Many of our local stores had extended sales in the weeks following Christmas, and many items were on clearance. Among these was an air hockey table, which was great because my kids got wind of what it was, and wouldn’t stop egging me to get one. So there I was, buying an air hockey table, quite gleeful to play and make the children happy!
I have experience assembling a full-sized ping pong table, so this air hockey table was a cinch. The kids danced around while I put the table together – in our front entrance, I might add!
My son and I played for hours. Our little girl, who was only about two at the time, got in on the action, though she needs a few more years to be able to play without the additional help from a parent. But as any parent will tell you, within a couple of weeks, the novelty wore off. The air hockey table has since been disassembled and is collecting dust down in the basement.
My kids and I have moved on to bigger and better dreams. Now the latest and greatest is a ping pong table. So here we are again, scouting for sales. But instead of buying a regular old ping pong table, I decided to go for an air hockey ping pong table thingamajig, as I don’t doubt that the novelty might wear off again for the little ones. Here is all the info I gathered to save you the trouble.
Table of Contents
Why Buy an Air Hockey Ping Pong Table Combo?
While air hockey ping pong tables are a little lacking in table tennis due to the thin play surface, they provide the easiest way to gain access to both exciting sports from the comfort of your own home. Many of us struggle to fit one games table into our homes, let alone two, so a combo table makes perfect sense. As mentioned earlier, when you pick up a single game table, such as an air hockey table, you always run the risk of the game becoming stale, leading to a decline in use. Yet, with two sports to enjoy, this is far less likely to happen.
You can play as casually or seriously as you want, and it makes for a great addition to households with children. The rules of both games are straightforward, and anyone can play. You could even start inviting your neighbors or friends over and have a fun mini-tournament โ what’s not to like?
Another benefit to picking up an air hockey and ping pong table combo is the amount of money you’ll save. By purchasing a 2-in-1 table, you get far more value for your money as opposed to having to buy two tables separately.
Which Are the Best Air Hockey Ping Pong Table Combos?
You have no shortage of options regarding these 2-in-1 air hockey and ping pong tables. Features, size, and quality vary noticeably – as does the price. The products listed below are my favorite models but do follow your own judgment based on your requirements.
#1. EastPoint Sports NHL Power Play Air Powered Hockey Table with Table Tennis Top โ Best Overall
Features
- Size: 80″ x 43″ x 32″
- Material: Plastic, alloy steel
- Weight: 166 lbs
- Accessories: 2x pushers, 2x pucks, 2x paddles, 2x balls, 2x steel chrome plates, net and posts
- Warranty:ย 90 days
Pros
- Electronic scoring with soundsย
- Quick setup
- Uses powerful fan
- Leg levelers
Cons
- Poor table tennis table top
- Poor rackets
- Short warrantyย
If a heavy-duty arcade-style table is what you are shooting for, then the NHL Power Play might be the right choice. This 80″ air hockey table has it all: a powerful motor to keep the puck moving fast, leg levelers, and a quick setup period of just 15 minutes. One of the coolest features of this air hockey table is the electronic scoring unit which includes a roaring crowd sound. This gives you full immersion when playing, just like you are at the arcades!
The 80″ play surface is made from a Glazetech compound that resists all forms of weathering. It’s also exceptionally smooth to help the pucks glide and has a nice shine to it. You can’t ask for much more than that! As is often the case with air hockey ping pong table combos, the table tennis top is of much lower quality than the air hockey. It is both thin and made up of three sections. As such, the bounce is poor and can be unpredictable if a ball lands where the table’s edges meet.ย
Another fact you should be aware of is that the table tennis paddles are pretty poor. I strongly recommend picking up a half-decent set of rackets as a replacement, as you’ll have far more fun with them. Overall, the NHL Power Play is a great air hockey ping pong table combo. If you don’t mind the short warranty period and are not a skilled table tennis player, you’ll have a ton of fun with it.
#2. ESPN Sports Air Hockey Game Table
Features
- Size: 72″ x 37″ x 32″
- Material: Metal, engineered wood, PVC
- Weight: 116 lbs
- Accessories: 2x pushers, 3x pucks, 2x paddles, 2x balls, posts and net
- Warranty: 90 days
Pros
- Electric scoringย
- Shelf to store table tennis top
- Storage holder for accessories
- Fan-powered
- Leg levelers
Cons
- Short warrantyย
- Poor table tennis top
- Poor table tennis rackets
At 72″ x 37″ x 32″, the ESPN air hockey ping pong table is the smallest model thus far. Despite its size, it costs a little more than the NHL Power Play. It also shares the same disadvantages as that very table. Firstly, the warranty period is just 90 days. While this is fairly typical for a table in its price range, I would have preferred a little longer, perhaps, say 180 days. Furthermore, the table tennis top and rackets are also rather lacking. The play surface measures 13 mm thick and has a PVC coating. This falls short of the 18 mm MDF surfaces that I love. As a result, you should expect relatively low-quality table tennis โ not great for skilled players. However, it should do the trick just fine if you are a beginner.
