How to choose a table tennis table?

Which table for which use?

With so many types of table tennis table, the choice is not always obvious. They can, however, be grouped into three broad families of use, which already go a long way towards the decision:

This guide mainly helps you choose a leisure table, as that is what the vast majority of buyers need.

Can a table stay outdoors all year round?

This is one of the most important and useful questions when choosing. Not all tables are made to live outdoors, and the real difference lies first in the playing surface.

Indoor and Outdoor: what is the practical difference?

Indoor tables use a chipboard panel. They offer an excellent bounce, but must be used strictly under cover. Humidity, sun and high heat can blister or warp the surface, which quickly damages playing quality. Our outdoor tables, by contrast, use a solid HPL laminate panel (High Pressure Laminate), designed to withstand rain, snow, frost and knocks.

Why do so many people choose an Outdoor table even for indoor use?

Because an outdoor table often offers more peace of mind. Even if you mainly play indoors, it copes better with temperature changes, everyday knocks and less than ideal conditions. An indoor table remains more fragile: a simple racket strike on the top can leave a mark. That is why many players turn to outdoor models, even when they do not play outside all the time, and why nearly 90% of players favor Cornilleau outdoor tables.

Which table for a garden or terrace?

When you play outdoors, the table must be designed for the outdoors but also for real conditions: sun, humidity, sometimes uneven ground, short moves and storage after use.

Does the sun really affect playing comfort?

Yes. Outdoors, an overly shiny surface can make the ball harder to read and tire the eyes, which is why an anti-glare treatment is a real selection criterion. Cornilleau offers two panel finishes depending on the range: the Softmat finish on Sport range tables cuts sun reflections threefold, while the Mattop finish on Performance range tables absorbs the intensity of the sun’s rays and reduces glare tenfold.

These are not just claims: panel gloss is measured in the laboratory at different angles to compare it objectively with other surfaces on the market. Beyond reflections, Cornilleau also works on how panels stand up to the sun over time. UV ageing can gradually fade outdoor surfaces, which is why many HPLs have been tested to select panels that are particularly resistant to this. If you often play outdoors, this can make a real difference day to day.

Does the ground matter as much as the table?

Yes. A terrace, lawn or gravel surface does not call for the same thing as a perfectly smooth indoor floor. This is where stability and mobility become very important: adjustable feet, suitable wheels, good load-bearing and the ability to get over obstacles. At Cornilleau, large twin wheels, up to 200 mm depending on the model, make the table easier to move every day, even on a terrace, over a kerb or on uneven ground.

Which table for a family with children?

In a family setting, playing quality matters, of course. But safety, ease of handling and sturdiness quickly become just as important.

Why is safety a real selection criterion?

Because a table tennis table is a large, folding, mobile object. Incorrect handling can quickly become a source of worry, especially with children around. The European standard EN 14468 already sets a framework, but Cornilleau has chosen to go further on many of its tables, with 16 locking points instead of the 8 required by the standard.

Why does the folding system make such a difference?

When a table is folded and unfolded often, a simple, safe movement changes everything. Cornilleau offers a patented centralized system, DSI, for opening, closing and locking the table, with a panel that locks at 65° if the handle is released. It is exactly the kind of detail that is very reassuring for family use.

Do all table tennis tables offer the same bounce?

No. And it is one of the most important criteria, even for leisure play.

What does bounce quality depend on?

Playing quality depends first on the panel material, its thickness and how it is supported by the frame. The thicker the playing surface, the higher, more even and more comfortable the bounce. All Cornilleau tables already offer a quality bounce for leisure use, but playing quality improves as thickness increases.

On Outdoor tables, panels range from 4 to 9 mm depending on the model. On Indoor tables, they range from 16 to 25 mm, with a leisure bounce on the first levels, then a competition bounce on the most advanced models.

What is generally available on the market?

