Indoor or Outdoor, What are the differences?

When looking to buy a billiard table, ping-pong table, or foosball table—whether for design or leisure—you’ll often come across the terms indoor or outdoor. As you might guess, the first is meant for indoor use only, while the second can be used anywhere.
But what exactly are the differences? Materials? Manufacturing? Let’s take a closer look.

First, it’s important to know that these table sports (ping-pong, billiards, foosball) were originally designed as indoor activities, and the tables were traditionally made of wood (solid wood or particleboard, depending on the range). It was the manufacturers’ desire to expand their market and reach all types of customers (especially individuals) that led them to develop outdoor-friendly versions. This meant that the tables had to withstand water, frost, cold, heat, and UV exposure.

Using wood was out of the question since even the best exotic woods require regular maintenance, especially for horizontal surfaces. The ideal material turned out to be HPL (High-Pressure Laminate)—a highly durable, non-porous material made of compressed Kraft paper sheets bonded together with resin under high pressure. HPL is extremely resistant and completely rot-proof, making it the go-to material for nearly all outdoor gaming tables today, including children’s playground equipment. Of course, HPL comes in different qualities (some resembling melamine more than true HPL). Fundermax is a European and global reference (all Gamin products are made with Fundermax), alongside other well-known brands such as Trespa and Formica.

While some manufacturers still offer exotic wood legs, most major brands have switched to galvanized steel frames, which provide corrosion protection without requiring paint. Large industrial manufacturers often use thin profiles and tubes to keep the tables lightweight (around 60kg for a standard table), but this comes at the cost of stability, durability, and long-term resistance. These lightweight structures, combined with thin tabletops, often result in tables that warp or break under strong winds.

Only tables designed for public spaces (campgrounds, city parks, recreation centers) are made with truly solid structures (steel or even concrete), as they are intended to stay outdoors year-round without supervision.

The same principle applies to foosball tables, where HPL and steel are the primary materials, along with some durable plastics. If you're considering leaving a foosball table outside, pay close attention to the hardware—it should be made of stainless steel, not chrome-plated steel. Although they may look the same, chrome-plated steel has much lower corrosion resistance and is commonly used in indoor foosball tables.

An outdoor model is not an indestructible model. Looking at public-use tables, you’ll notice that their lifespan is still limited due to exposure and lack of maintenance. This applies even more to high-end tables, which require regular care and specific precautions.

For example:

This is why Gamin provides a protective cover with all its outdoor models.
To explore the full range of Gamin’s indoor and outdoor products, click HERE.