5 Best Outdoor Ping Pong Tables to Enjoy the Sun

Table tennis is a wonderful sport — if you’re here, you probably know that already! Many of us would love nothing more than to have a table tennis table in our house to play to our heart’s content. For most of us though, this simply isn’t feasible. I brought a table tennis table inside once, and I managed to wheel it into my kitchen, but when I opened the damn thing, I couldn’t move!

Most table tennis tables require at least 13 feet by 11 feet to play a comfortable game. Yet you’ll need more space if you’re an advanced player, so you might want to take your ping pong table outdoors instead!

An outdoor tennis table gives you adequate room to play and lets you enjoy some sunshine and fresh air simultaneously. So today, we will go over the best outdoor ping pong tables available on the market.

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Features to Look Out for

When shopping around for top-rated outdoor ping pong tables, hone in on the features that matter and disregard those that are of little benefit. In our ping pong table guide, we go over everything you should look out for when buying your own table. But for those of you who are short of time, here are our top features for outdoor tables:

  • Aim for at least a 6 mm table thickness
  • Strong frame
  • Large wheels
  • Long warranty period
  • Leg levelers

Other less important features for the best-rated outdoor ping pong tables that we still rate include:

  • Compact storage
  • Self-playback mode
  • Quick setup
  • Bat and ball holders
  • Point counters

The 5 Best Outdoor Ping Pong Table Reviews

#1. JOOLA United Pro Outdoor — Our Pick

best outdoor ping pong table

Features:

  • Size: 9 ft x 5 ft
  • Playing surface: 6 mm aluminum composite top
  • Weight: 166 lbs
  • Warranty: 1 year

Pros:

  • Nest storage
  • Leg levelers
  • Anti-tilting device
  • Weatherproof net included
  • Fold-up playback feature
  • Well-priced
  • Quick assembly

Cons:

  • Small 3″ wheels

The JOOLA United Pro Outdoor is a well-priced outdoor table that has all the features you need to have a fun time playing outside. The surface is a 6 mm aluminum-plastic composite that provides a decent bounce for an outdoor table and it’s resistant to deformation and damage.

Much of the structure is rust-resistant, and you can easily level the table to keep the playing surface straight. Like many tables, it has nest storage to minimize the space it takes up when not in use and to fold up on one side for solo play.

The weatherproof table tennis net is also a nice add-on. We feel the United Pro Outdoor is one of the best outdoor ping pong tables. Our only real critique are the 3″ caster wheels which are a little on the small side. However, unless you’re planning on wheeling it across tough terrain, they should do the job. 

#2. Stiga XTR — Budget Option

best outdoor ping pong table

Features:

  • Size: 9 ft x 5 ft
  • Playing surface: 6 mm aluminum composite top
  • Weight: 180 lbs
  • Warranty: 60 days

Pros:

  • Fold-up playback feature
  • Weatherproof net included
  • Leg levelers
  • Nest storage
  • Very well-priced
  • Quick assembly

Cons:

  • 60-day warranty period
  • Small 3″ wheels

The Stiga XTR outdoor table tennis table gives a lot of bang for your buck. For this reason, it’s received outstanding reviews and ranks as an “Amazon’s Choice” product.

The 6 mm thick aluminum composite surface provides a decent bounce for an outdoor table and excellent resistance to the outdoors. It is entirely waterproof, and the legs easily adjust to help you play on uneven surfaces.

If you have a limited budget, you really can’t go wrong with the Stiga XTR. It does not have the top features, but it’s practically unbeatable at its price. The Stiga XTR is a great table for outdoor training or simply having family fun. In our opinion, it’s definitely one of the best outdoor folding ping pong tables available.

For more information, check out our full Stiga XTR table tennis table outdoor review.

