The trusty air hockey table has been a favourite in arcades since back in the 1970s. It all began when three hockey fans designed a miniature version of the game perfectly adapted for a table. Still, it was a few years before an engineer developed the perfect playing surface. By 1972, the concept was manufactured, and the air hockey table as we know it today became a reality. Combining their passion for hockey with intelligent engineering, these three friends created one of the best-selling table games of all time.
Consisting of a smooth playing surface, a puck, two pushers and two goal posts, the air hockey table is enjoyed recreationally across the world. It is such a crowd-pleaser that many of us are investing in our very own air hockey tables. Suitable for every family member and the perfect addition to any games room, it’s no wonder that air hockey tables have become so popular at home. Another big selling point to air hockey at home is that it doesn’t require as much space as other table games. You can place the table against the wall, and you don’t need to have space around the sides. So it’s a great choice if you’re looking for something fun in a smaller room.
The air hockey table also makes a great addition to any communal spaces for fun and relaxation. Whether in an office for your employees to take a break or a youth club or community centre, there’s a table for every environment. In this helpful buying guide, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about buying an air hockey table and highlight nine of the very best available on the market.
Best for young children
1. Strikeworth Trisport Multigame Air Hockey Table
The Strikeworth Trisport Multigame table is of fantastic value. Coming in at £299, you aren’t just getting an air hockey table, but a foosball and pool table too. The playing surface can be rotated in seconds between these three popular games. There is no complicated engineering required; thanks to the triangular rotating system, it’s as simple as 1,2,3. This is guaranteed to save a lot of space and please every member of the family.
If these features aren’t impressive enough, the table itself comes fully-equipped with all of the accessories required for each sport. You will find two pushers and two pucks included for the air hockey table, as well as balls, cues and chalk for pool and foosball. The table itself is just 4ft in length, so it’s compact enough for young children to enjoy, but it’s still a solid and sturdy choice for air hockey.
Key Features
- Games: Multi-game functionality
- Accessories: Included
- Usability:: Good for young children
- Easy to assemble and switch between games
- Good value for money
- None
2. Air League 4ft Air Hockey Table
This compact air hockey table is perfect for the smallest games rooms and tightest spaces. It is designed for the entry-level player and has a very low price of just £59.95. Don’t let the price fool you, though, as this table still has a very durable playing surface that is perfect for hours of fun and enjoyment. It comes with two pushers and four pucks, so you have everything you need to get started as soon as the table arrives.
What makes the Air League 4ft hockey table most appealing is the design. They have included traditional black and red hockey graphics for the ultimate gaming experience, making it stand out.
Key Features
- Accessories: Included
- Level: Perfect for beginners
- Usability: Great for children
- Very low price
- Small and portable
- Great graphics
- Not the highest quality option
3. Air League Flight 5ft Foldable Air Hockey
The 5ft folding option from Air League gives you a larger playing surface and a more substantial table but maintains it’s portability. This quick-folding table is easy to store and ideal for limited space without compromising on size. It is well-designed, looks excellent, and is very affordable at just £129.95.
There’s more to this table than just how it looks. The powerful motor ensures a constant and consistent air supply so that you can have a great and interrupted game of air hockey on its smooth playing surface. It is also easy to clean thanks to its PVC laminate coating, making it very suitable for young children in the family.
Key Features
- Storage: Foldable
- Extras: Powerful motor
- Easy to clean
- Accessories included
- Affordable
- Not as strong as others
Best for teens & tweens
1. Tekscore Jet 6ft Air Hockey Table
This very stylish and compact 6ft air hockey table from Tekscore is an excellent choice for the more frequent player. It can handle regular home use and light communal use thanks to its powerful 240v fan motor and strong legs. Also included are all of the accessories to get started, including your pushers and pucks.
There are an automatic goal detection and scoring unit with this table, so there is no manual counting required. We’re talking about a robust design, high-speed gameplay and automated scoring, all for just £299 with free delivery.
Key Features
- Surface: Low-friction
- Finish: Stylish
- Scoring: Electronic
- Strong and durable
- All automatic
- For home and communal use
- None
2. Air League Light Speed 6ft Air Hockey Table
The Air League Light Speed 6ft hockey table has a clean and unique design with a classy high-gloss finish. They have opted for a more professional look over the stickers and graphics, which has paid off. As well as looking great, the table is also durable and made from high-quality materials, perfect for plenty of use.
The sizing of this 6ft table makes it a great choice for older children or young teens that want a more realistic arcade-like air hockey experience. A sliding score system is easy to use, and the table comes with pushers and pucks to get you started.
