How much does it cost to replace pool table felt?

Professional refelting runs $200–$600 total for a standard 8-foot table — usually $300–$450, split between the cloth ($50–$300) and $100–$200 in labor, according to HomeGuide's 2026 cost data. Doing it yourself cuts the bill to just materials, roughly $100–$300, since DIY kits with cloth, staples, and adhesive typically run $100–$200.

How long does it take to recloth a pool table?

A professional can recloth a standard table in 2–4 hours. A first-time DIYer should budget 4–12 hours, since removing and reattaching the six rails without marring the wood and stretching the cloth evenly takes patience the first time through.

Can I replace pool table felt myself?

Yes, but it's a genuinely fussy job. The tools are simple — a staple gun, utility knife, and a screwdriver to pull the rails — but getting the stretch even across the slate bed and all six rails is where most first-timers struggle. Too loose and you get wrinkles; too tight and the cloth can tear or pucker at the pockets. If your table has premium slate and you don't want to risk a botched stretch, hiring a pro for $300–$450 is the safer call.

What tools do I need to replace pool table felt?

You need a heavy-duty staple gun (with 3/8"–1/2" staples), a sharp utility knife, a flathead screwdriver to pry out old staples, scissors, a tape measure, a socket wrench for the rail bolts, and contact cement or seam tape for the rail cloth. A staple puller and clamps make the job noticeably easier.

Pool Table Felt Replacement 2026: Step-by-Step Recloth Guide & Cost

Quick Answer: Pool table felt replacement means pulling the six rails, stripping the old cloth off the slate bed, and stapling a new stretched cloth in its place — a job that costs $200–$600 professionally (typically $300–$450 for an 8-foot table) or roughly $100–$300 in materials if you do it yourself, according to HomeGuide’s 2026 refelting cost data. Professionals finish in 2–4 hours; a first-time DIYer should budget 4–12 hours, since even stretch and clean rail work are the hardest parts to get right. Below is the full step-by-step process, the tools you need, and honest DIY-vs-pro cost math.

Felt doesn’t last forever — chalk dust grinds in, cloth pills, and rail bumpers lose their bounce. When a table starts playing slow, fuzzy, or uneven, replacing the felt (also called “recloth” or “refelt”) is almost always cheaper than replacing the table. Here’s exactly what the job involves, what it costs both ways, and how to decide whether to do it yourself or call a pro.

Pool table felt replacement, by the numbers:

$300–$450 is the typical all-in cost to professionally refelt a standard 8-foot table (cloth plus installation), out of a $200–$600 total range, according to HomeGuide’s 2026 refelt pool table cost data.
2–4 hours is how long a professional installer takes; a first-timer doing it themselves should budget 4–12 hours, per DIY reclothing guides.
1 inch is the recommended staple spacing when securing cloth to the rail bottoms, with three staples doubled up at the groove and rail-bottom corners, per CueSight’s installation walkthrough — tight, even spacing is what keeps a rail cushion from ever coming loose.

DIY vs. professional: the real cost comparison

	DIY	Professional
Total cost (8-ft table)	$100–$300 (materials only)	$200–$600 (typically $300–$450)
Cloth cost	$50–$300 depending on grade	Included in quote
Labor	Your time	$100–$200
Time needed	4–12 hours (first attempt)	2–4 hours
Biggest risk	Uneven stretch, wrinkles, torn cloth	None — warrantied work
Best for	Budget woolen cloth, casual/garage tables	Premium worsted cloth, slate tables you care about

Woolen felt runs $50–$100 for an 8-foot table, while premium worsted cloth like Simonis 860 can run close to $300 on a 9-foot table, per Angi and HomeGuide’s 2026 pricing. If you’re putting a $200+ cloth on a table you love, the extra $100–$200 for professional installation is cheap insurance against a botched stretch.

