8 Best Air Hockey Tables Under $500
- Alex Horscroft
- Last updated
Most of us know air hockey as one of the classic arcade games. We have all dabbled in a few amateur matches in the arcades at one point or another, but now you can replicate the fun and excitement of playing air hockey from the comfort of your home. Owning one will surely make your afternoons more exciting and your game nights more colorful.
Air hockey table quality varies greatly from model to model, and today we are seeing what performance you can squeeze out for just $500. For this price, you won’t be able to purchase a full-size table, but it might surprise you what you can get. Without any further ado, here are the best air hockey tables under $500.
Table of Contents
Featured Air Hockey Tables
- Best Overall: PUCK Eros 5.5 Foot Folding Air Hockey Table
- Contemporary Pick: Hathaway Midtown 6′ Air Hockey Table
- Best Tabletop Model: Best Choice Products Air Hockey Table
- Cheapest Option: Hey! Play! Mini Arcade Air Hockey Table
- Best for Safety: Franklin Sports Air Hockey Table
Best Cheap Air Hockey Tables for Families and Kids: At a Glance
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The 8 Best Air Hockey Tables Under $500
1. PUCK Eros 5.5 Foot Folding Air Hockey Table — Best Overall
Featured Specs
- Manufacturer: PUCK
- Base Material: Engineered Wood
- Frame material: MDF
- Size: 60 x 34 x 32 inches
- Weight: 65 lbs
Benefits
- Large playing surface
- Folds compactly
- Has wheels for maneuverability
- Lightweight
- Real air hockey — powered by a motor
- Manual scorer
- Includes four pushers and four pucks
- Unlimited lifetime warranty
Drawbacks
- Sometimes arrives damaged
- No leg levelers
Buying Advice
It’s tough to find an elite and well-sized air hockey table under $500, but the PUCK Eros ticks both of these boxes. A quick point regarding PUCK. They are air hockey table specialists who have been in business since 2015, so we’re a lot happier to put our faith in them than a generic sports brand. They also back this up by providing an unlimited lifetime warranty, so you get complete peace of mind when you purchase.
The Eros may not be the biggest air hockey table sitting at 5.5 feet, but it does have a feature that most don’t, and that’s the ability to fold. This means it doesn’t have to take up unecessary space in your house. When you’re finished simply fold it up and move it out of the way. It even has wheels on one side to make the process easier.
Our Rating: 9.4
2. Hathaway Midtown 6′ Air Hockey Table — Contemporary Pick
Featured Specs
- Manufacturer: Hathaway
- Base Material: Engineered Wood
- Frame material: Engineered Wood
- Size: 72 x 36 x 31 inches
- Weight: 116 lbs
Benefits
- Large playing surface
- Solid construction
- Real air hockey — powered by a 110V motor
- Electronic scoring
- Includes two pushers and two air hockey pucks
- Easy to match with home decor
- Leg levelers
Drawbacks
- Takes up a lot of space
Buying Advice
At 6 feet long, the Hathaway Midtown is the largest air hockey table on this list. It’s also the heaviest by a long shot at 116 lbs making it pretty damn sturdy. You’ll appreciate that during intense games where lighter tables would budge.
Another quality we rate is the table’s appearance. Sporting a dark cherry wood finish with silver accents, it isn’t flashy or in your face like conventional air hockey tables. No. Instead, it has more of a contemporary look, making it much easier to fit in with the decor of your home. This means you might not have to banish it to your game room should you have one. Just remember, this table is pretty big.
The Hathaway Midtown comes with a 180-day warranty. This isn’t bad by any means, but it’s also not great. The PUCK Eros easily beats it out here with its unlimited lifetime warranty. Regardless, we still feel that it’s a top air hockey table for under $500.