#3. Kettler Outdoor 6 Bundle — Premium Choice

best outdoor ping pong table

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Features:

  • Size: 9 ft x 5 ft
  • Playing surface: KETT-TEC6
  • Weight: 170 lbs
  • Warranty: 3-year top warranty, 10-year frame warranty

Pros:

  • Very long warranty period
  • Ball dispensers and racket holders
  • Relatively quick assembly
  • Safety-fold technology
  • DLS locking system
  • Smooth Trax technology
  • Solo playback mode
  • Leg Levelers
  • 5.5″ double wheels
  • Net has adjustable height and tension
  • Comes with table tennis rackets, balls, and a cover

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Unknown surface thickness
  • Fixed net

As the most expensive table on this list by some margin, it should be no surprise that the Kettler Outdoor 6 comes packed with various features. What stands out to us is just how safe the table is to use. This begins with the Safety-fold technology. The Outdoor 6 has a low center of gravity, making it very difficult to push over — the large 5.5″ double wheels further assist this. It’s also one of the few tables to have a proprietary one-handed locking mechanism. This not only leaves one hand free for safety but also gives the table a very luxurious feel. To add to this, Smooth Trax tech ensures the controlled opening and closing of the table.

Another neat feature the Outdoor 6 possesses is ball dispensers at either end, helping ensure that the action never stops! Just make sure you don’t leave any balls outside with the table when you are finished playing. As for cons, there aren’t many besides the price. The first is that the table surface thickness is not specified, and the second is that the Outdoor 6 uses a fixed net system which means you can’t use your own net. That being said, the attached net does include both height and tension adjustment, which is unusual.

What really drives home the quality of this table is its unbeatable warranty. Kettler is so confident that they saw fit to grant 3 years of coverage for the frame and a staggering 10 years for the outdoor ping pong table top. This is among the highest in the industry and puts your mind at ease when forking out such a considerable sum for an outdoor table.     

#4. Cornilleaux 300X — Best Warranty

best outdoor ping pong table

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Features:

  • Size: 9 ft x 5 ft
  • Playing surface: 5 mm outdoor laminate
  • Weight: 123 lbs
  • Warranty: 10 years

Pros:

  • Anti-glare surface
  • COMPACT TECHNOLOGY folding system
  • 8″ double oversized wheels 
  • Point counters
  • Very long warranty period
  • Leg levelers
  • Ball and bat holders

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • Requires considerable assembly

As an expert on outdoor tables, it should be no surprise that a Cornilleau model makes this list. The 300X is a robust outdoor table emphasizing stability and safety. In this aspect, it is much like the Kettler Outdoor 6. The 300X has double oversized wheels and 16 locking points so you can safely open and close the table.

The 300X also has many other great features you won’t find on many tables, such as bat and ball storage and a beaded point scorer.

The resin laminate top is 5 mm thick and includes a SOFTMAT anti-glare coating. We love that it is anti-glare, but at 5 mm, it’s not the thickest of tables. All things considered, it is still one of the best outdoor table tennis tables available.

For more information, check out our full review of the Cornilleau 300X.

#5. Butterfly Playback Outdoor Rollaway 

best outdoor ping pong table

CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Features:

  • Size: 9 ft x 5 ft
  • Playing surface: 6 mm synthetic laminate top
  • Weight: 140 lbs
  • Warranty: 3 years for the frame and 10 years for the top

Pros:

  • Ball and racket holders
  • Fold-up playback feature
  • Lightweight
  • Net included
  • 5-inch double wheels
  • Long warranty period

Cons:

  • Requires considerable assembly
  • No leg levelers

The last table on this list is the Butterfly Playback Rollaway. An outdoor ping pong table should be both resilient and highly portable to tackle uneven terrain. The Playback Outdoor Rollaway excels in this regard. The 6 mm synthetic laminate top sits on an upgraded frame, making it resistant to considerable damage.

The large 5-inch double wheels also ensure that the table can easily wheel wherever needed, across virtually any ground. I would just advise taking your time moving it as it’s only 140 lbs which is quite light for a table tennis table. The large wheels should adequately minimize the risk of it falling to one side, but you’re better off safe than sorry.

The major drawbacks of the Playback Outdoor Rollaway are that it requires extensive assembly and that it has no leg levelers.

For more information, check out our Butterfly Playback Outdoor table tennis table review.