Tools you’ll need

Tool	What it's for
Heavy-duty staple gun + staples	Securing cloth to the slate bed and rail bottoms
Flathead screwdriver	Prying out old staples completely
Utility knife + scissors	Trimming cloth around pockets and rail edges
Socket wrench	Removing and reinstalling the six rail bolts
Contact cement or seam tape	Bonding rail cloth where staples can't reach
Tape measure	Confirming your cloth cut covers bed + rails with margin
Staple puller (optional but recommended)	Speeds up old-cloth removal significantly

Pool Table Recloth Kit (Felt + Staples + Tools)

Materials for a full 8-ft recloth · ~$100–$300

Complete kits bundle cloth, staples, and glue sized to your table length.
Choose worsted (Simonis-style) for speed and durability, or woolen for budget.
Match the cut to your table — 7-, 8-, or 9-foot — before ordering.

Check price on Amazon →

Ordering a kit and a staple gun so the job doesn’t stall halfway through? Try Amazon Prime free for 30 days so the parts you’re missing show up before your recloth weekend, not after it.

How to replace pool table felt: step by step

Remove the rails. The six cushion rails bolt onto the slate frame — loosen and remove every bolt with a socket wrench, then lift each rail off carefully to avoid marring the wood.
Strip the old felt. Peel the old cloth off the slate bed. If it was stapled, use a flathead screwdriver (or staple puller) to pull every staple out completely — any left behind will show through the new cloth as a bump.
Clean the slate. Wipe away dust, chalk residue, and any leftover adhesive so the new cloth lies perfectly flat against the stone.
Cut the new cloth to size. Measure your table and cut cloth for the bed and each rail separately, leaving at least 4 inches of extra fabric on all sides for stretching and stapling.
Lay and stretch the bed cloth. Roll the cloth out from one end, pulling it taut as you go so there are no wrinkles or bubbles before you staple.
Staple the bed cloth underneath the slate edge, working from the center of each side outward so tension stays even in both directions.
Recover each rail, stretching the cloth tightly over the cushion and stapling the rail bottom — staples spaced about 1 inch apart, with three staples doubled up at the groove and rail-bottom corners for a secure hold.
Trim and reassemble. Cut away excess cloth around the pockets, then bolt the rails back onto the slate frame and re-level the table.

Simonis and other premium worsted cloths are engineered to stay within a tight, specified stretch range — they’re intentionally harder to pull taut than cheaper cloth, which is exactly why they don’t loosen or need re-stretching once installed correctly.

Signs your felt needs replacing

Balls roll slower or noticeably less true than they used to.
Visible pilling, fuzzing, or shiny worn patches — especially around the break area and rail cushions.
Rips, burns, chalk stains, or watermarks that won’t come out.
The cloth has faded unevenly from sun exposure or has loosened and started to wrinkle.

DIY or hire a pro? A quick checklist

Casual or garage table, budget woolen cloth: DIY is the easy call — low material cost, low stakes if the stretch isn’t perfect.
Slate table you play on regularly, premium worsted cloth: Hire a pro. A $300+ cloth deserves a stretch that won’t wrinkle after a month.
First time ever pulling rails: Budget the full 4–12 hours and don’t rush the staple spacing — uneven tension is the #1 cause of a bad recloth.
Table is under warranty: Check the fine print first; some manufacturer warranties require authorized-dealer installation to stay valid.

Not sure which cloth to buy before you start? Our best pool table felt guide breaks down worsted vs. woolen options and how much cloth each table size needs. Curious what the whole job costs alongside moving and delivery? See our full pool table cost breakdown. And if you’re still deciding between a slate or MDF table in the first place, slate is the one that’s actually worth recloting years down the line — MDF tends to warp before the felt wears out.

The bottom line

Replacing pool table felt is a $100–$300 DIY job or a $200–$600 (typically $300–$450) professional job that takes 2–4 hours in experienced hands and 4–12 hours your first time. The process is straightforward — pull the rails, strip the old cloth, clean the slate, stretch and staple the new cloth — but even tension is what separates a great recloth from a wrinkled one. If you’re putting premium cloth on a table you care about, the extra cost of a professional installer is usually worth it.

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