Our Rating: 9.2
3. RayChee 48″ Air Hockey Table
Featured Specs
- Manufacturer: RayChee
- Base Material: Engineered Wood
- Frame material: Engineered Wood
- Size: 48 x 24 x 30 inches
- Weight: 36.3 lbs
Benefits
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Real air hockey — powered by a 12V motor
- Manual scoring and electronic scoring with sound effects
- Includes two pushers and three pucks
- Leg levelers
Drawbacks
- Not that stable
- A little small for adults
Buying Advice
The RayChee air hockey table is 12″ shorter than the PUCK Eros, and as such, it is more fitting for children — this is evident from the paint job. Where this table excels is price. It’s very cheap for its size, and while it is not that sturdy due to weighing only 36.3 lbs, it should function just well for most children.
A neat aspect is that it includes both a manual and LED scoring system. LED scoring is of course much cooler to use, but it does have a tendency to become faulty, so having a manual option as a backup is much appreciated.
Our Rating: 9.1
4. Triumph Fire ‘n Ice Led Lighting Air Hockey Table
Featured Specs
- Manufacturer: Escalade Sports
- Base Material: Unlisted
- Frame material: Unlisted
- Size: 54 x 27 x 31 inches
- Weight: 39.6 lbs
Benefits
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Real air hockey — powered by a motor
- Manual and electronic scoring system with sound effects
- Includes two pushers and one puck with LED lighting
- Leg levelers
Drawbacks
- Not that stable
Buying Advice
The Fire ‘n Ice air hockey table by Triumph is another lightweight model that is primarily targeted toward children. It weighs just 39.6 lbs and is fairly budget-friendly. To me, this model is one of the most reminiscent of true arcade-style air hockey tables. This is not only because of its textbook arcade paint job, but also due to its LED lighting features.
The corners, pucks, and pushers all light up which gives you a really cool arcade experience. That being said, you only get one puck, and given the build quality of the unit, I expect the LED features won’t last for all that long. This is especially true with the puck, as naturally, it will take a serious beating. So while the light-up feature is cool, I wouldn’t recommend buying it for this reason alone.
Our Rating: 8.9
Read More: Best Air Hockey Pucks
5. Best Choice Products Air Hockey Table — Best Tabletop Model
Featured Specs
- Manufacturer: Best Choice Products
- Base Material: Plastic, Engineered Wood
- Frame material: Engineered Wood
- Size: 40 x 20 x 8.5 inches
- Weight: 19 lbs
Benefits
- Very inexpensive
- Compact design
- Lightweight
- Real air hockey — powered by a 100V motor
- Manual scorer
- Easy installation
- Includes two pushers and two pucks
- Best Choice Products goods must pass strict testing
Drawbacks
- No on/off switch, you have to power it off at the wall socket
- Very small — not as exciting to play on
Buying Advice
The Best Choice Products air hockey table marks our first tabletop model. It may marginally cost more than the other tabletop models, but it significantly undercuts the air hockey tables with full-size legs. Despite the smaller playfield, it’s ranked 4.5 stars and is one of the most popular air hockey tables across the board.
It might surprise you to learn that this model operates on air power so you can play authentic air hockey rather than push hockey. It uses a 100V motor that ejects 40PSI of air pressure which is way more than we expected for such a table. Count us impressed!
When you purchase you also have the benefit of Best Choice Products’ strict quality testing procedures. This ensures that you get a high-quality working product every time. It is one of the best budget air hockey tables for the home and we are confident it will last a long time.
Our Rating: 8.9
6. Sport Squad HX40 Air Hockey Table
Featured Specs
- Manufacturer: JOOLA
- Base Material: Engineered wood
- Frame material: Engineered wood
- Size: 40 x 20 x 5 inches
- Weight: 14 lbs
Benefits
- Very inexpensive
- Real air hockey — powered by a 12V motor
- Compact design
- Lightweight
- 5-minute assembly
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- 1-year manufacturer’s warranty
- Manual scorers
- Features non-marking pads to protect table surfaces
- Two pushers and two pucks included
Drawbacks
- No on/off button, you have to turn it off at the wall socket
- Very small — not as exciting to play on
Buying Advice
The Sport Squad HX40 is our second tabletop model. It shares a similar design with the Best Choice Products air hockey table and costs $10 less. This too is a table that features a blower so you can experience true air hockey, and while it is too small for adults, it’s a great pick for kids.
