Can a Shuffleboard Table Fit in an Elevator?

Installing a shuffleboard table in an upper-floor office, condominium, or game room can seem impossible when elevator and hallway access are limited. With a two-piece playboard and sectional cabinet, even a full-size shuffleboard table can often be transported by elevator and assembled inside the room

At McClure Tables, we custom-build all of our shuffleboard tables to fit your specific requirements. For example, we once created a 22-foot table cabinet in three separate pieces to navigate a tight corner in a home and fit down a staircase. In another case, we designed a 12-foot table with the cabinet in two pieces and the playing surface in two pieces. The total length of the main boxes was only 6 feet, making it easy to fit into most elevators.

When dealing with a one-piece playboard, even one that is 12 feet long, it has a length of 10 feet 8 inches. In some elevators, it may be possible to lift the board diagonally. However, if you're working with a 3-inch-thick hard maple playboard, it can be quite awkward to hold a board weighing more than 200 pounds. At an angle across the corner of an elevator. Additionally, while there may be no height restrictions in certain situations, it's still challenging to stand such a heavy and dense item on its edge.

A two-piece playboard allows a full-size shuffleboard table to be transported in shorter, more manageable sections and assembled inside the room. Customers sometimes worry that the seam will affect the game or that a two-piece board will not play like a traditional one-piece board. When properly constructed and installed, however, there is no difference in play or performance. The playing surface aligns precisely and performs as one continuous board.

For a closer look at its construction and installation, read our guide to how two-piece shuffleboard playboards solve difficult delivery challenges.

This 12-foot shuffleboard table was installed in a fourth-floor office in downtown Chicago. Access began in a narrow alley behind the building, where the table arrived in shorter, securely packaged sections. Because both the cabinet and playboard were built in two pieces, the longest sections were only approximately six feet long.

The separate components could be maneuvered through the building, placed inside the elevator, and transported to the fourth floor without forcing a full-length solid-maple playboard through the restricted access route. Once inside the office, our installers assembled the cabinet, joined and aligned the two-piece playboard, and carefully leveled the completed table.

The finished table plays exactly like a comparable one-piece model. The sectional construction made it possible to install a full-size shuffleboard table in a location where delivering a traditional one-piece playboard would have been much more difficult.

Before ordering, measure the entire delivery path—not only the room where the table will be installed. Important measurements include:

• Elevator door width, interior width, depth, and ceiling height
• Hallway widths and available turning space
• Building and room doorways
• Stair widths, landings, and ceiling clearance
• Loading-dock or entrance access
• Tight corners between the entrance and final location

Photos or a short video of the delivery route can also help identify potential obstacles. With accurate measurements, we can determine whether a one-piece playboard will fit or whether a two-piece playboard and sectional cabinet will be necessary.

We can create a two-piece playboard for any size shuffleboard table. When we manufacture a two-piece playboard, we start with a standard one-piece board. After cutting the board, we rejoin it during the finishing process, ensuring that the playing performance remains identical to that of a one-piece board. Whether you need a 12-foot shuffleboard table or a 22-foot table, we can produce any size in a two-piece design.

We often receive concerns about how the two-piece table performs, but everyone who was hesitant to purchase one finds peace of mind once they start enjoying the game. Many people comment, "I had no idea it would play exactly the same as a one-piece board." 

We’d be happy to help plan your upper-floor installation. Send us any available photos or a short video of the delivery path, along with the elevator, hallway, doorway, and turning-space measurements. We can then recommend the best cabinet and playboard configuration for your location.

Our 12-foot Lexington is available with a two-piece cabinet and two-piece playboard, making it a practical choice for elevators, stairs, and other difficult-access locations. It is regularly stocked and may be available for faster delivery. Contact us to discuss your room and delivery path, and we’ll help determine whether it is the right table for your office or home.