
Just like leg levelers, an adjustable net can be used to set your preferred height and tension. This additional feature can help kids to learn and adapt to table tennis easily.
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Adjustable Feet
Adjustable feet are a must for good play. A good ping pong table comes with height adjustments at the end of each leg of the table.
This feature allows the player to adjust and balance the height of the table for an in-line and leveled game.
Final Verdict
This is our in-depth review of the top 5 cheap ping pong tables. Each of these tables costs under $300 but varies from each other. Every single ping pong table comes with features that will make your ping pong experience worthwhile.
Overall, the GoSports Mid-Size table is our number #1 choice for playing outdoor. But all the other tables in this list are not any less performative than that.
For indoor table tennis, our top pick is the JOOLA Indoor 15mm ping pong table. It provides top-notch bounce within a limited budget. It is an ideal indoor ping pong table for apartments, game rooms, offices, etc.
For indoor table tennis with a smaller space, our pick is the STIGA Space Saver Table Tennis Table. It comes 100% pre-assembled, has a compact built, and can be split into halves during storage.
Ping Pong can be a great source of entertainment and physical activity. You do not need to spend thousands on buying one table. We hope following this buying guide, you’ll find the best cheap ping pong table within your budget.