Read More: Best Portable Ping Pong Tables

Pros and Cons of Outdoor Table Tennis Tables

Before deciding if an outdoor ping pong table is for you, you should consider all the pros and cons. Before I was forced to sell my outdoor table tennis table, I used it often — I have quite a lot of information that you might find useful.

First things first, if you have room for an indoor table, I would certainly go with that. Check out our favorite cheap indoor table tennis tables. They provide the best bounce, and playing indoors gives you a consistent training environment. This allows you to really focus on drills because there are no distractions.

If, however, an indoor table isn’t an option, here’s what you can expect from owning an outdoor ping pong table.

Advantages

  • Free to use
  • Play wherever you want
  • You get control over which table you play on

The main benefit of owning an outdoor table is that it’s free to use. Yes, that’s a little obvious, but not having to pay every time you want to play saves you a lot of money. Unless you have some kind of membership where you pay monthly or yearly, you will be paying to use most indoor tables per session. This gets very expensive.

You also get to play whenever you want, provided the weather permits, which is a luxury. This means not having to travel or hoping there is a slot for you to book at a sports center.

This advantage disappeared as soon as I sold my outdoor table. The COVID-19 pandemic forced my table tennis club to close, and I haven’t been able to book sessions as frequently at my local sports center either.

I haven’t played table tennis for over a year and a half now, which is a long time for someone who used to play every week. I would never have been in this situation if I still had my outdoor table!

Another advantage is that you have complete control over which table you are playing on. Some sports centers and clubs have poor-quality tables that you’ll get stuck with some of the time. The bounce is bad, the table is chipped, and you hate it. 

When you purchase an outdoor table tennis table YOU get to decide what table you buy, ensuring that you’re always training on a top outdoor ping pong table.

Disadvantages

  • Poor weather will prevent outdoor play
  • Excessive sunlight makes playing difficult
  • Ideally, you need a relatively flat ground 
  • You need a good supply of balls as you will likely lose many

An outdoor ping pong table leaves you at the mercy of mother nature. And if she’s feeling mean, you won’t be playing table tennis. If it rains, you’ll miss your session. And, you might also have to wait for the ground to dry before you can safely play again as well.

If it hasn’t rained, the wind can still hurt your game. Table tennis balls are very light, and even the slightest gust of wind will throw a table tennis ball off course. I’ve played table tennis many times outside on slightly windy days, and I always leave feeling frustrated. I toyed with the idea of having some kind of an erectable, wind-break gazebo to combat the wind, but I never made one. Perhaps you could do this if you live in a windy area.  

Excessive sunlight is another pain. Table tennis is best played outdoors when it’s not too sunny. On sunny days, your eyes will be distracted and compromised every time you look up. You can also lose the ball on the table sometimes when there’s glare. This is why an anti-glare surface is very useful for your outdoor table tennis table.

Other elements you should consider are the ground level and material of your outdoor space. The ground should be fairly flat, but it doesn’t have to be dead-straight as most tables allow you to level the legs. The ground I played on was uneven cobble, which was a nightmare because the ball always bounced off at unpredictable angles.

Additionally, if your ground surface doesn’t allow the balls to bounce, this may also be maddening. That’s a lot of bending down that we aren’t used to doing in sports halls and the like.

The final drawback is how many balls you will lose. And trust me, you will lose many. As someone who edges the ball more times than I care to mention, I fired balls into my neighbor’s garden like there was no tomorrow. I actually ended up constructing a large net over my fence to capture some of the balls I would have otherwise lost. Top tip: only use cheaper training balls unless you have a large garden. You won’t miss them as much as your precious 3-star balls.

What Is the Difference between Outdoor Tables and Indoor Tables?

What doesn’t change from indoor to outdoor tables is the size. Both predominantly come in full size, so you won’t have to change your shot placement or power.

The main difference between outdoor and indoor tables is the bounce of the ball. Outdoor tables are often made of metal and wood, with an anti-glare, waterproof coating to prolong their life. While this is well-suited for the outdoors, the ball bounce is noticeably lower on outdoor tables than on indoor tables. This can throw off your timing and ruin your rhythm. I’ve also found that the ball tends to skid more off an outdoor ping pong table, and the spin is significantly diminished.

