If you’re setting up a billiards room in your house, you’ll need more than just a pool table. You’ll also need cues, chalk, a ball rack and potentially a felt brush. While you could just leave these items scattered everywhere and stack your cues up in the corner, purchasing a billiard cue rack is a much better solution. They allow you to keep these items organized while adding to the aesthetic appeal of the room.
Pool cue racks come in several materials, colors and capacities, though many find wood options like the Hathaway Classic Floor Billiard Pool Cue Rack to be the classiest. In addition to 10 cues, this model has room for balls, a ball rack and four built-in drink holders.
What to know before you buy a billiard cue rack
Do you want to mount it?
The first decision when choosing a billiard cue rack is whether you prefer a wall-mounted or freestanding option. One of the main benefits of wall-mounted options is that they don’t take up any floor space. This can be important if you don’t have a lot of extra space around your pool table. It also makes it less likely a clumsy guest could accidentally bump into the rack and knock it over.
Freestanding options are convenient because you don’t have to drill into your walls or worry about making them level. If choosing a freestanding rack, look for one with a wide and stable base so it won’t tip over easily if bumped into.
Aesthetics
The aesthetic of a billiard cue rack is just as important for cultivating an ambiance as that of the pool table itself. This is determined by the color, material and design. You can find pool cue racks made from resin, plastic or wood, with wood offering the most classic look. Plastic and resin racks are most often black or a mahogany color, while wood options come in a range of different woods and stains. Many people opt for a wood billiard cue rack that matches the color of their pool table and, if possible, the wood type and overall style too.
Billiard cue rack features
Capacity
Billiard cue racks come in different capacities. Some hold as few as four cues, while others hold up to 10 or more. If you don’t have a lot of cues, there’s no reason to buy a large rack with huge capacity unless you plan on expanding your cue collection in the future. Most find having a cue rack that perfectly matches their cue collection or which only has one or two empty spots to be more attractive than one with a lot of empty spots.
Additional storage
Along with cues, some billiard cue racks are designed to accommodate the balls and the ball rack. The most elaborate models have room for a couple of ball racks, drawers or other spots for chalk and a designated place for a felt brush.
Drink holders
Playing pool and drinking go hand in hand. The last thing you want to do is place your beverage on the edge of the table where it could get knocked over by an errant cue and potentially stain or damage the felt. With this in mind, you may want to opt for a pool cue rack with drink holders.
Billiard cue rack cost
Basic billiard cue racks can be found for $10-$30. These generally have a low capacity and no extra features. In the $30-$100 range, you can find options that accommodate a lot of cues and have spaces for balls, drinks and/or ball racks. Above this price point, you begin to get into premium options that are more elaborate, potentially handmade and/or crafted from expensive woods.
Billiard cue rack FAQ
Is a billiard cue rack necessary?
A. Billiard cue racks aren’t necessary, but they’re recommended. People who don’t have cue racks often leave their cues on the table, which could wind up damaging the felt. They also tend to leave them leaning up against a corner, which can result in the cues becoming warped over time.
Can I just build my own cue rack?
A. If you have woodworking experience, there’s no reason you can’t craft your own cue rack. However, unless you’re doing it simply for the joy of working with your hands, you may find that after the investment of time spent building it and the material cost, it would have been cheaper to just buy a prefabricated option.
Which billiard cue rack should I get?
Best of the best billiard cue rack
Hathaway Classic Floor Billiard Pool Cue Rack: available at Amazon and Wayfair
Our take: Crafted from solid wood, this attractive option is durable and will add a bit of class to any game room.
What we like: It doesn’t take up too much space yet is still very stable. Plus, it features four drink holders and a spot for your ball rack.
What we dislike: Some may not like how short it is.
Best bang for your buck billiard cue rack
Iszy Billiards 6 Cue and Ball Wall Rack: available at Amazon and Wayfair
Our take: Surprisingly affordable for its features and build quality, it’s hard to beat this option when it comes to value for the money.
What we like: In addition to cues, it has storage spots for balls and a ball rack. It doesn’t protrude far from the wall either, making it a good choice for those without a lot of space around their pool table.
What we dislike: The bottom shelf doesn’t have any mounting points, which makes it feel a little unstable when pulling cues out.
Honorable mention billiard cue rack
Outlaw Standard 6 Pool Cue Stained Wood Wall Rack: available at Amazon
Our take: This simple wall-mounted option is ideal for someone on a tight budget who doesn’t need any frills.
What we like: Cues snap securely into place in its clips, so they won’t fall if accidentally bumped into, and the two-piece design allows you to choose how far apart you want to space the top and bottom pieces.
What we dislike: The included mounting hardware is low-quality. Brett Dvoretz is a writer for BestReviews. BestReviews is a product review company with a singular mission: to help simplify your purchasing decisions and save you time and money.
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