Not all brands use the same materials or thicknesses. Outdoors, panels are often around 4 to 6 mm on leisure models, with some premium models going higher. Indoors, thicknesses are clearly greater, often around 18 to 25 mm, with the highest levels on competition tables. This shows that a table is about more than its looks: the thickness of the playing surface is already a real indicator of level.

What does panel thickness change for the player?

Thickness changes very practical things. With a thicker panel, the bounce becomes more even, rallies flow better and the game feels more complete. For an occasional player, all Cornilleau tables already provide a quality bounce. But the more often you play, the more you feel the difference: the game becomes livelier, easier to read and more enjoyable.

HPL or aluminum panel: what are the differences in play on an outdoor table?

At first glance, two Outdoor tables may seem comparable if they have the same panel thickness. Yet thickness alone is not enough to judge playing quality. Outdoors, the nature of the material, its design and its manufacturing process directly affect the table’s performance and durability.

HPL (high pressure laminate) panels and aluminum composite panels are the two main technologies used for outdoor table tennis tables today. Each has its own characteristics, in terms of both bounce and long-term resistance.

Bounce: above all a question of design

Contrary to popular belief, two panels of the same thickness do not guarantee the same behavior in play. The quality of materials, internal structure and manufacturing process matter just as much as thickness.

Tests carried out by Cornilleau on different panels show that bounce performance can vary between the models tested. For example, a competing aluminum composite panel achieved 72.2%, while our HPL panels reach 73.7% at 5 mm and up to 77% at 6 mm.

These results, however, apply to the samples tested by Cornilleau and cannot be generalized to all aluminum panels on the market. Depending on manufacturers and technologies, differences in bounce may be small or non-existent.

Bounce can vary from one manufacturer to another. Impact resistance, however, makes all the difference over time.

The real difference: impact resistance

An Outdoor table is exposed to racket strikes, everyday knocks, bad weather, hail and falling objects. Over the years, all this can do lasting damage to the playing surface.

Resistance tests carried out by Cornilleau reveal different behavior between materials. The aluminum composite panels tested mark immediately on impact: a single knock (hail, a racket strike and so on) can cause a permanent dent that is visible on the playing surface and cannot be removed.

In the same tests, no denting was observed on Cornilleau HPL panels. Their high-pressure laminated structure offers excellent resistance to everyday impacts and preserves the integrity of the surface over the long term.

Beyond appearance, this resistance is a real asset for a table intended to stay outdoors for many years.

Choosing an Outdoor table: look beyond thickness

Panel thickness is a useful indicator, but on its own it does not sum up the performance of an Outdoor table.

Depending on the manufacturer, an aluminum composite panel may offer a bounce comparable to that of an HPL panel. However, the panel’s ability to resist impacts and keep its original appearance is an essential criterion for outdoor use.

At Cornilleau, the choice of HPL meets exactly this goal: to offer a high-performance, durable playing surface that keeps its aesthetic and technical qualities despite the demands of intensive outdoor use.

Bounce comparison: Alucobond and Cornilleau HPL (Outdoor panels)

Results of comparative tests carried out by Cornilleau on the models tested. Bounce performance may vary depending on the manufacturer, panel design and technologies used.

How to find your way around Outdoor tables

In the Cornilleau Outdoor range, thickness is a simple guide:

• 4 to 5 mm: a quality bounce for leisure and occasional games.
• 6 mm: a real gain in consistency and playing comfort.
• 7 to 9 mm: an even more accomplished bounce, close to that of an Indoor competition table, while keeping the advantages of a true weather-resistant Outdoor table.

How to find your way around Indoor tables

On indoor tables, the logic is a little different. The first levels are very well suited to leisure use, then you move up to more demanding sensations:

• 16 to 18 mm: leisure bounce.
• 22 mm: a very good level of Indoor play and the entry into competition-level bounce.
• 25 mm: the most accomplished Indoor playing level in the range, for competition use.

Which table if you play regularly?

The more you play, the more visible the differences between tables become. What may seem “good enough” for a few occasional games soon becomes frustrating with regular use.

