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What Table Tennis Tables Are Used In The Olympics? Official Standards

Ever wondered what kind of Table Tennis Table athletes compete on? Spoiler alert, it’s not your average rec-room setup. The Olympics use competition-approved tables from world-class manufacturers, each featuring a 25mm top for flawless bounce and precision during elite play. If you’ve ever asked who makes Olympic luxury table tennis tables or whether Olympic tables are smaller than the ones you play on, you’re about to find out.

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The Official Table is Chosen by the ITTF and Olympic Committee

Every Olympic Table Tennis Table starts its journey long before the opening ceremony. Behind every match, there’s a partnership between the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) and the Olympic Committee, both obsessed with fairness and technical perfection.

How a Single Brand is Selected as the Official Equipment Sponsor for Each Games

Each Olympic Games crowns just one official table supplier, and that spot is harder to earn than a gold medal. Brands undergo intense testing, everything from surface friction to ball bounce uniformity, to prove they can handle the world’s fastest rallies.

Once selected, the chosen brand provides hundreds of identical tables for competitions and practice arenas. Even the ping pong balls and paddles used in the Olympics come from approved suppliers, ensuring every player steps up to a perfectly level playing field.

The Dominant Brands Seen in Recent Olympic Games

A handful of brands have earned their Olympic stripes, producing luxury table tennis tables that blend artistry with engineering. These names are trusted by champions, and envied by everyone else.

The Official Tables for Recent Olympic Games

Recent Olympics have featured Japanese-engineered tables that set new standards in design and precision. The official models used in Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 featured a 25mm anti-glare blue surface and a hybrid steel–aluminium undercarriage engineered to stay perfectly stable, even under the most aggressive smashes.

Designed with clean lines and subtle curves, these tables expressed minimalist aesthetics at their finest. Players praised the seamless bounce and excellent light-control, especially under intense broadcast lighting during global coverage.

The Tables Used at the Rio 2016 and Beijing 2008 Games

Earlier Olympic Games showcased Chinese-engineered models proudly used at Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016.
Their signature deep-green surfaces, premium wood-composite construction, and reinforced steel frames became synonymous with elite play at the time.

If you’ve ever wondered who manufactures Olympic-level tables, these producers remain among the most respected in the world.
Their engineering helped define the high-tech standards now expected from modern professional table tennis tables.

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What Makes an Olympic-Standard Table So Special?

Olympic tables are the Ferraris of the ping pong world, sleek, powerful, and precision-built. Every bounce, every edge, every colour tone is calibrated to perfection for the world’s best players.

It Must be Fully Approved by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)

Before any table reaches the Olympic floor, it must earn the ITTF “Approved Competition Table” certification, the highest tier of quality control in the sport.

This includes dozens of tests measuring surface gloss, ball rebound, elasticity, and environmental resistance. Every approved table guarantees identical play conditions, so victory always comes down to skill, not equipment.

A 25mm (or thicker) Top for a Perfect, Uniform, and Consistent Bounce

All Olympic tables feature a minimum 25mm playing surface, crafted from high-density wood composites. This thickness gives the ball that crisp, professional bounce, the kind that instantly feels “right” to experienced players.

It’s the reason pros can predict every spin and return with near-superhuman accuracy. Anything thinner just doesn’t cut it at Olympic level.

Exceptional Stability and Build Quality to Withstand Professional Use

Each Olympic table is built to last. The frame is usually a mix of steel and aluminium, engineered for complete stability. Even when players unleash lightning-fast rallies, there’s zero vibration or movement.

These tables can weigh over 150 kilograms, a level of sturdiness that ensures the surface stays perfectly flat, year after year.

A Specific Anti-Glare and Anti-Skid Surface Finish (Usually Blue or Black)

That signature blue or black finish isn’t just for looks. The colour is scientifically chosen to reduce glare under powerful stadium lighting and make the white ping pong balls used in the Olympics stand out more clearly.

The surface is also coated with anti-skid technology, giving players a predictable grip on every spin, no surprises, no excuses, just precision.

Can You Buy the Same Table Used in the Olympics?

Here’s the good news: you can. The bad news? It might cost more than your car.

Yes, an Identical Model (or a Replica) is Usually Available for Public Purchase

Some manufacturers release public versions of their Olympic tables, identical in design, materials, and bounce quality.
These are the models found in elite clubs, national training centres, and the homes of die-hard enthusiasts who want the true professional experience.

Owning one is like having a slice of the Olympics in your living room, just add a gold medal and a slow-motion replay camera.

The High Cost Associated with Buying an Olympic-Specification Table

An authentic Olympic-quality table is built to elite competition standards, with some custom editions reaching well into the high-end luxury range.

The price reflects not just the materials but the research, testing, and certification behind each build. It’s not just a table, it’s an investment in world-class engineering.

Are Other Brands Used in Major Professional Tournaments?

While certain manufacturers dominate the Olympics, the professional circuit is filled with other heavy-hitters that share the same elite standards for competitive play.

Yes, Other Competition-Approved Manufacturers Are Common

You’ll often see a variety of competition-approved tables used in major professional events, including top-tier international tournaments and European championships.
These models meet strict standards for bounce quality, surface consistency, and overall durability, making them suitable for elite-level play.

They might look different, but when it comes to play quality, they’re all built for the same purpose: precision and consistency.

How Different World Tour Events May Have Different Official Table Sponsors

Not every tournament uses the same sponsor. One event might use one competition-approved table, while another uses a different manufacturer altogether.
These sponsorships rotate, ensuring global exposure and variety in design but never at the expense of fairness.

Every ITTF-approved table still follows Olympic standards, so no player ever faces a disadvantage because of the equipment.

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FAQ: Olympic Table Tennis Tables

What brand of table tennis table do professional players use?

Professional players usually compete on tables approved for Olympic and international federation events.
Other trusted competition-grade manufacturers are also common at world-level tournaments, all meeting the same standards for bounce, surface quality, and durability.

How much does an Olympic-quality table tennis table cost?

An Olympic-specification table can range from £3,000 to £6,000, depending on the model and brand. Custom or limited-edition versions, like those used in televised finals, can easily exceed £10,000.

What colour are Olympic table tennis tables and why?

Olympic tables are usually dark blue or black. These colours reduce glare, improve ball visibility on camera, and enhance focus under bright lighting. It’s not just aesthetic it’s performance-driven design.

What are the 5 equipments in table tennis?

The five essentials are:

  1. The table itself

  2. The net and post set

  3. The ping pong paddles

  4. The ping pong balls

  5. The player’s uniform and footwear

All are regulated by the ITTF for consistency across professional events.

Are the table tennis tables smaller in the Olympics?

Nope, Olympic tables are the same size as standard professional tables: 2.74m long, 1.525m wide, and 76cm high. The difference is in the build Olympic tables are made to the highest precision, with superior bounce and durability.

At the end of the day, the Olympic Table Tennis Table is more than a piece of sports gear, it’s a symbol of craftsmanship, fairness, and human precision. Whether built by a current or former Olympic supplier, when paired with official competition balls and professional paddles, it represents the very best of elite play, where every millisecond and every bounce counts.

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