Air Hockey Table CFM and Airflow, Explained

CFM is the number you'll see on almost every air hockey table, and it's easy to assume bigger is better. It isn't that simple. Here's what CFM means, what else shapes how the puck glides, and how we balance each of our tables.

In this guide: What CFM means · Why more isn't always better · What balances airflow · How we balance our tables · Keeping the air flowing · FAQ

What Does CFM Mean on an Air Hockey Table?

CFM stands for cubic feet per minute: the amount of air the blower motor moves. The motor pushes air up through small, evenly spaced holes in the playfield, and the puck rides on that cushion of air. CFM affects how well the puck glides and how fast it moves.

Airflow scales with the table. Small tabletop tables can run around 50 CFM, and commercial arcade tables can reach 200 or even 300 CFM. Home tables sit between the two, and the right number for each one depends on its size.

Why More CFM Isn't Always Better

Airflow has to match the table. If it's too strong for a smaller table, play gets too fast and the puck lifts and flies off the table. If it's too weak for a large table, the puck drags before it reaches the far goal. A well-made table balances the airflow against everything else that affects the glide, so the puck stays fast, flat, and on the table.

Five Things That Balance Airflow

• Table size. The bigger the playfield, the more air it needs to reach every corner. That's why our largest table, the 7.5 ft Camden, has our strongest airflow at 120 CFM.
• Puck weight. A puck that's too light lifts and flies under strong airflow, and one that's too heavy drags under weak airflow. That's why pucks are sized to the table: our tables use 2.5 in pucks up to 72 in long and 3 in pucks from 84 in.
• Motor power and placement. When a motor sits off center, the air thins out far from it and leaves dead spots where the puck slows. One motor in the center, or two motors at opposite ends, spreads the air evenly. Every Barrington table uses a single center-mounted motor.
• Air holes and channels. Evenly spaced holes, fed by well-built air channels, deliver the same lift across the whole surface. The Urban 5 ft, for example, uses 12 mm air channels.
• Surface coating. A high-gloss or UV scratch-resistant coating cuts friction, so the puck glides on less air and the playfield stays smooth for years.

Darker holes mean stronger airflow. Every Barrington air hockey table mounts its motor in the center.

How We Balance Each Barrington Table

Each of our tables pairs its airflow with a center-mounted motor, a coated playfield, and pucks sized to the table.

Airflow from our product specifications. Puck size is the size of our replacement kit for each table's length.

• The Camden 7.5 ft has our strongest airflow at 120 CFM, for the largest playfield in our range and the fastest play.
• The Grant 6 ft runs 75 CFM. Its high-gloss playfield keeps friction low, and it plays with 2.5 in pucks, so the puck glides fast without lifting.
• The Urban 5 ft and Urban 7 ft each run 80 CFM over a UV scratch-resistant playfield, with 12 mm air channels on the 5 ft.
• Our multi-game tables, the Urban 3-in-1 and Coventry 4-in-1, run at 70 CFM, matched to their 45 in air hockey playfields.

Even air holes, end to end. The Urban 7 ft

3 in pucks for a full-size table. The Camden 7.5 ft

Keeping the Air Flowing

Even the best motor can't push air through a blocked hole. Wipe the playfield with a microfiber cloth while the motor runs, so dust blows out instead of settling in, and keep liquid cleaners and wax off the surface. Our guide How to Clean and Care for an Air Hockey Table walks through cleaning, clearing clogged holes, and replacing pucks and pushers.

Shop Air Hockey

Air Hockey Tables · 75 to 120 CFMUrban, Grant, and Camden, each with a center-mounted motor. Pushers, Pucks, and CoversPucks sized for 60 to 72 in and 84 to 96 in tables. Multi-Game TablesAir hockey at 70 CFM, plus foosball and more.

Frequently Asked Questions