Short answer: A full-size pinball machine is about 28 inches wide, 55 to 56 inches deep and 76 to 77 inches tall, and weighs 250 to 300 pounds. A standard upright arcade cabinet is smaller: about 22 by 25 inches and 65 to 71 inches tall, 165 to 250 pounds.
“Will it fit?” is the first question every pinball buyer asks and the one most listings answer worst. This guide gives you real pinball machine dimensions and weight, explains how the crated size differs from the assembled size, and shows you how to measure a room and a delivery route so the machine arrives, gets through the door, and has space to be played.
How much does a pinball machine weigh?
A full-size pinball machine weighs 250 to 300 lb assembled. The 122 pinball machines listed on our site with a recorded weight run from 220 to 355 lb, and most list about 250 lb. The weight comes from the plywood cabinet, the steel legs and side rails, the tempered playfield glass, the backbox with its display, and the transformer, coils and boards under the playfield.
- Current Stern machines list 220 to 285 lb, most of them 250 lb.
- 1990s Williams and Bally games list 250 lb for most titles, and up to 355 lb for the big-toy games such as Medieval Madness and Indianapolis 500.
- Jersey Jack machines are among the heaviest: the Hobbit LE on our site lists 351 lb, with its large LCD backbox.
- Shipped, the crate and pallet add to that figure, so freight weight is always higher than the machine itself.
Two people can move one on a dolly once the legs are off; the how to move a pinball machine guide covers stairs and vehicles. The ball itself is small: a standard pinball is a steel ball 1-1/16 inches (27 mm) across that weighs about 80 grams (2.8 oz).
For a Stern machine, start with the official model and edition manual index when looking for manufacturer documentation. Confirm the exact cabinet and packaged measurements for the machine you are considering, including any fitted accessories, before comparing them with the clear openings along your delivery route. General size ranges are not a guarantee of fit.
Standard pinball machine dimensions
Full-size machines from every major manufacturer land in a narrow range. The exact figures for a specific title are on its product page, but these are the numbers to plan around.
| Measurement | Typical full-size machine | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Height (backbox raised) | 75 to 78 in (190 to 198 cm) | Backbox folds forward for transport |
| Width | 27 to 29 in (69 to 74 cm) | Cabinet body; side rails add a fraction |
| Depth | 52 to 58 in (132 to 147 cm) | Front of lockbar to back of cabinet |
| Weight | 250 to 300 lb (115 to 135 kg) | Modern machines with LCDs run heavier |
| Playfield height | 36 to 38 in (91 to 97 cm) | Adjustable with the leg levelers |
Older electromechanical machines are slightly smaller and lighter; some 1990s widebody titles are a few inches wider. Never assume: every machine on this site lists height, width, depth and weight as attributes, and the product page draws a dimension diagram from those numbers.
What the machines on our floor measure
These are the medians of the height, width, depth and weight listed on every pinball machine in our catalogue, so they reflect real cabinets rather than a single manufacturer spec sheet.
| Maker | Machines measured | Typical size (W x D x H) | Listed weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stern (2000s to today) | 72 | 28 x 55 x 76 in | 220 to 282 lb, most about 250 lb |
| Williams and Bally (1980s and 1990s) | 29 | 28 x 56 x 77 in | 250 to 355 lb |
Across all of them, widths run 27 to 31 inches, depths 52 to 58 inches and heights 70 to 85 inches once a topper is fitted. The vintage and classic machines from before 2000 are no smaller than modern ones, so plan for the same space whichever era you buy.
Crated dimensions are what have to fit through the door
A pinball machine never travels assembled. The legs come off, the backbox folds down onto the cabinet, and the whole thing is strapped to a pallet in a crate or heavy carton. The crated package is roughly:
- Length: 55 to 60 in (the cabinet depth plus packaging)
- Width: 30 to 32 in
- Height: 30 to 34 in with the backbox folded
- Weight on pallet: add 30 to 60 lb to the machine weight
That folded height is the good news: a standard 30-inch interior door and most stairwells will pass a folded cabinet on a dolly. The width is the constraint to check. Measure the narrowest point on the whole route from the curb to the room, including gate openings, porch steps, hallway corners and the turn at the top of stairs.
How to move a pinball machine
Moving a pinball machine is a two-person job that takes about half an hour with a furniture dolly and a socket or wrench set. The order matters, because the backbox and the glass are the parts that break.
- Remove the balls. Lift the playfield or open the coin door and take every ball out of the trough so nothing rolls around and chips the playfield.
- Lock the glass and the lockbar. Make sure the lockbar is latched and the coin door is locked, so the glass cannot slide out when the cabinet tilts.
- Fold the backbox. Open the backbox, unscrew or unlatch its bolts, and fold it forward onto the glass on a blanket. Many machines have a bolt or latch that holds it down; use it.
- Take the legs off. With one person lifting the front and then the back, remove the four leg bolts. Keep the bolts, levelers and leg brackets in a bag taped to the cabinet.
- Stand it on its side on the dolly. Tip the cabinet onto a padded dolly on its side, never on the backbox. Strap it down before you move it.
- Reverse the steps in the room, then level it. Refit the legs, raise and bolt the backbox, and level the playfield side to side with a bubble level, with the front slightly lower than the back.