Assembly takes just 5 minutes, and it comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty. This is a pretty respectable period of coverage considering the price. If you recall, the Hathaway Midtown which costs over 7x as much has just a 180-day warranty period.
To further convince you, this air hockey table is currently an “Amazon Choice” product. So if you are on a budget and okay with purchasing a tabletop model, it could well be the right option for you.
Our Rating: 8.8
7. Hey! Play! Mini Arcade Air Hockey Table — Cheapest Option
Featured Specs
- Manufacturer: Hey! Play!
- Base Material: Plastic
- Frame material: Wood
- Size: 22 x 12 x 4 inches
- Weight: 4.9 lbs
Benefits
- Cheapest table on this list
- Compact design
- Very lightweight
- Manual scorer
- Real air hockey — powered by a motor
- No wire presence which increases safety
- Lightweight
- Comes with two mini pushers and two pucks
Drawbacks
- Build quality is subpar
- Fans die quickly due to using battery power
- Very small — not as exciting to play on
Buying Advice
The Hey! Play! air hockey table is the cheapest table on this list and one of our favorite kid’s air hockey table options. This is because it is the perfect blend between quality and safety. We feel the build quality is good for such an inexpensive price, and its light weight and lack of wires make it a safe choice for younger kids who you might not trust with less safe models. However, like the Franklin Sports table, it runs on batteries, so you should buy spares for when they wear out. All things considered, we feel it’s one of the best inexpensive air hockey tables available in 2023.
Our Rating: 8.4
8. Franklin Sports Air Hockey Table — Best for Safety
Featured Specs
- Manufacturer: Franklin Sports
- Base Material: PVC
- Frame material: PVC
- Size: 20 x 13 x 4
- Weight: 0.5 lbs
Benefits
- Very inexpensive
- Compact design
- Very lightweight
- Real air hockey — features blowers
- Manual scorer
- No wire presence which increases safety
- Includes two pushers and two pucks
- 90-day limited warranty
Drawbacks
- Fans die quickly due to using battery power
- Made from cheap materials
- Not very sturdy
- Very small — not as exciting to play on
Buying Advice
One of the greatest selling points for this air hockey table is its price. It’s an air hockey table that’s cheap, the second cheapest on this list in fact. We recommend this model for those concerned with safety. It weighs just 0.5 lbs which means it can’t do any serious damage if it were to fall off of the table you rest it on. This makes it a great air hockey table for kids. However, as it is made from PVC it does feel rather cheap and it doesn’t stand up to harsh use all that well. Furthermore, it will almost certainly move during games.
Another drawback is that the table is battery-powered, so you may notice fans losing strength after a while. It is a good idea to have spare batteries around to keep the airflow strong. While it’s the bottom table on this list, we still think that this model could be a good choice for some buyers, and all air hockey accessories are included.
Our Rating: 8.2
Read More: Best Mini Air Hockey Table
Air Hockey Table Buying Guide
Air Power
For us, having air power is a non-negotiable, and it should be for you too.
To have a proper air hockey gaming experience, you need air flow to assist the movement of the puck. It will ensure the puck moves faster leading to more exciting games and it will also prevent the puck from getting stuck. All of the tables on this list are air powered — even the tabletop models. So you don’t have to concern yourself with checking. That being said, if you want to do some research of your own, double-check that the model you like is air-powered before purchasing.
Build Quality
As with any table game, matches can get a bit intense and players tend to become heavy-handed. If you have a weak table this could cause it to break down. So you really should try and find the most durable air hockey tables within your budget range. Given this article is looking at the best air hockey tables under $500, the build quality is not the best. But this doesn’t mean you should settle for something flimsy that will break after a week.
Free Standing vs Tabletop Models
As your price cap is $500, you’ll see a combination of freestanding and tabletop models on offer. While freestanding tables are usually the best as they do a good job at emulating standard arcade air hockey, there aren’t too many well-built air hockey tables under $500.
