Arm wrestling table dimensions: the official WAF specifications
Table height, tabletop size, elbow pads, touch pads and hand pegs — every official World Armwrestling Federation (WAF) measurement in centimetres and inches, for organizers and builders.
A regulation table is the one piece of equipment every arm wrestling event depends on. If the height, pads or pegs are off, athletes lose their usual setup and referees have a harder time making fair calls. This guide lists the official measurements from the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF) rulebook, which most national federations follow. Rulebooks are revised, so always check the current WAF document before building or buying a table.
Table height
WAF defines two heights. A sit-down table measures 71.1 cm (28 in) from the floor to the top of the table. A stand-up table — the format used at almost every open tournament — measures 101.6 cm (40 in) from the floor to the top of the table. Every other specification is identical for both versions; only the legs change. On the WAF design drawing for the stand-up table, the top of the elbow pad sits at about 42 in and the top of the touch pad at about 44 in.
Tabletop size and legs
The tabletop is 91.4 cm (36 in) across and 66.0 cm (26 in) deep. The legs must leave at least 71.1 cm (28 in) of inside space and at least 45.7 cm (18 in) from leg to leg, so athletes have room for their feet and stance. A line painted, upholstered or taped from hand peg to hand peg marks the centre of the table and is always used at WAF events.
Elbow pads
Each elbow pad is a 17.8 × 17.8 cm (7 × 7 in) square, 5.1 cm (2 in) thick, made of heavy high-quality foam with a vinyl-type cover. The foam can be mounted on a 3.2 mm (1/8 in) metal plate of the same size with two welded bolts so the pads can be moved. Pads sit 5.1 cm (2 in) from their edge of the table and overlap each other by half: to the right of centre on a right-arm table, to the left of centre on a left-arm table.
Touch pads
The touch pads — where a pin is scored — are 25.4 cm (10 in) long and 10.2 cm (4 in) high. They are set at an angle: 12.7 cm (5 in) out from the inside corner of the elbow pad, 1.3 cm (1/2 in) from the table edge at the outside corner, and running toward the hand peg so that the outside corner ends 7.0 cm (2 3/4 in) from the peg. On a right-arm table these measurements are taken on the left side of the elbow pad; reverse them for a left-arm table.
Hand pegs
Each side has a hand peg for the non-competing hand, placed midway along the edge at 33.0 cm (13 in) and about 2.5 cm (1 in) in from the edge. On the WAF design drawing the peg is 1 in round and stands 6 in above the tabletop.
Quick checklist for organizers
Before your event, measure every table: 101.6 cm stand-up height, 91.4 × 66.0 cm top, 7 × 7 × 2 in elbow pads, 10 × 4 in touch pads, a centre line and pegs at the midpoint of each edge. Fix the tables so they don't wobble, and set up one right-arm and one left-arm table if you run both arms. Then publish your event on Iron bracket — your first tournament is free — and let athletes register online before they step up to the table.