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How to Level a Pool Table (Billiard Table)

Published 2 April 2026

Even a slight tilt on a pool or billiard table will send balls drifting in one direction, make shots unpredictable, and ruin the feel of the game. A table that looks level to the eye can still be off by a degree or more — and that's enough to affect every roll. Getting the table genuinely flat is one of the most important steps when setting up a new table or after moving one.

Here's how to check and correct your pool table's level using your phone as a precision spirit level.

Why leveling a pool table is different from other furniture

Most furniture can tolerate a small amount of tilt without you noticing. A pool table cannot. The playing surface needs to be level to within a fraction of a degree across its full length — which can be 2.5 metres or more. This means you need to check multiple positions across the slate, not just one corner.

What you'll need

Your phone with Spirit Level Online open in Surface Mode, an adjustable wrench or spanner for the leg levelers, and shims (thin plastic or metal wedges) as a fallback if the legs don't have adjusters.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Clear the table surface completely. Remove balls, racks, and any objects from the table. You need the cloth surface clear so you can lay your phone flat on it.
2. Open Spirit Level Online in Surface Mode. Open Spirit Level Online on your phone and make sure it's in Surface Mode (the circular dial view). Press Start Measurement.
3. Check the centre of the table. Lay your phone flat on the cloth at the centre of the table. The circular bubble should be near the centre and both degree readings (horizontal and vertical) should be close to 0.0°. Note which direction and how far the table is off.
4. Check all four corners and the midpoints of each long side. Move your phone to each corner and to the middle of each long rail. Record the readings. This tells you whether the table is uniformly off (all legs need adjusting equally) or whether one corner or side is the problem.
5. Adjust the leg levelers. Most pool tables have threaded leveling feet under each leg. Turn them clockwise to raise that corner, counterclockwise to lower it. Make small adjustments — a quarter turn at a time — and re-check with your phone after each adjustment. Start with the corner that's furthest from 0.0°.
6. Re-check the full surface after adjustments. Run your phone across the full length of the table again — centre, all four corners, and both long sides. All readings should be at or very close to 0.0°. A reading within ±0.2° across the whole surface is excellent for a home table.

What if the table has no adjustable feet?

Older or budget pool tables sometimes have fixed-height legs. In this case, use shims — thin plastic or hardwood wedges — slid under the leg that needs raising. Furniture shims are available at any hardware store. Slide them in gradually while checking your phone readings, and trim or stack as needed.

Multi-piece slate tables

Professional and higher-end pool tables often have a three-piece slate playing surface. Each piece of slate can be leveled independently. If your table has multi-piece slate and the surface isn't flat even after adjusting the legs, the slate pieces may need re-shimming where they join — this is a job for a professional table mechanic. For home tables with single-piece slate, leg adjustment is usually sufficient.

How often should you re-level a pool table?

A pool table on a stable floor in a climate-controlled room rarely needs re-leveling once set correctly. However, any time you move the table — even just a few centimetres — you should re-check the level. Seasonal changes in wooden floors can also cause slight shifts. A quick check with your phone every six months takes about five minutes and keeps the game playing true.

Use Spirit Level Online for free — it runs directly in your browser on any smartphone, with no app download required.