Onto what I like about this model. This begins with the reinforced white gloss playfield. Smooth, and powered by air, you won’t experience any dead spots with this table, so the action never stops! You also get the classic arcade-style experience as the ESPN air hockey ping pong table uses an electronic scorer complete with sound effects and additional button controls.
Besides the smaller frame size, this model also makes storing the table tennis top and accessories much easier. Beneath the hockey play surface is a shelf for storing the table tennis top, and on the sides are mounts for all of the accessories. This means whenever you go to play you’re not searching around the house for that one accessory you misplaced.
#3. Atomic Northport 3-in-1 Dining Table
Features
- Size: 87″ x 51″ x 9″
- Material: Wood
- Weight: 462 lbs
- Accessories: 4x pushers, 4x pucks, 2x paddles, 2x balls, posts and net
- Warranty: 30 days
Pros
- Converts into dining table
- Easier to match with home decor
- Abacus scorers
- Features benches with built-in storage
- Fan-powered
- Leg levelers
- Satisfaction guaranteed
Cons
- Incorrect sizing
- Expensiveย
- Heavy
- Short warranty
- No leg levelers
- Poor table tennis rackets
The main difference between the Atomic Northport table and the rest is the fact that this table triples up as a dining table. Finished in an aesthetically pleasing woodgrain, it’s far easier to fit in with homer decor than the other tables. And given its dining purpose, you can situate this table slap bang in the middle of your dining room. No need to find space elsewhere! In just a few minutes, you can go from air hockey to dining, and nobody would be none the wiser!
I really rate the benches that come with this air hockey ping pong table. They feature in-built storage, so you can keep your accessories in one place so they don’t get lost. Unfortunately, as with the others, the rackets are once again pretty lacking, so do yourself a favor and pick up a half-decent set.
As for the size of the Northport, it’s the longest table at 87″ long. This means it’s the closest to commercial hockey tables, which measure 96″. I should note, however, the listing info for the table cites the height as 9″ high. Clearly, this is an error of some kind. Almost all air hockey and ping pong tables measure 32″ tall, and I expect the Northport is no exception.ย
Without a doubt, the biggest drawbacks to this exceptional table are its price and weight. Only consumers with a big budget will be happy with parting from such a large sum of money. What’s more, at 462 lbs this table is by no means simple to move. Remember, this weight includes the benches. Nevertheless, if the table needs moving, you’ll have to get help from a friend or family member.
#4. Hathaway Bandit 5 Ft Air Hockey and Table Tennis Multi-Game Table โ Best Compact Table
Features
- Size: 60″ x 30″ x 32″
- Material: Wood
- Weight: 51ย lbs
- Accessories: 2x pushers, 2x pucks, 2x paddles, 2x balls, posts and net
- Warranty: 180 days
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Abacus scorers
- Fan-powered
- Easy to fit in your home
Cons
- Very light
- Poor table tennis rackets
- Poor table tennis top
As the cheapest air hockey ping pong table on this list, the Hathaway Bandit could be a good option for those working with a limited budget. It’s not far off from being half the ESPN model’s cost, which is certainly very impressive. It also ranks as the smallest table on this list too. Measuring just 60″ x 30″ x 32″, it’s the ultimate table to buy if you are short of space. And don’t worry about this model using push hockey as many small tables do. The Bandit features real air hockey like the rest, thanks to its integrated 110v blower.ย
With such a compact size, naturally, this table is lightweight. While this makes it easy to move around it does mean it is at risk of budging during air hockey which is a bit of pain. I recommend not getting too heavy-handed during matches! Besides the weight, the usual issues of poor quality rackets and a poor quality top are present. The racket handles are too short, and the top is both thin and bendy. Yet for the price, I can hardly complain.
#5. Hall of Games Air Hockey and Table Tennis Table
Features
- Size: 66″ x 34″ x 32″
- Material: Engineered wood, plastic, metal
- Weight: 99ย lbs
- Accessories: 2x pushers, 2x pucks, 2x paddles, 2x balls, posts and net
- Warranty: 90 days
Pros
- Electronic scorer
- Arcade sound effects and button controls
- Fan-powered
- Shelf to store table tennis top
- Storage for accessories
- Leg levelers
Cons
- Short warranty
- Poor table tennis rackets
- Poor table tennis top
The Hall of Games air hockey and ping pong table is another small option, like the Hathaway Bandit. While it is 6″ longer and twice the weight of the Bandit, it is comparatively much lighter than the other combo tables on this list. And despite being 40% more expensive than its smaller rival, it does come with some benefits. These include an electronic scorer, arcade sound effects with button controls, and storage for all accessories and the table tennis top. On the flip side, the Bandit does have twice the warranty length of 180 days, so there are certainly arguments for preferring both.
