• Hanging a pool table light is critical for true enjoyment of the game.Pool table image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
  
  

Cover the Whole Space Adequately

• Some people think a single light will be adequate to provide lighting for your pool table. However, a light that focuses more on one section of a pool table takes away from your view. According to Billiards.com, ideally, a light should be between 40 and 60 inches long, depending on the size of the table, and the bed and rails of the table must receive at least 520 lux (48 footcandles) of light at every point.
  
  

Allow Ample Room to Maneuver

• Lights that are 40 to 60 inches long take up a great deal of space, so it's critical that you makes sure players can still maneuver adequately under the light. Billiards.com recommends that the bottom of the light should be between 36 and 42 inches above the table. Then test to see if people can maneuver around the table.
  
  

Bottom Line

• While there is no exact answer for the length and positioning of a pool table light, it is important to have other people test out the light's quality and position. Someone else can tell you to raise or lower a light slightly to provide better lighting for the table and can then test to see if players can still maneuver under the chosen height of a light. As long as the whole table is clearly lit and players can move, the height is acceptable.