If you’re a strong table tennis player, you’ll want to make sure you get one of the best ping pong tables for outdoors. 

How to Protect Your Outdoor Table Tennis Table

Unlike indoor models, outdoor table tennis tables are tailor-made to withstand harsh outdoor conditions. That being said, to prolong the life of yours it only makes sense to protect your table so that it lasts for many years to come. The best way to do this is to purchase a cover. This will significantly reduce its exposure to rainwater and prevent it from getting dirty. 

If you don’t want to purchase a cover, you can store it somewhere, providing protection. A garage is a perfect example of this.

FAQs

What Is the Best Outdoor Ping Pong Table?

The best outdoor ping pong table for most players is the JOOLA United Pro. It doesn’t have fancy features, but it gets all of the necessities bang on. It’s cheap, well-built, and has a respectable warranty of 1 year which is much longer than its rival, the Stiga XTR, which has just 60 days.

How Do I Protect My Ping Pong Table Outside?

You can store your table tennis underneath a surface that will help prevent the accumulation of rainwater and shade it from harsh sunlight. However, the best and easiest method to protect your table is to purchase a table tennis table cover.

Can You Leave an Outdoor Ping Pong Table in the Rain?

Outdoor table tennis tables receive treatment so that they can combat rust. This means you can leave them outdoors all year round. 

Can Outdoor Ping Pong Tables Get Wet?

Yes. Outdoor ping pong table models are waterproof so you can let them get wet. Although the more you can protect them from the elements the longer their lifespan will be. 

Can I Keep My Outdoor Table Tennis Outside the Whole Time?

There is no need to bring your outdoor table tennis table inside unless you want extra protection. The only time we strongly advise moving your table tennis table indoors is during very windy spells. Powerful winds can blow off your cover (if you have one), but even worse, high winds can knock your table over, causing serious damage.

Do I Need Special Rackets for an Outside Game of Ping Pong?

No, you can use any table tennis racket when playing outdoors. The need for specialized rackets only arises if you choose to leave them outdoors. In this instance, you should purchase outdoor paddles.

How Do I Place My Table Outside?

I recommend choosing an open area with relatively flat ground. To enjoy the best outdoor table tennis, select an area with a good amount of room to move around to play your shots. You also want a level ground to play on. Many tables have leg levelers, but some don’t, and of course, leg levelers can only do so much! It’s then simply a case of wheeling your table to its desired location and unfolding the sides. You might also want to lock the brakes to prevent the table from moving during games.

Should I Buy a Cover for My Outdoor Ping Pong Table?

I always recommend purchasing a table tennis table cover for extra protection. Sure, it’s true that outdoor tables are designed to resist rust and other harsh weather conditions, but they do not last forever. You may note some outdoor table tennis table reviews show pictures of tables damaged by the weather after only a few years. This certainly shouldn’t happen, but for some models it does. Therefore, it makes sense to prolong your table’s life for as long as possible, and table covers are inexpensive.

Final Thoughts – Which Table Should You Buy?

This largely depends on what you value in a table tennis table. But for us, the JOOLA United Pro Outdoor and Stiga XTR are the best outdoor ping pong tables for 2024. We chose these tables above the rest because they both offer a lot of value for money.

The other three models are over twice the cost and aren’t necessarily better to play on — 2 of the 3 more expensive models have 5 mm, and 6 mm thick table tops, which is no improvement on the Pro Outdoor and XTR. Rather, these more expensive models have much longer warranty periods, so there is certainly still merit in purchasing them. We also love the Cornilleaux 300X’s large 8″ double wheels and anti-glare surface. As for the Kettler Outdoor 6, it has a lot of safety technology which makes it a great buy for the family. You also get rackets, balls, and a cover when you purchase, adding to its allure.

Don’t have a big enough garden for an outdoor table? Perhaps a mid-size ping pong table is a good compromise.

Freelance writer. Table tennis enthusiast. Lover of all things online. When I’m not working on my loop game I’m probably binge-watching some fantasy show.