Modern Pool Table Lights

Tara Gosselin Interior Design Expert

Tara is a San Antonio-based award-winning landscape architect, writer and educator, passionate about eco-friendly solutions and growing her own food. She knows all it takes to help you create a sustainable backyard retreat that combines blissful charm with a modern take on landscaping.

Updated 03/05/2021

If you are a true billiard player, then you know how important it is to have the right lights over your table. And for this, we give you a collection of modern pool table lights. Some of these will pair well with a modern table design, and some will go better with the usual style, but either way, we have a bunch of interesting and useful options for you to look through.

Buying Guide

What size should a pool table light be?

The correct size for your pool table light depends on the length of your pool table. For a 7’ or 8’ pool table, you’ll typically want modern pool table lights with three shades mounted on a 52” bar hanging above the table.

If you have a larger 9’ pool table, then invest in a longer light fixture with a bar measuring roughly 68”, suitable for 4 hanging lights. To hang these lights at the ideal height above the pool table, there should be 30” to 33” between the bottom of the light shade and the top of the table.

What is the best lighting for a pool table?

The best lighting for a pool table is compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. Whether you choose a single shade light design or a multi-shade one, you can’t go wrong with CFL bulbs. They’re energy-efficient and far more durable than incandescent bulbs.

If you want to create the perfect pool-playing ambiance in your game room, go for modern pool table lights that come with a dimmable feature. These types of lights will help you get the right brightness and get rid of odd shadows that may interfere with your perception.

Single shade lights can be found in various classic designs and can light up the entire table. However, they aren’t easy to install since their heavyweight requires adequate support.

On the other hand, multiple shade lights come in much more designs and can be configured in multiple ways. A lighting fixture with adjustable chains is always a bonus. With this feature, you can change the chain’s length to fit perfectly on your pool table.

How many lumens does a pool table need?

The amount of light that a modern pool table needs depends on the table’s size and where it sits. Modern pool table lights are available in three-shaded, single-shaded, or hanging fluorescent lights.

Your pool table should be sitting in 520 lux of light as too much illumination distracts the players. Three-shaded lights have separate bulbs attached to a central bar and work well in a game room. Single-shaded lights have three individual bulbs but are housed in the same shade.

Fluorescent lights are mounted on a boxed fixture to provide reflected light. This tournament-styled light is energy-efficient, long-lasting, and eliminates any dark spots on the pool table.