Top 6 Best Ping Pong Tables Under $500

Having a ping pong table in your home is a price-worthy investment. You have the advantage of honing your skills anytime. You may take the help of a robot or practice partners. Also, there is the option of enjoyment and fun-making with your kids and family members. The best thing is that all these activities boost your physical health and bring mental freshness after a day-long office work. But how much dollars do you invest for a table tennis table, the price of which ranges approximately from $300 to $1500? If you are not a professional and your buying intention is mainly recreational, a 15 mm table priced under 500 dollars suits you well. For the best ping pong tables under $500, two reputed brands, STIGA and JOOLA are the superpowers. And the best thing is that all these tables are very easy to assemble, portable, and compact.

Best Ping Pong Tables Under $500 (Indoor): Reviews

1. STIGA Advantage
2. JOOLA Tour 1500
3. JOOLA United Pro 15
4. STIGA ST3600

STIGA Advantage

STIGA Advantage is a value-added 16 mm MDF foldable ping pong table that can be perfect for recreation in your home. The two-piece design makes it good for compact storage and easy handling. The regulation-size indoor table looks nice and has a good enough bounce for beginners or casual players. 

The affordable table comes with almost all facilities like the playback mode, height levelers, and lockable wheels. The only drawback is the absence of ball/ racket holders that can be a great addition to bring colors to your excitement.

STIGA Advantage has received very positive feedback from buyers (4.6/5 out of 7000 ratings) on Amazon. Considering the great price-performance ratio, the STIGA Advantage is our top pick in the list of best ping pong tables under $500.

Pros

• Well-built and durable
• Compact storage
• Only 10-15 minutes of assembly time
• Good surface finish
• Great Value for money

Cons

• Not suitable for tournaments

Related Topic: “JOOLA Inside Vs STIGA Advantage: Which is Better?“

JOOLA Tour 1500

JOOLA Tour 1500 is a 15 mm thick table supported by a 1.5-inch steel apron. It consists of two halves, and each half is independent and can be moved with the help of four 3″ caster wheels. Due to the two-piece design, the Tour 1500 takes a very compact shape which is convenient for storing the table in a small space. Another good thing is that the table comes with 95% preassembly (except you have to fit the 8 wheels with steel legs).

Regarding safety, there are dual anti-tilt safety devices and arrangements for wheel locking to prevent accidents during storage and play. The presence of height levelers is advantageous for manually adjusting the height of the table on an uneven surface.

The Tour 1500 is a great buy under $500 for enjoying ping pong in homes, schools, and offices. The bounce is good enough for playability while the supportive undercarriage and portability make it a price-worthy investment.

Pros

• Easy to handle due to the two-piece design
• Safe and reliable
• Compact storage
• Quick assembly
• Easy to move from one place to another place

Cons

• Absence of racket and ball holders

JOOLA United Pro 15

The United Pro 15, previously known as JOOLA Rally TL, is almost the same as the above-mentioned JOOLA Tour 1500.

Instead of blue, it’s a charcoal-painted MDF surface that looks great supported by white-colored undercarriage fittings. Also, there is an additional benefit of 4 ball holders at each corner that can hold up to 3 balls at a time. The magnetic abacus-style scoreboard helps you keep tracking scores during the match.

The United Pro 15 is one of the best ping pong tables under $500 due to its superior performance over price.

STIGA ST3600

The Stiga ST3600 is a well-designed indoor table that offers uninterrupted gameplay. It features a 15 mm MDF tabletop finished with silkscreen painting for a smooth playing surface. The strong metal undercarriage is for maximum stability whereas the portability is great for convenience. The independent chassis design makes it easy to glide table halves to the desired location for storage by locking them in upright positions.

The premium quality net is easy to set and gives a good playing experience. The ST3600 also supports a playback facility, manual height adjustments, and corner protection.

Pros

• Quick assembly (10 minutes)
• Good design and durable
• Compact storage
• Easy to roll and transport

Cons

• Not suitable for tournaments

Best Ping Pong Tables Under $500 (Outdoor): Reviews

1. STIGA XTR
2. JOOLA Outdoor

STIGA XTR

STIGA XTR, a quality but affordable all-weather table tennis table consists of a 6 mm aluminum composite tabletop for protection against sunlight, water, and harsh weather conditions. The strong undercarriage not only supports the tabletop but also is rust-proof. 

The XTR model consists of two table halves with auto-foldable steel legs to keep you restrained from any manual action. This foldable table is very compact and also needs only 10-15 minutes for assembly work.

Regarding safety, this outdoor table is very sensitive. All the wheels have locking arrangements, each half has a safety latch to prevent accidental unfolding, and there are corner protectors for your child’s safety.

Pros

• Well-built and durable
• Adequate bounce
• Playback facility
• Value for money

Cons

• The glossy table surface may be an issue against the glare of sunlight

Related Topic: “STIGA XTR Vs JOOLA NOVA: Which is Better?“

JOOLA Outdoor

JOOLA Outdoor is very similar to the above-mentioned STIGA XTR. It also has a weather-resistant 6 mm aluminum plastic composite tabletop. The rust-proof 1.2” steel frame and 1.2” square legs are more than enough to support this lightweight all-weather table. 

The table comes in 95% pre-assembled conditions which leaves very little work for readiness. Also, the compact shape makes it easy to store within a limited space. 

The good quality weatherproof net is easy to set and has proper tensioning arrangements to keep the height the same along the surface of the table.

All facilities like height levelers, playback mode, and lockable wheels are the same as the STIGA XTR model.

Pros

• Lightweight and easy to handle
• Less storage space required
• Better safety with double anti-tilting devices
• Value for money

Cons

• Alignment of table halves is not easy on an uneven surface

Best Ping Pong Table Under $500: Buying Guide

Tabletop: Tabletop is the primary unit of a ping pong table which is responsible for the quality of bounce. Thickness and material are the two aspects that mainly influence the quality of a tabletop. The higher the thickness, the better the quality of the bounce. Again an MDF top not only is smoother and better for bounce than particleboard, but it is also less prone to damage.  

Though a 25 mm thick ping pong table is best for bounce, it costs close to $1000. Also, for recreation and casual practice, it is not necessary to opt for a tournament standard table. Rather a 15 mm or 18 mm MDF tabletop suffices your requirement. 

Undercarriage: The frame strength has a lot of importance as it takes the load of the tabletop. A strong (1.2” or above) steel apron is good enough to support a 15/18 mm tabletop and keeps it in good condition for years to come. The strength of the legs which transfer the total load to the surface is also to be considered. Square/rectangular-shaped legs have the capacity to bear a heavier load than rcanr this aspect also.

Safety: Regarding safety, the proper working of safety devices is of paramount importance to prevent the accidental unfolding of the table halves. Also, check the locking arrangements of caster wheels to keep the table stable during storage or play.

Other Features: Some operational features like ease of assembly, compactness, and portability also play significant roles in the selection process.

Related Topic: “How Much Does a Ping Pong Table Cost?“