One quality I certainly do prefer over the Bandit, though is the table top. While it’s still fairly thin and as such, has a poor bounce, it is secured in place by the lip of the hockey play surface. This ensures it doesn’t move around when in use which is a pretty big advantage if you ask me.
#6. Point Games 3-in-1 Multi-Game Table โ Budget Choice
Features
- Size: 20″ x 12″ x 4″
- Material: Engineered wood, MDF
- Weight: 8.5 lbs
- Accessories: 2x pushers, 2x pucks, 2x paddles, 2x balls, net
- Warranty:ย Not listed
Pros
- Highly portable
- Inexpensive
- Multiple games to play
Cons
- Not air powered
- Low quality
As our final air hockey ping pong table combo, we thought we would propose a model for kids. In actual fact, the Point Games table is not an air hockey ping pong table at all, but rather a 3-in-1 multi-game table. This means you can get three fun games to play not just two, the additional game here is foosball, a classic!
Of course, the issue with this table like many other multi-game tables is that with more games, comes lower quality. The table tennis and air hockey boards are a little flimsy, and unsurprisingly, the air hockey has no air power which is a big miss. However, for kids, we still think it’s a good buy. It can provide countless hours of entertainment and it is far cheaper than the other tables on this list. It’s also much smaller and weighs just 8.5 lbs. This means you can easily carry it wherever you need to and store it out of the way when it is not in use.ย
Air Hockey Ping Pong Table Buyer’s Guide
Size
While almost all table tennis air hockey combos are around 32″ in height, their length and width vary. The longer and wider the table, the more enjoyable the games, but consequently, the harder it is to fit into your home. The dimensions of the table you should pursue is very much a question of what size can you comfortably fit into my house. Remember, ait hockey ping pong tables do not fold for storage like foldable ping pong tables.ย
Generally speaking, 7 ft models (84″) provide the best arcade-style air hockey experience, however, if you’re short of space you should instead seek 5-6 ft models instead (72″- 60″).
Blowers
Any quality air hockey table tennis combo will come equipped with a blower to ensure that pucks can glide smoothly across the playing surface. However, some tables do not. Without air power, the pucks tend to get stuck leading to irritating stop-start games. I don’t want you to suffer with this so every model on this list includes blowers.
Electronic vs Abacus Scorers
Air hockey tables with ping pong tops use either electronic scoring, abacus scoring, both, or neither.
Electronic scoring automatically tallies goals and usually includes other nifty features like interactive LED lighting and arcade-style sound effects. While more entertaining, it is a common area to develop a fault after extended use.
Abacus scorers are instead manual. When a player scores a goal you move a bead to track the game. Of course, this is less enthralling, but it does have the benefit of being reliable.
Warranty
Warranty varies wildly depending on which model you pick up. The shortest coverage period available is usually around 30 days, with 90 days being the most common. However, if you invest more money into a higher-quality table you can take advantage of lifetime warranty.
Accessories
Almost all ping pong air hockey table combos come with all of the necessary accessories included. The issue is that they are frequently very low quality. So while you might be able to get playing right away, take into account that you may want to buy some better accessories separately.ย
Conclusion
Air hockey ping pong tables are great purchases if you lack the space to house two game tables. Of course, you should not expect top performance for each game as multi-game tables pale in comparison when competing with specialized tables. This is most evident when playing table tennis on air hockey ping pong tables. They are fun, but the quality is nowhere close to the level of a standard table tennis table.
With that out of the way, time to highlight our favorites. In our opinion, the best overall table currently available is the EastPoint Sports NHL Power Play. Well-priced, fun to play on, and beautiful looking, it’s exactly the sort of table you are likely seeking. However, if you want the cheapest table possible perhaps instead consider the Point Games 3-in-1 table. The quality is rather lacking, but its price and portability may make it alluring to some buyers.
If you’re not convinced an air hockey ping pong combo is for you, perhaps check out this great multi-game table guide. Many of these tables often include more sports. A great example are ping pong air hockey pool tables.ย
FAQs
What Is a Full-Size Air Hockey Table?
According to the United States Air Hockey Association (USAA), legal full-size tables measure 8 ft in length. However, there is no set requirement for a table’s width. That being said, most are around 4 ft.
Can You Play Ping Pong on an Air Hockey Table?
You can play ping pong on an air hockey table by purchasing a ping pong table top. These convert already existing surfaces into makeshift table tennis tables. Most conversion tops are full-size at 9 ft x 5 ft. This means. Ideally you’ll want a full-size air hockey table, too, which measures 8ft x 4ft. This way, there is only a little overhang of the table tennis top.
Is it Difficult to Change the Tables/Games?
Changing games on an air hockey ping pong table is a quick and straightforward process. More often than not, it is simply a case of placing the table tennis top on the hockey play surface. The top is usually made of two or more parts, and either slots into the raised lip of the table or just rests on top.
Read also:
Alex Horscroft
Freelance writer. Table tennis enthusiast. Lover of all things online. When Iโm not working on my loop game Iโm probably binge-watching some fantasy show.
