Fold Up Poker Table Top
Giantex 48' Folding Poker Table Top, 8 Player Poker Layout with Cup Holders and Carrying Case, Octagon Texas Hold'em Poker Mat for Family Game, Casino 4.5 out of 5 stars 167 $49.99. Poker Table Top, Folding Style $50. Fold up poker table $40 (orl Clermont) pic hide this posting restore restore this posting. Favorite this post Dec 2.
As I write this, WSOP 2018 is in full swing, so I thought this would be a good time to update my recommendations on folding poker table tops for home games.
These new recommendations aren't based simply on my personal opinion, instead they're based on analysis of more than 1,300 opinions from people who have bought or used them - you can read more about that in the Methodology section at the end of this guide.
As an experienced casino and live tournament player myself, I've also provided some advice for those of you who don't have much experience with poker tables.
Contents
- The Best Folding Poker Table Tops
Poker Table Top Buying Advice
Having a proper felt table is much better than playing your home games on a regular kitchen table top. Not only do they add a touch of class to the game but cards also slide more predictably across the surface resulting in fewer misdeals.
Size: For octagonal tops the main consideration is how much space it takes up when bagged and stored. Many people use their poker tops on tables which are larger with many people using 48' tops on 60' (5 feet) round tables. They can also be used on square tables. I personally prefer a top that's slightly larger than the table it's sitting on, however you have to be careful not to knock the top and topple everyone's chips when sitting down. Octagonal tops are usually measured from point to point, not side to side. For oval tables the main consideration, other than folded size, is that length is similar to the table it's going on so people at the ends don't have to reach too far, but it doesn't have to be an exact fit.
Playing Surface: All the tops recommended below have a felt playing surface, however some of them are decorated and some aren't. One issue that often arises with cheaper tops that are decorated is that the markings are printed on with inks or dyes that are sometimes sticky. This isn't always an issue for home players, but anyone experienced at dealing on a professional table will get frustrated with the way cards can stick to the paint when sliding across the surface.
Portability: Although most folding tops come with carry bags, the quality of the bags tends to vary a lot. If you're planning on carrying the top around with you, pay special attention to the review analyses below.
Folds: The more folds a top has, the smaller it generally is when stowed away, however the folds can crease over time leading to cards getting caught sometimes leading to misdeals. To minimize the risk of this happening, get one with the least number of folds for its type if folded size isn't a concern for you.
Extras: Some tops come with extras such as cards and chips. Generally these tend to be lower quality cards than I prefer - see my card recommendation below for a better option. Also bundled chips tend to be lower quality plastic ones that are okay for some, but not for players used to the weight and feel of standard clay based chips, after all a good set of chips can cost more than many table tops.
| I've organized this table to show the highest rated small, medium, and large size poker table tops in each of the two categories - click on model names for detailed meta reviews further down the page. | ||||
| Model | Size | PolyRated* | Sources | Median Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Octagon Poker Table Tops | ||||
| MD Sports ARC046_027M | Small: 46' x 46' | 832 | 15+ | $51 |
| HomCom B8-0001 | Medium: 48' x 48' | 880 | 125+ | $55 |
| Trademark Poker 10-11652 | Large: 51' x 51' | 842 | 150+ | $95 |
Oval Poker Table Tops | ||||
| IDS Home 4-Fold 63' | Small: 63' x 35' | 920 | 10+ | $53 |
| Gaintex TY557993 | Medium: 71' x 35' | 900 | 30+ | $48 |
| JP Commerce TX3 | Large: 82' x 40' | 826 | 15+ | $120 |
Octagon Poker Table Top Meta Reviews
MD Sports ARC046_027M
PolyRated / Sources: 832 / 15+
Median Price / Sources: $51 / 3
Brand: MD Sports
Folded Size: 23.325' W x 23.325' L x 2.5' H
Included Extras: Cards & Chips
Total Weight: 23.1 lb
At only 46' across, this is one of the smallest options currently available. It folds 2 ways making it much smaller than most other options when folded.
It comes with a carry bag and a basic deck of cards. It only includes a 100 piece chip set which is not really enough for 8 players, so if you don't have chips already you'll need to buy some more.
It's made from particle board (MDF) with plastic cup and chip holders.
