Guide
Arcade Cabinet Dimensions and Footprint
Two feet by two feet of floor, and up to six feet of height. Only one of those numbers is ever a problem.
How these picks were made: from published manufacturer specifications, governing-body standards and the room arithmetic - not from first-hand use. We have not played on these tables. Read the method.
The dimensions
| Format | Footprint | Height | Standing room | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full upright | 24 x 24 in | ~5 ft | 2 ft 6 in | 70-100 lb |
| Full upright + riser | 24 x 24 in | 5 ft 9 in - 6 ft | 2 ft 6 in | 80-120 lb |
| Deluxe upright | 26 x 30 in | Taller than standard | 3 ft | 100-140 lb |
| Countercade / bartop | 16-20 x 12-16 in | ~18 in | 2 ft | 20-40 lb |
| Cocktail | 30 x 24 in | ~30 in | 2 ft each side (seated) | 100-160 lb |
Which number to worry about
Not the footprint. A 2 by 2 foot object fits almost anywhere, and a game room has usually already solved far harder space problems. The numbers to check are:
- Height at the spot. Measure under the ductwork, soffit or stair run where the cabinet will actually stand - not the ceiling in the middle of the room.
- Standing room. 2 feet 6 inches in front, and nobody walking through it. A cabinet in a traffic path gets knocked.
- The route in. Full cabinets arrive boxed at close to assembled size, and they do not come apart again easily once built.
- Distance to the outlet. Cords are commonly 5 to 6 feet. More on power and placement here.
Floor and leveling
A cabinet is tall, narrow and lighter than it looks, which makes it easier to rock than people expect. On an uneven basement slab, shim the base or use the cabinet's own adjusters if it has them. On carpet, the cabinet will settle unevenly over weeks - check it again a month after setup.
A cabinet that rocks under enthusiastic play is both annoying and a genuine tipping risk with children around. Anchoring a tall cabinet to the wall is cheap and sensible in a family room.
Quick picks
| # | Product | Best for | Format | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Arcade1Up PAC-MAN Deluxe Arcade Machine | A standard upright | 5 ft, ~2 x 2 ft | |
| 2 |  Arcade1Up PAC-MAN Countercade | When the height fails | ~1 ft 6 in tall | |
| 3 | Creative Arcades Full-Size Cocktail Arcade Cabinet | When the height fails and you want a screen | ~2 ft 6 in tall, 22 in LCD |
A format for each ceiling
#1 · A standard upright
Arcade1Up PAC-MAN Deluxe Arcade Machine
Listed at 5 ft tall with a 17-inch LCD, 14 games and WiFi leaderboards. The mainstream home cabinet.
The dimensions most people are checking against their basement.
- What works
- Published height
- What does not
- Riser adds nearly a foot
#2 · When the height fails
Arcade1Up PAC-MAN Countercade
Three PAC-MAN games on a 7-inch LCD with full-size controls, sized for a countertop. The footprint is the feature.
If the ceiling check fails, this format passes it by definition.
- What works
- No floor or ceiling commitment
- What does not
- Needs a counter at the right height
#3 · When the height fails and you want a screen
Creative Arcades Full-Size Cocktail Arcade Cabinet
Commercial-grade build with SANWA sticks, a trackball, a 22-inch LCD and 412 titles. Two players sit facing each other across the screen.
A large screen in a format that never approaches a ceiling.
- What works
- Big screen, low height
- What does not
- Takes real floor area
Two cabinets in one room
If you expect to end up with more than one - and people do - plan for 2 feet 6 inches of wall per cabinet plus the standing room in front. Three cabinets along one wall needs about 8 feet of wall and 3 feet of clear floor in front, which is less than most people assume and more than most people have measured.
Method
Dimensions are typical published figures for current home cabinets by format. Standing-room figures follow from how each format is played. We have not measured these cabinets ourselves.