What you notice when you play often

When you play regularly, you notice more:

• the consistency of the bounce,
• how easily the ball can be read,
• the stability of the table,
• visual comfort outdoors,
• ease of handling,
• how the quality feels over time.

This is also where panel thickness matters more. A thicker panel offers a more consistent bounce, a livelier game and a more satisfying feel in the long term. On Cornilleau Outdoor tables, all thicknesses are suitable for leisure, but the higher levels bring a more accomplished playing quality.

Why are some tables more expensive?

It is a normal and even useful question. A more expensive table is not always “better” by definition, but its price often reflects very real differences: materials, design, safety level, service life, service, and the way the product is designed and made.

Materials

An Outdoor HPL panel, a frame better protected against corrosion, sturdier wheels or an anti-glare finish cost more to produce than a simpler solution. But they also offer more comfort, more resistance and better durability over time.

Design

The price also depends on the structure: stability, folding safety, ease of storage, quality of equipment and sturdiness of the parts you use every day. A more accomplished table requires more development, more testing and more rigor in technical choices. In return, it often offers a simpler, safer and more pleasant everyday experience.

French manufacturing and industrial control

At Cornilleau, the price also reflects a way of designing and making products. Our tables are designed and manufactured in France, in Bonneuil-les-Eaux in the Oise, the very place where they are conceived, prototyped and tested by our Research and Development department. Control of every aspect of production, from R&D and quality control to after-sales service, allows us to be more demanding, more responsive and more consistent over time. It also means better follow-up of the product, parts and changes throughout its life.

Service life and support

The true price is also judged over time. A table that is cheaper to buy is not always more economical if it ages quickly, copes poorly outdoors or cannot be repaired. Cornilleau Indoor tables come with a 3-year warranty, Outdoor tables with a 10-year warranty, and spare parts remain available for 20 years. This changes how a product should be assessed: divide the price of an outdoor table by its 10-year warranty and you get a clear cost per year of use, and that figure is cut in half again when you factor in 20 years of repairability.

How long does a table tennis table last?

The answer depends on the type of table, how it is used and how exposed it is.

What really makes a table last

The durability of a table depends first on its materials, but not only. It also depends on its ability to withstand UV, humidity, scratches, knocks and everyday wear over time. That is why Cornilleau makes a clear distinction between Indoor and Outdoor panels and uses HPL for tables intended to live outdoors all year round. But durability does not stop at the material: it also comes down to the quality of the structure, corrosion protection, repairability and product support over time.

Can a table really last a long time?

Yes. A well-designed table can serve a family or an institution for many years. We design our products to last, to be maintained and to keep doing their job long after purchase. Our Indoor tables have a 3-year warranty, our Outdoor tables a 10-year warranty, and spare parts remain available for 20 years. This is what allows some tables to stand the test of time, and sometimes even to be handed down from one generation to the next.

What are the dimensions of a table and how much space do you need?

Table dimensions are a key criterion before buying. A table of official dimensions, as defined by the International Table Tennis Federation, measures 274 cm long, 152.5 cm wide and 76 cm high. These dimensions apply to both official-size leisure tables and competition tables.

To play comfortably, allow a total space of at least 5 meters long by 3 meters wide around the table. If space is limited, Cornilleau also offers mini tables designed for small indoor spaces and young players.

Which criteria really make a difference?

When choosing, not everything carries the same weight. These are often the most useful criteria to look at:

Which table is right for you? The express guide

To help you decide quickly, here is a guide based on your profile. Find the line closest to your situation and follow the link to the right range.

Once you know what you need, which table should you choose?

Once you know where you will play, how often and what you really expect from your table, not all options are equal. For the same need, the brand then becomes a decisive criterion: playing quality, long-term performance, safety, service, repairability and manufacturing approach. To compare models, browse the full range of Cornilleau tables, then narrow it down by use with our outdoor tables, indoor tables, competition tables or public tables.

And to complete your equipment, do not forget the racket: choose a racket to suit your level and playing style.

FAQ: frequently asked questions about choosing a table