What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £600 (~$799) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £510 (~$679) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £390 (~$520) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £270 (~$360) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £150 (~$200) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Getting it home — large gym equipment is a collection sale and usually needs two people and a van. On boards and hulls, water ingress that has already softened the core.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a pool table is worth what is being asked:
- MDF beds, which warp with any damp
- Torn or heavily worn cloth
- Loose or damaged cushion rubber that kills the bounce
- No practical access for removal
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Slate beds rather than MDF
- Cloth with no tears, burns or bobbling
- Level, undamaged frame and legs
- Cues, balls, triangle and rests included
Common faults and fakes
Counterfeit premium racquets and golf clubs exist and typically show in the serial markings and the finish quality on the head.
Ask for the weight and dimensions before agreeing collection. On boards, ask the seller to tap along the deck and say whether the tone changes.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a pool table, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Check underneath or lift a corner of the cloth. Slate tables play far better and are worth several times an MDF one — they are also enormously heavier.
Answer honestly. A slate table needs four or more and the slates come out separately. Understating this ends in a failed collection.
Check whether the frame bolts and the slates lift out. It is the difference between a possible collection and an impossible one.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Check whether the bed is slate or MDF — slate is far heavier
- Roll a ball slowly across to check the level and cushion response
- Measure the access route out of the room
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The whole table from a corner, in the room
- The playing surface straight on, showing cloth condition
- A pocket and the cushion rubber close up
- The frame underneath, showing construction and whether it bolts apart
Details to confirm before you commit
- Playing surface size in feet, and external dimensions
- Slate or MDF bed, and approximate total weight
- Cloth condition, cushion response and pocket condition
- Whether it dismantles, which floor it is on, and what accessories are included
Live pool table listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse sports & outdoors for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady with a lift before Christmas. Slate tables sell to committed buyers year round; MDF tables sell cheaply and slowly.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a pool table sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell pool table for what to photograph and how to price, or what pool table is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used pool table?
Around £65 to £390 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a pool table before buying?
Ask for the weight and dimensions before agreeing collection. On boards, ask the seller to tap along the deck and say whether the tone changes.
Is buying a pool table second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Getting it home — large gym equipment is a collection sale and usually needs two people and a van. On boards and hulls, water ingress that has already softened the core.
See also: all buying guides · pool table value guide · selling pool table · Sports & Outdoors · condition grades.