Quick Answer: Imperial International makes real slate pool tables across three very different use cases, not one style. The Shadow ($2,499-$3,495) is the best all-around pick for a dedicated indoor game room — a matte black, 1-inch backed Brazilian slate table with K66 cushions. The Eliminator (about $2,995) is the best bar-size option, packing the same 3-piece 1-inch slate construction into a 7-ft commercial footprint. And the Outdoor ($2,000 and up) is the best patio table, trading slate for weatherproof aluminum since slate cracks outdoors. All three undercut Brunswick and Olhausen while still offering genuine slate (except the Outdoor, which uses aluminum by design).
Updated August 2026: re-checked current dealer listings — Shadow pricing now spans $2,499-$3,495 (previously cited up to $3,295, top end has drifted higher at some retailers), Eliminator and Outdoor pricing unchanged. No CPSC recalls found for Imperial International pool tables.
Imperial by the numbers:
- Family-owned since 1955. Imperial is a fourth-generation company that’s been manufacturing pool tables and game tables for over 70 years, per Imperial’s own About page — long enough to predate most of the budget MDF brands (EastPoint, Fat Cat) it now competes against.
- Calls itself the largest billiard and game room distributor in the US, per the same source — a scale advantage that shows up in how wide its catalog is, spanning budget-adjacent slate tables like the Shadow up through $5,000-$6,800 solid-wood furniture pieces like the Blake and Elton.
- 1-inch backed slate and K66 cushion rubber are the baseline across the indoor lineup — the Shadow and Eliminator both use this same core construction, per each model’s manufacturer spec sheet, so the real choice between them is size and price, not build quality.
Imperial isn’t a single table wearing one name — the brand spans a genuine indoor slate table, a bar-size slate table, and an all-weather outdoor table with completely different materials. Here’s how the three compare.
Imperial models at a glance
| Table | Best for | Playing surface | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imperial Shadow | Best overall (indoor) | 1" backed Brazilian slate | ~$2,499-$3,495 | ★★★★½ |
| Imperial Eliminator | Best bar-size | 3-piece 1" slate | ~$2,995 | ★★★★☆ |
| Imperial Outdoor | Best for patio | All-weather aluminum | ~$2,000+ | ★★★★☆ |
1. Imperial Shadow — Best Overall
Imperial Shadow 7-ft or 8-ft Pool Table
- Uni-body construction with satin black routed wood veneer over MDF, plus solid wood tapered legs — an 8-ft model runs about 101"L x 55"W x 32"H and roughly 620 lbs.
- 1-inch backed Brazilian slate and full-profile K66 master speed cushions, with leather pockets, per Imperial's own spec sheet.
- Ships with Teflon-coated, spill-resistant felt, and buyers can pick their felt color at no upcharge.
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The Shadow is the table to default to if you want genuine slate without stepping up to Imperial’s $5,000-plus solid-wood furniture models. Its matte black, uni-body frame is a more modern look than the rustic-wood styling elsewhere in Imperial’s catalog, and the spill-resistant felt is a practical touch for a table that’s actually going to see family use rather than sit in a formal room. At 620 lbs it still needs two or more people (or professional delivery) to move, and the same 1-inch slate that makes it play well is the reason it isn’t a table you relocate casually — see our how to move a pool table guide before you buy if you expect to relocate within a few years.
2. Imperial Eliminator — Best Bar-Size
Imperial Eliminator 7-ft Bar-Size Pool Table
- Genuine 3-piece, 1-inch slate bed with K66 cushion rubber, per Imperial's own spec sheet — the same construction commercial venues use.
- 87-inch bar-size footprint, the defining spec for the category alongside budget MDF options like the EastPoint Dunhill.
- Costs roughly four to six times as much as MDF bar tables, but is the only bar-size option in this roundup with real slate instead of a composite bed.
The Eliminator exists for buyers who want a bar-size footprint but refuse to compromise on slate. It’s already the premium pick in our best bar pool tables roundup, where it goes head-to-head with the MDF EastPoint Dunhill and Hathaway Hustler — both of which cost a fraction of the price but can’t match its play consistency or long-term durability. If genuine slate performance in a smaller footprint matters more than saving money, the Eliminator is the clear pick; if you just want a bar-style look for casual play, the MDF options get you there for fewer dollars.
3. Imperial Outdoor — Best for Patio
Imperial Outdoor Pool Table
- Aluminum construction with an all-weather playing surface — slate isn't used here because it cracks and delaminates outdoors, unlike aluminum or composite beds.
- Furniture-forward styling built for upscale patios and pool houses, rather than a purely utilitarian outdoor table.
- Premium pricing versus other aluminum outdoor tables; availability varies by finish and dealer.
The Outdoor line is Imperial’s answer to the fact that slate simply doesn’t belong outside. It’s already covered in our best outdoor pool tables guide as the premium alternative to the anti-rust Playcraft Extera and the more affordable Hathaway Alpine — all three use aluminum or composite beds instead of slate for the same weatherproofing reason. If a furniture-grade look matters more than saving a few hundred dollars, the Imperial is the pick; if budget is the priority, the Hathaway Alpine gets you a comparable weatherproof table for less.
How to choose your Imperial
- Pick the Shadow for a dedicated indoor game room where you want genuine slate play without stepping up to Imperial’s $5,000-plus furniture-grade tables.
- Pick the Eliminator if a bar-size footprint is a hard requirement but you still want real slate instead of the MDF beds most bar tables use.
- Pick the Outdoor line only if the table is actually going outside — indoors, the Shadow’s slate bed will always outplay an aluminum surface.
- Budget for professional delivery on any of these. All three use real slate or aluminum construction well over 400 lbs assembled, not a table you move solo.
Comparing across brands? Our full pool table brands ranking puts Imperial alongside Brunswick, Olhausen, Diamond, Hathaway, Mizerak, EastPoint, and Fat Cat by construction and warranty, and the best pool table pillar guide covers cross-brand picks by budget and room size. Want the full slate-vs-MDF case first? See our slate vs. MDF breakdown for why Imperial’s slate models cost more than EastPoint or Fat Cat but last longer.
The bottom line
Imperial isn’t a single table — it’s three genuinely different products solving three different problems. The Shadow ($2,499-$3,495) is the best all-around indoor slate table for most buyers. The Eliminator (about $2,995) is the pick if a bar-size footprint is non-negotiable but you still want real slate. And the Outdoor ($2,000 and up) is the only one built to actually live outside. Whichever fits your room, all three back Imperial’s 70-year reputation for genuine commercial-grade construction at a price below Brunswick or Olhausen.