Equipments

The tables playing surface is approximately 9 by 4.5 feet (2.7 by 1.4 m) (regulation size), though some leagues and tournaments using the World Standardized Rules may allow smaller sizes, down to 7 by 3.5 feet (2.1 by 1.1 m), and early 20th century 10 by 5 feet (3.0 by 1.5 m) models are sometimes also used.

There are seven solid colored balls numbered 1 through 7, seven striped balls numbered 9 through 15, an 8 ball, and a cue ball. The balls are usually colored as follows:

1 and 9: yellow

2 and 10: blue

3 and 11: red

4 and 12: purple (TV: pink)1

5 and 13: orange

6 and 14: green

7 and 15: brown (TV: tan)1

8 black

Cue white

1 Special sets designed to be more easily discernible on television substitute a rather light tan shade for the normally darker brown of the 7 and 15 balls, and pink for the dark purple of the 4 and 12; these alternative color sets are now also available to consumers.