You can use your phone for a first pass at leveling a pool table: place a level app flat on the cloth, check it lengthwise, widthwise and diagonally, and adjust the leg levelers until it reads 0 degrees, then confirm with a rolling ball. A phone will not fix an uneven slate, though. That takes shims and a precise level, which is a job for a professional.
A pool table that is out of level makes balls drift, so it is worth checking when you set the table up or after you move it. This guide shows what a phone level app can do well, how to test the result with a ball, and when to stop and call an installer.
Need a level for your phone?
Try Bubble Level by MaslonLabs →Level vs. Flat: What a Phone Can and Cannot Do
Level means the whole table is horizontal. Flat means the playing surface has no dips or steps, for example where slate sections meet. Billiards experts point out that if the slate is not flat, it is hard for the table to be level at all.
- A phone is good for checking that the table is roughly level and for adjusting the leg levelers.
- A phone is not enough for shimming the slate itself. Professional leveling uses thin shims under the slate and a precise level, and the slate is heavy, so it should be left to an installer.
What You Need
- An Android phone with a level app. See our comparison of the best level apps for Android.
- A wrench or screwdriver for the leg levelers, and shims if your floor is uneven.
- A cue ball for the roll test.
Get the Phone Ready
- Take the phone case off so the phone sits flat.
- Calibrate the app on a surface you know is level (see how to use your phone as a level).
- Use the flat-surface mode. In Bubble Level: Spirit Level Tool, Surface Mode shows both directions at once.
- Clear the table of balls and keep the phone away from pockets and cushions.
How to Level a Pool Table With Your Phone
- Place the phone flat on the cloth in the middle of the table and note the angle in both directions.
- Check several spots and directions: lengthwise, widthwise and diagonally, including near the corners.
- Find the low side. Raise it by turning the leg leveler on that side with a wrench or screwdriver, a little at a time. If the floor is uneven, shims under the leg can help.
- Recheck after every adjustment, and keep going until the reading is 0 degrees in all the spots you checked.
- Tighten all leg fasteners and shake the table gently from different sides to confirm it does not wobble.
- Finish with the ball test below.
The Ball Test
A ball shows what a level app cannot. Place the cue ball in the center of the table and give it a gentle push toward each pocket in turn. On a level table, the ball rolls straight and stops naturally. Also roll it across the slate seams: it should not hop. If the ball keeps drifting in the same direction, the table is still out of level or the slate is not flat.
When to Call a Professional
- The ball still drifts after you have leveled the legs.
- The cloth feels uneven where the slate sections meet, or the ball hops over a seam.
- You need to move or reassemble the table. The slate is heavy and easy to damage.
- Your floor is badly uneven or flexes under the table.
See also our guides on leveling a washing machine or fridge, leveling an RV or camper and hanging pictures straight with your phone.
Ready to check your table?
Get Bubble Level by MaslonLabs →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I level a pool table with a phone?
Yes, for a first pass. Place a level app flat on the cloth, check several spots and directions, and adjust the leg levelers until it reads 0 degrees. Then confirm with a rolling ball. A phone cannot level the slate itself, which needs shims and a precise level.
How do I know if my pool table is level?
Use a level in several directions (lengthwise, widthwise and diagonally), then roll the cue ball gently toward each pocket. On a level table the ball rolls straight and stops naturally.
What is the difference between level and flat?
Level means the whole surface is horizontal. Flat means there are no dips or steps in the playing surface, for example at the slate seams. If the slate is not flat, the table is hard to level.
Should I level the legs or the slate?
You can adjust the leg levelers to bring the table close to level. Leveling the slate itself means shimming under the slate pieces, and the slate is heavy, so it is better left to a professional.
How accurate is a phone as a pool table level?
Accuracy depends on the phone sensor and the app, and calibration helps. A phone is fine for a first check. Professionals use a precise machinist level, so use a ball test to confirm and call an installer if the ball still drifts.