On the other hand, there are quite a few tabletop air hockey tables that may tickle your fancy. Sure, you have to place them on another elevated surface so that you don’t get backache, but they have the advantage of being many times cheaper and far easy to store.
You’ll have to look at your options and weigh up which is best for you.
Dimensions
Air hockey game tables come in all shapes and sizes, and while playing on full-size tables is usually the most fun, they are also the most expensive and virtually impossible to store.
The length of the models on this list ranges from 20″ to 60″ which is very sizeable. What’s more, there’s a massive height variance of 4″ to 32″ due to the tabletop models not possessing full-size legs.
Manual Scorers vs Electronic Scorers
No one wants to keep score in their head. Fortunately, you don’t need to. But what you do need to decide is what scoring system you want: manual or electronic.
Manual scorers momentarily interrupt gameplay as you have to slide a piece of plastic to track the score which is a pain. On the other hand, there is virtually no chance of manual scorers breaking.
Electronic scorers are much more immersive as the score tallies automatically allowing you to focus on the game. However, electronic scorers are far more likely to develop faults, so there is a trade-off.
A select few air hockey table models feature both which is always best.
Read More: Best Ping Pong Table
Air Hockey Tables FAQs
1. What Is a Good Size Air Hockey Table?
Your intended use and age group will give you the answer for the perfect air hockey table size. A small table can be anywhere around 2o inches long. If you have a teenager or want a large-sized table for general use, a 6-foot-long table would serve you well.
Check your room’s dimensions to avoid a play area that looks congested. You need ample space to move around. The professionals use an 8-foot table for bigger tournaments, while the hobbyists use a 7-foot table for their daily practice.
2. Is Air Hockey a Sport?
Yes, air hockey is not only a sport but a professional sport. This game might not be that popular or feature in the Olympics like mainstream sports such as chess, basketball, or football. However, it has a comprehensive and dedicated following worldwide.
Air hockey was first invented in 1969 by Phil Crossman, Bob Kenrick, and Brad Baldwin — employees of Brunswick Billiards. Slowly Brunswick saw the potential in air hockey and brought the table to homes and public spaces. Following this, arcades and community centers slowly started buying them as a conversation piece.
With the success that followed during the mid-1970s, air hockey achieved its much-awaited popularity. Soon after, there was a world championship held by officials in New York. You can learn more about air hockey from Air Hockey Pros.
3. What Do You Call the Air Hockey Handles?
We call the air hockey handles that a player uses to push the puck “pushers” or “strikers”. However, you may see them called different names depending on your geographic region. The other lesser-known titles include “goalie”, “paddle”, and “mallet”.
These mallets are simple round-topped handles with an ultra-flat surface for a cleaner push. They usually have padding for smoother maneuvering. Most high-tops resemble miniature Spanish sombreros, while the flat tops have a shorter nub. Players can choose whichever feels right to their hand during practice.
4. Can You Touch the Puck With Your Hand in Hockey?
No, you cannot touch the puck with your hand in air hockey while playing the game. Even if a player ever so slightly touches the puck with any part of their body, they have committed a foul.
A competitor can only touch the puck with his/her hands after they have conceded a goal. It is also considered a foul if you give the puck to another player with your hands.
Conclusion
We hope our buyer’s guide and our cheap air hockey table reviews were informative enough to direct you toward a model you like.
To summarize, the best air hockey table under $500 is the PUCK Eros 5.5-foot folding air hockey table. Coming from a specialist brand that offers an unlimited lifetime warranty, you know that the table is built well and performs as it should. It’s also the only table on this list that folds which is a major advantage.
However, if you want to go for a cheaper route and select the best tabletop model, we instead recommend the Best Choice Products air hockey table. Like PUCK, we are big fans of Best Choice Products and have found that their goods are frequently of very high quality. This air hockey table is well-built, durable, and a good size to ensure action-packed games for all the family.
Still after an air hockey table but none of these models are for you? Perhaps it might interest you to check out our article on the best air hockey tables. Alternatively, we have write-ups on the top ping pong conversion tops, the best multi-game tables, and the best air hockey ping pong tables too.
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.
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