Key Features
- Finish: High-gloss
- Structure: Strong leg braces
- Accessories: Included
- Looks great
- Durable playing surface
- Manual scoring
3. Strikeworth 6ft Multi Games Table
Why have one type of table when you can have three for the same price? That’s precisely what you get with the Strikeworth 6ft Multi Games table. Despite the higher cost of £459, you’re getting plenty of bang for your buck. You can switch between air hockey and pool with the rotating design and add the table tennis topper for a third option.
Dubbed ‘the ultimate home games table’, this option is ideal for fast-paced and thrilling sports on a high-quality playing surface. As well as being versatile, the MDF table is also robust and can take plenty of wear and tear.
Key Features
- Games: Three-game functionality
- Materials: Durable MDF
- Accessories: Included
- High-quality table
- Suitable for all of the family
- Good value for money
- No automatic scoring
Best for games rooms & light commercial
1. Strikeworth Pro Ice Aluminium 7ft Air Hockey Table
The Strikeworth Pro Ice 7ft Table is seriously impressive and is exactly what you would expect to find in a fully-kitted games room or arcade. This is because of the slick aluminium design and professional features, including a 240v motor and an overhead scoring unit with automatic goal detection. Thanks to its large size, this table can be enjoyed by up to four people at a time, so you can get the whole family involved and go head-to-head.
The £499 price tag is reasonable for an air hockey table with so many great features. It is designed for commercial use, and the high-speed playing surface is guaranteed to make for an enjoyable experience. Suitable for both beginners and regular players, this is the ultimate all-round table.
Key Features
- Players: Suitable up to 4
- Motor: 240v
- Scoring: Overhead automatic
- Automatic goal detection
- Fantastic design
- Durable table
- None
2. Wik Gold Commercial Air Hockey Table
If you’re looking for a premium-quality air hockey table that can handle heavy use, the Wik Gold table is the answer. There is nothing that this air hockey table cannot do. It is available in 6ft (£3,595) and 8ft (£3,795) and comes packed with features like automatic goal detection and a digital overhead screen displaying scores and game time.
As well as its durable build and commercial-ready coin slots, this table also has a contactless payment option. This allows customers to buy credits with the touch of a card or mobile phone. It is perfect for any youth club environment or office space.
Key Features
- Size: 6ft or 8ft
- Material: Steel playfield
- Extras: Contactless payment
- Illuminated legs, neon lights and overhead display
- Perfect for heavy use
- Design and colours not suitable for every taste
3. Reconditioned Fast Track MkII 8ft Commercial Air Hockey Table
Don’t let the idea of buying a reconditioned table put you off. These tables are perfectly restored to their former glory and allow you to buy a top-of-the-line product for as little as £2,695. There are also several customisation options, so you can opt for standard Fast Track graphics or upgrade to an all-black or soccer theme for an extra £200.
This arcade-standard table can provide fantastic game performance, even to the most professional of a player. It can handle heavy use thanks to its durable materials and study design and has all of the features you would expect from a top-notch air hockey table. From an overhead scoring system and an optional coin mechanism, no details have been missed.
Key Features
- Finish: 3 different options
- Quality: Top of the range
- Scoring: Overhead and automatic
- Optional coin mechanism
- Low-friction playing area
- Warranty included
- Not brand new
Air Hockey Table Buyers Guide
Scoring Types
Air hockey tables can come with multiple scoring options, which tends to impact the price range. At the lower end of the scale, you will find tables that don’t have any scoring mechanism at all and require you to keep track of yourself. This is fine for light and recreational use, but no good if you’re playing competitively. The other option is manually scoring, which tends to come with mid-range tables. This involves moving a slider or beads to keep count of the score. The best yet most expensive option is automatic scoring. These come with intelligent score detection systems that update as you go; this is convenient and ensures no distractions or disturbances during your gameplay.
Puck Size
The size of your puck can directly impact the quality of your game, so it’s essential to choose the right puck size for your style of play. This will also differ depending on the environment of the table, whether it is at home or for commercial use.
Light and small pucks are suitable for smaller tables and recreational games but would not be ideal on a larger surface. Larger tables require bigger pucks that carry more weight to avoid them flying off of the table. These bigger pucks are also more suitable for faster and more competitive gameplay. The most common puck sizes are 50mm in diameter, 63mm or 75mm.
Recreational and Commercial
When buying an air hockey table, the very first thing you should think about is what it will be used for. The requirements for a commercial table differ significantly from those being played at home. It can be tempting to opt for the cheaper home tables in a commercial environment but don’t make this mistake. You will spend more on repairing damage or replacing the table altogether than you would on a commercial table in the first place.
The good news is that a commercial table can be used at home. If you have a bigger budget and want something that stands out, you can install a commercial-standard table in your games room. Just be sure to take the correct measurements and check that it fits before making your purchase.
