If you’re considering buying a table tennis conversion top for your family to use at home, there are several different factors that you’ll need to decide between in order to make the purchase that’s best for you.

Just some of the factors that you’ll be able to choose from include size, durability, style (to some degree), manufacturing brand, and, of course, price. Let’s look at some of the options for each of these categories so you have a better idea of what to look for when it comes time to make a selection.

Table tennis conversion tops come in different sizes. Choosing the size that’s right for you is not about the size you want; rather, it’s about how big the dimensions of your existing table (usually a pool table) are. You need a conversion top that will fit correctly to the table you are converting. Because the ping pong top fits overtop the pool table, getting the right size is essential both to let the ping pong table work, and to protect the pool table surface underneath.

Another factor to consider is what you want your conversion top to be able to withstand. For example, most people choose indoor tops. But there are outdoor/weatherproof tops available, if you so desire. Generally these cost a little more, so if you’re going to buy one, make sure you intend to use it; otherwise it’s extra money spent for no reason.

Then there is style. Most ping pong table tops will be similar: they will sit atop the existing table, they include two posts (and a net to attach to them), and they fold in half for easy removal and storage. There are different styles of how the top will actually rest on the table. The style you choose will probably depend on the style of your pool table.

There are many manufacturers that produce table tennis conversion tops, but the most common are Stiga, Kilpatrick, DMI, and Prince Sports. Finally, price is another choice you’ll make. Conversion tops in the $150-$200 range are probably best for you if you’re picking this up as a casual family game that you assume your kids will outgrow. However, if you want the top to be usable and durable for a longer period of time, the pricier models may be well worth your investment.