Never stand a folded machine on its back end, and never carry it by the backbox. On stairs, go slowly with one person below the cabinet. For long distances a pallet and freight carrier is safer than a trailer; every machine we sell ships crated that way.
How much space do you need to play?
Footprint is not enough. Plan for:
- Standing room in front: about 36 in (90 cm). You lean into a machine; a wall at your back is miserable.
- Behind the machine: 4 to 6 in for the power cord and for tilting the backbox.
- Side clearance: a few inches between machines so the side rails do not touch, and enough room to lift the playfield for maintenance. Two machines side by side need about 62 in of wall.
- Ceiling: anything over 7 ft is fine; low basement ceilings with ductwork are the usual trap for a raised backbox.
A useful rule: if you can fit a large armchair with someone standing in front of it, you can fit a pinball machine.
Floors, power and noise
Four leg levelers concentrate 250 to 300 lb onto four small points. On hardwood or vinyl use leveler cups or felt pads; on carpet, expect the machine to settle and re-level it after a week. Machines run on a standard household outlet. Draw is modest, but give the machine its own circuit or at least keep it off a circuit shared with a vacuum, space heater or treadmill, and use a quality surge protector. Sound is adjustable and most modern machines have a headphone jack or a night mode, so apartment play is realistic.
Measuring checklist before you order
Space and access are part of the purchase decision. The pinball purchase-planning guide brings those checks together with condition, gameplay and care.
- Room: length, width and ceiling height where the machine will live.
- Every door on the route: clear opening width with the door open.
- Stairs: width, headroom at the turn, and whether the landing lets a 60-inch crate rotate.
- Outdoor route: gate width, steps, gravel or grass the pallet jack cannot cross.
- Where the freight truck can stop, and whether a lift-gate can lower onto it.
Send those numbers with your quote request and a specialist will confirm the crated size of the specific machine against them. Delivery is curbside by appointment; assisted options are shown at checkout where available. Full terms are on the Shipping Policy.
Arcade machine dimensions
Arcade cabinets vary far more than pinball machines. A standard upright is narrower than a pinball machine but just as tall; a basketball game is longer than most sofas. These are the medians and ranges of the machines listed in each of our arcade categories.
| Cabinet type | Typical size (W x D x H) | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Stand-up upright | 22 x 25 x 65 to 71 in | 165 to 250 lb |
| Large commercial stand-up (four-player shooters, giant screens) | up to 107 in wide, 93 to 120 in tall | up to 800 lb |
| Cocktail table | 35 x 25 x 27 in | 99 to 198 lb |
| Coffee table | 35 x 27 x 20 in | 110 to 165 lb |
| Sit-down racing | 45 x 84 x 93 in | 165 to 690 lb |
| Basketball | 40 x 98 x 104 in | 474 to 838 lb |
| Boxing | 28 x 49 x 89 in | 243 to 351 lb |
Two points catch buyers out. First, the sports machines: a commercial basketball game needs about 8 feet of floor for the lane plus room to stand and throw, and nearly 9 feet of ceiling. Second, twin racing cabinets are two seats joined together, so the figure above doubles in width. Every arcade listing gives its own measurements, and the home arcade machine buying guide covers what each type costs.
Quick answers
How heavy is a pinball machine?
Most full-size machines weigh 250 to 300 pounds assembled, and 280 to 360 pounds crated on a pallet. Two adults can move a folded cabinet on a furniture dolly.
How much does a pinball weigh?
The ball in a pinball machine is a steel ball 1-1/16 inches (27 mm) across, weighing about 80 grams (2.8 oz). The machine itself weighs 250 to 300 lb.
Will a pinball machine fit through a standard door?
Yes. With the legs off and the backbox folded, the cabinet is about 30 inches wide and passes a standard interior door. Check stair turns and gates, which are the usual pinch points.
How much room do you need for a pinball machine?
Roughly 30 by 60 inches for the machine plus 36 inches of standing room in front, under a ceiling of at least 7 feet.
How big is an arcade machine?
A standard upright arcade cabinet is about 22 inches wide, 25 inches deep and 65 to 71 inches tall. Cocktail tables are about 35 by 25 inches and 27 inches high; commercial basketball games run about 40 inches wide and 98 inches long.
How much does an arcade machine weigh?
A standard upright weighs about 165 to 250 pounds and a cocktail table about 100 to 200 pounds. Sit-down racers and basketball games weigh 450 to 840 pounds and need a freight delivery with a lift-gate.
Ready to check a specific title? Every machine page has a dimension diagram, and the Machine Finder can filter by the space you have.
Machines mentioned in this guide
In stock now and ready to ship crated from Charlotte, NC:
- Shrek Pinball Machine by Stern
- X-Men Wolverine Limited Edition Pinball Machine by Stern
- WWE Wrestlemania Pro Pinball Machine by Stern
Browse all pinball machines for sale or use the machine finder.
Moving a machine you already own? How to move a pinball machine covers taking the legs off, folding the head and getting it up stairs and into a vehicle.
More guides
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- How to play pinball: rules, flipper skills and tips
- The 20-minute monthly maintenance routine
- 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
- Home arcade machine buying guide
- Pac-Man arcade machine guide
- The 20 best arcade games of all time
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