Review Analysis
Positive
Negative
HomCom B8-0001
PolyRated / Sources: 880 / 125+
Median Price / Sources: $55 / 4
Brand: HomCom
Folded Size: 23.75' W x 47.25' L x 1.25' H
Included Extras: None
Total Weight: 22 lb
The HomCom B8-0001 has the highest ratings out of all the octagonal table tops on the market which seems to be due to its value for money in the 48' segment.
It has the most common size for an octagonal poker table top at 48' across. As you can see from the picture on the right, it uses a single fold - this does make it larger when folded than some options, but it also means there is one less join leading to fewer issues over time as it's packed away and taken out time and again for use.
The manufacturer says it's made from solid wood, however 1 reviewer said it's more likely plywood. In addition to the green felt on top, the back is covered with black felt so there's no risk of it scratching your table. The removable chip/cup holders are molded plastic. The carry bag is made from nylon.
Review Analysis
Positive
Negative
Trademark Poker 10-11652
PolyRated / Sources: 842 / 150+
Median Price / Sources: $95 / 7
Brand: Trademark Poker
Folded Size: 52' W x 26' L x 3.5' H
Included Extras: None
Total Weight: 30 lb
I mainly play on oval tables, however if I needed to get an octagonal table then after examining so many reviews, this is the one I would get.
The raised padding around the edge means you don't have to worry about cards or chips falling off the edge when sliding across the table, and from personal experience they're much more comfortable when resting your arms on them.
At the time of publication, I'm still waiting on Trademark Poker to confirm what type of wood it's made from, but I can tell you that the padded sides and the bottom surface are made from vinyl. The carry bag is made from nylon.
Review Analysis
Positive
Negative
Oval Poker Table Top Meta Reviews
IDS Home 4-Fold 63'
PolyRated / Sources: 920 / 10+
Median Price / Sources: $53 / 3
Brand: IDS Home
Open Size: 63' L x 35' W
Folded Size: 32.3' L x 16.5' W x 3.2' H
Included Extras: None
Total Weight: 21 lb
This top has good ratings but it's usually only bought by people with a small table to put it on - most people opt for one of the larger sizes below.
The manufacture hasn't yet provided me with detailed specifications, but based on user reports it's made with solid feeling wood.
Fold Up Poker Table Top
It also comes with a carry bag as you see in the picture.
Review Analysis
Positive
Negative
Giantex TY557993
PolyRated / Sources: 900 / 30+
Median Price / Sources: $48 / 3
Brand: Giantex
Open Size: 71' L x 35' W
Folded Size: 18' L x 36' W x 1' H
Included Extras: None
Total Weight: 29 lb although some owners report that it's actually a few pounds heavier than that.
This top is made from MDF wood with a felt top and PVC carry bag using its 4 segmented folding design.
Review Analysis
Positive
Negative
JP Commerce TX3
PolyRated / Sources: 826 / 15+
Median Price / Sources: $120 / 5
Brand: JP Commerce
Open Size: 82' L x 40' W
Folded Size: 40' L x 37' W
Included Extras: None
Total Weight: 51 lb
NB: This top does not come with a carry bag.
Despite this top having lower ratings than the 2 smaller options above (possibly due to its higher price tag), this is the option I would choose for myself after having personally read all the reviews for all the options recommended in this guide.
It's built from solid wood and is nice and heavy (51 lb) to ensure it sits firmly on your table. I personally prefer a more weighty table for this reason, after all you spend more time playing on it than you do carrying it around. It also has padded sides which is a big plus for me.
Due to its 3-fold design, it takes up more space when folded than other options, however this also leads to a smoother playing surface with fewer creases.
Review Analysis
Positive
Negative
Card Recommendation
If you're still using basic playing cards then you should get a set of Copag cards. These are the only ones I ever recommend - in my opinion they are superior to all other sets of cards because they don't easily mark or get creased. Not only do they last for years, it's very difficult for a cheat to bend or crease the corners to mark them during play. The first set I bought lasted for over 10 years!
Folding Poker Table Top Selection Methodology
*All of the products recommended above were selected based on their PolyRated scores out of 1000.
These scores were calculated by analyzing reports and reviews by owners and users, assigning a score to each source and then processing those scores algorithmically to produce an overall score that reflects market sentiment about the product.
The analysis included over 1,300 review sources of 18 models from 9 brands: Brybelly, Da Vinci, Giantex, GLD Products, HomCom, IDS Home, JP Commerce, MD Sports and Trademark Poker.
Fold Up Poker Table Topper
The models with the highest rating in each category for each of the 3 sizes were then selected to be recommended above.