Casino Table Material

Whether you are thinking about building a poker table or are just curious about what they are made of, you have come to the right place. I have played on every different type of table imaginable and witnessed them being built many times. So, I put together a detailed list of what materials they are made of.

Casino Table Felt Material
Casino Sewing Material
Casino Table Games

What are poker tables made of?

Plywood or Particle Board- For the tabletop and cover
2×4 or 4×4 boards- For the legs
Felt, Velveteen, or Speed Cloth- To cover the playing surface
Vinyl or Leather- To cover the side railing
1″ High-Density Foam- For padding underneath the railing
1/4″ Foam- Padding under the playing surface

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For the past 5 years casinos have transitioned to polyester cotton fabric. The reason for this is this fabric can be sublimation dyed. This enables us to create a blank canvas to a multi color masterpiece. There are a few variations to this fabric, some have more polyester which is known as synthetic and is the lower quality.
Poker Table Foam Padding. This poker table foam padding is a high quality, waterproof 1/4' thick close cell foam. This is the same foam used on casino gaming tables. Using a foam padding under the poker table felt gives that high quality feel to your poker table and makes it easier for the players to pick their cards and chips up off of the felt.
A wide selection of poker table accessories. From chps, cards and buttoons to cupholders, drop boxes, chip racks, USB chargers and much more. All sold separately to up your table's look and function.

Now those are just the basic materials. Let’s go through each of them one by one and also cover additional hardware that might be part of the construction of a poker table.

What Poker Tables are Made of

Whether you are building a poker table or just curious as to what they are made of, I’ve got you covered. Let’s start with where the action actually happens in a poker game.

What Is the Tabletop of a Poker Table Made Of?

Almost all poker table construction begins with some form of plywood. – 1 to 3 Sheets are typically required, it depends on the table being made.

The playing surface- Sometimes people substitute particleboard for this part of the table.
The base- This is often an optional layer added on using a higher-end wood, like oak, to create an attractive underside to the table.
The lid- Pine, birch, or oak are the most typical choices for creating a lid on the table.

What Thickness Should the Plywood Be?

The most typical thickness used in building a table is as thick as 3/4″ or as thin as 1/4″ plywood sheets. 5/8″ particle board or MDF is also commonly used.

What Are the Legs of a Poker Table Made Of?

Custom or homemade poker table legs are usually made of wood. However, you can purchase metal table legs that can be installed.

Common, people use pine 2×4 boards, 4×4 posts, or some combination of the two.

What Is the Playing Surface of a Poker Table Made Of?

The playing surface of a poker table is typically made of two layers; an outer cloth layer and a foam later underneath.

The covering of a poker table varies based on a person’s preference. Among the choices are:

Speed cloth

This is the most popular type of covering made today. It is typically waterproof and allows the playing cards to smoothly be dealt across the entire table. Most people will want to use this material. It is also very reasonably priced.

Felt

Traditionally, this is the most common type of surface used on both pool and poker tables. It is usually made of wool and nylon.

Casino Table Felt Material

If you prefer the surface to not be “slippery” and not have the cards slide as easily, this is a good choice. However, it is also usually the most expensive surface to purchase.

Velveteen

This type of surface is actually made from cotton. It is a nice alternative if you don’t want to pay for expensive velvet. Most people won’t be able to tell the difference.

Playing Surface Foam

Most people will want their playing surface to be a bit soft. Therefore, builders will add a foam layer underneath the playing surface of a poker table. 1/4″ foam is usually used, sometimes closed-cell.

What Is the Railing of a Poker Table Made Of?

The railing is also made with two layers. The only difference is the type and density of the materials used.

The Railing Cover

The railing cover, or upholstering, is almost always Vinyl. However, some people use leather as a more expensive option.

The Railing Foam

For the railing, you will want a thicker foam. Usually, 1″ high-density foam is best.

Additional Poker Table Options

Here are a few additional options that are commonly installed in poker tables.

Cup Holders

You can buy these on Amazon fairly cheaply. I recommend getting aluminum ones over the plastic varieties. They just look much more classy, plastic always comes off as cheap.

Dealer’s Tray or Player Trays

This is handy if you use a dedicated dealer. However, I would strongly advise against installing these in front of players. Most people like to stack their chips and not stick them in these cheesy trays. Besides, there is less room to set your phone, food, or drink. Nothing contributes to spills more than these cheap plastic chip trays.

Dealer Toke Box

If you host a game with a dedicated dealer and want some extra security, you can install a tip/rake/toke box into the table. This is an option that you will only want to invest in if you play high stakes home games.

What Are Table Mats/Toppers Made Of?

Today, most poker table mats are made from foam covered by speed cloth. However, some of the folding varieties can be constructed from plastic and velveteen. Usually, the materials are cheap and will wear out quickly.

What Tools and Hardware Are Needed to Make a Poker Table?

In this section, I will just list the common tools and hardware that you might need to build your own poker table.

Hardware Needed

Wood Screws (1-1/4″ usually)
Washers (1/4″)
T-Nuts (1/4″)
Machine Bolts (1/4″)
1/2″ staple gun staples
Wood Stain
Wood or Carpenter’s Glue (Like Gorilla Glue)

Typical Tools Needed to Build a Poker Table

Spade Bit
Router
Power Drill
Jig Saw
Tape Measure
Staple Gun
Sanding Block
File
A Level
Exacto Knife
Pencil
Spray Adhesive- 3M “77” spray adhesive is highly recommended
Scotchguard Spray- For waterproofing the cloth
Polyurethane- To protect the wood from spills

Typical Table Dimensions

If you want to build a casino-sized poker table, they are usually between 92 and 104 inches long and 44 inches wide. The height is often about 30 inches.

Recommended Building Plans

In my opinion, there is no reason to overcomplicate things or go to a huge expense to build a poker table. Here are a few links to plans that match those two criteria:

Oval 4′ x 6′ Poker Table– Great for smaller games or rooms with limited space.
Oval 4′ x 8′ Poker Table– A casino-sized poker table for your home games.
Octagon Poker Table– A popular style table for casual games.
Round 6-Person Table– This is more complicated, but thought it worth including. This thing will fit anywhere.

Casino Sewing Material

Buy a Table Instead?

If you want to find a high-quality table and don’t want to bother trying to build one yourself, I wrote a detailed guide to finding the best poker table for you. Be sure to check it out.

Final Thoughts

I hope this article gives you some ideas on what type of poker table you may be wanting to build. Let me know if you have any questions or comments below.

Seekerfox774