Short answer: A new multicade upright is the cheapest full-size home arcade machine, an original 1980s cabinet costs a little more, and commercial racing or shooting machines run into five figures. A standard upright is about 22 by 25 inches and 65 to 71 inches tall; a cocktail table about 35 by 25 inches and 27 inches tall.
A home arcade machine is either an original coin-operated cabinet from the 1980s or 1990s, a new multicade with dozens of games on one board, or a smaller cocktail or table-top cabinet built for a room that cannot take a full upright. Each costs a different amount, takes different space and suits a different kind of owner. This guide gives the prices from our own floor, the dimensions that decide whether a machine fits, and a straight answer on original versus multicade.
What arcade machines cost right now
Read from the live catalogue at the time of writing; prices change as machines sell, and every figure is before the flat $200 freight.
| Type | Lowest | Typical (median) | Highest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multicade and multi-game cabinets | $510 | $1,356 | $16,926 |
| Used and refurbished original cabinets | $810 | $1,530 | $23,694 |
| Cocktail table cabinets | $678 | $1,014 | $3,246 |
| Coffee table cabinets | $510 | $1,356 | $3,246 |
| Sports machines (basketball, air hockey, bowlers) | $3,384 | $4,740 | $9,480 |
| Driving cabinets | $2,028 | $15,570 | $29,112 |
| Commercial-grade machines | $2,034 | $4,740 | $35,202 |
For a particular kind of machine, see air hockey tables, basketball arcade machines and fighting and beat ’em up arcade machines.
The pattern is simple. A new multicade upright is the cheapest full-size machine you can put in a house, at roughly the price of a good television. An original cabinet with its period board and artwork costs about the same or a little more for a common title, and far more for a famous one in good condition. Driving, shooting and commercial machines are priced for arcades and family entertainment centres, not living rooms.
Original cabinet or multicade?
If Pac-Man is on your shortlist, the Pac-Man arcade machine guide explains the original, reunion and multicade options before you compare cabinet formats.
An original is the actual machine that stood in an arcade: one game, the period circuit board, a CRT monitor in most cases, and cabinet artwork that has aged for thirty or forty years. You buy it because you want that game, that cabinet and that history. It will need an owner willing to learn a little about monitors and boards, or a technician nearby.
A multicade is a new cabinet built around a modern board that carries sixty or more classic titles, with an LCD monitor, new controls and a new power supply. You buy it because you want the arcade experience without the maintenance, or because you cannot choose between Pac-Man, Galaga and Donkey Kong. The trade is authenticity: the games are emulated, the monitor is flat, and the cabinet is a modern reproduction.
Every listing on our arcade pages says which it is and, for multicades, what board and how many titles are inside. Originals are listed with wear documented; ask for current photos of the unit.
Will it fit? The numbers
- New upright cabinet: the 44 standard uprights on our floor measure about 22 inches wide, 25 inches deep and 65 to 71 inches tall, and weigh 165 to 250 lb. They pass a 30-inch doorway upright on a dolly and need two people to move.
- Original 1980s upright: larger and heavier than a new-build cabinet. An original Pac-Man is about 25 inches wide, 32 inches deep and 67 inches tall, around 250 lb.
- Cocktail table: about 35 inches wide, 25 inches deep and 27 inches tall, 99 to 198 lb. Two players sit opposite each other, and it doubles as a table.
- Coffee table: about 35 by 27 inches and only 18 to 27 inches tall, 110 to 165 lb, low enough to sit beside a sofa.
- Sit-down racing cabinets: the biggest home option, typically about 45 inches wide, 84 inches long and 93 inches tall, and 165 to 690 lb. Twin cabinets are two of these side by side. Measure twice.
The exact dimensions and weight are listed on every product page under Specifications, and the crated size is what has to fit through the door on delivery day.
Power, noise and floors
A multicade with an LCD draws well under 200 watts and runs from any household outlet. Original cabinets with CRT monitors draw more, 200 to 400 watts, and the monitor hums audibly in a quiet room. No machine on this list needs a dedicated circuit. Hard floors are fine; on carpet, put the machine on a mat so it can be slid rather than lifted.
What “used” and “refurbished” mean on our floor
Used means inspected, tested and sold as described, with wear listed. Refurbished means shop-serviced: cleaned, new controls or monitor where fitted, tested boards and a listing that says what was replaced. Both carry the dealer warranty; new multicades carry the maker’s warranty on the board and monitor. The condition is stated on every listing and is part of the price.
Freight, delivery and setup
Arcade machines ship crated on a pallet. Our rate is a flat $200 to any US address with curbside delivery by appointment; getting the crate from the curb to the room is your side, and two adults with a furniture dolly can do it. Setup is plugging in and levelling. Read the shipping policy for what to check before you sign for the delivery.
Which one to buy
If you are considering a pinball machine alongside an arcade cabinet, use the pinball buyer’s guide for the separate condition, gameplay and care questions that matter to that choice.
For a family game room where several people will play: a multicade upright, or a cocktail table if space is tight. For a collector who wants the real thing: an original cabinet of a title you already love, bought serviced. For a bar, office or rental: a sports machine or a commercial-grade cabinet built to be played hard. Browse all arcade video game machines for sale, or start with the multicade and multi-game cabinets.
Quick answers
How much does an arcade machine cost? On our floor, multicade uprights currently run from $510 to $16,926 with a typical price of $1,356; original used cabinets from $810; commercial driving and shooting machines from $2,028 up to $35,202.
What is a multicade? A new arcade cabinet built around a modern board that carries sixty or more classic games, with an LCD monitor and new controls.
How big is an arcade machine? A new upright cabinet is about 22 inches wide, 25 inches deep and 65 to 71 inches tall, and weighs 165 to 250 lb; an original 1980s upright is a little bigger, about 25 by 32 by 67 inches. Cocktail tables are about 35 by 25 inches and 27 inches tall.
Is an original arcade cabinet worth it? If you want a specific game and its history, yes, bought serviced. If you want variety and no maintenance, a multicade is the better home machine.
More guides
- How to choose a pinball machine
- How to play pinball: rules, flipper skills and tips
- The 20-minute monthly maintenance routine
- Pinball machine dimensions and weight
- How to move a pinball machine
- The best pinball machines of all time
- How much does a pinball machine cost?
- Pinball machine repair: what breaks and what it costs
- Pac-Man arcade machine guide
- The 20 best arcade games of all time
- Bubble hockey tables: how they play and what they cost
- Pinball machine manufacturers: who makes pinball today