What to Buy for a Table Tennis Tournament

A table tennis tournament needs more than tables, nets and paddles. You also need enough balls for fast replacements, scorekeeping materials, drinks, serving equipment and a registration setup that does not slow down the first matches. Use the number of players and tournament hours to adjust quantities, then check power, lighting and cooling before shopping. The list below covers the items most often forgotten until setup has already started.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Table tennis tablesqty 4
Chairsqty 40
Foldable tablesqty 4
Clothes racksqty 2

Sports equipment

Table tennis netsqty 4
Table tennis paddlesqty 20
Table tennis ballsqty 60
Scoreboardsqty 4
Spare paddlesqty 4

Equipment

Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 3
Rechargeable lampsqty 4
Coolersqty 3
Ice cubesqty 6

Tableware

Reusable drinking glassesqty 50
Coffee cupsqty 30
Platesqty 50
Cutlery setsqty 50
Serving bowlsqty 8
Serving plattersqty 6

Kitchen

Coffee makerqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Cutting boardsqty 3
Kitchen knivesqty 3
Tongs and serving spoonsqty 8

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 6
Balloonsqty 40
Race signageqty 8
Prizes and medalsqty 6

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Dustpan and brushqty 2
Waste binsqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea selection - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Sparkling water - 6 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 10 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Rosé - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salted peanuts - 2 bags
- Snack nuts - 3 bags
- Salsa - 3 jars
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Grapes - 2 kilos
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Whole grain bread - 4 loaves
- Wraps - 40 pieces
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Ham - 1 kilo
- Chicken breast topping - 1 kilo
- Herb butter - 6 tubs
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Olives - 3 jars
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper cups - 100 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Garbage bags - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles

Tips

Buy at least 3 table tennis balls per active table, plus 10 spare balls for the tournament. Balls disappear under tables and damaged ones can interrupt a match.
Plan 2 to 3 drinks per person for the first hour, then 1 drink per person for each additional hour. Add ice and enough reusable glasses for one per guest plus 10% extra.
Bring one score sheet and one pen per active match, with at least 10 spare sheets and pens at the registration table. A scoreboard alone is not enough when several matches finish together.
Pack one spare paddle for every 4 tables, rounded up, and check every net before players arrive. Missing paddles and loose nets are difficult to replace once the tournament has started.
For a tournament lasting more than 3 hours, provide coffee, tea and water as well as snacks. Prepare serving bowls, platters, tongs and cutting boards before the buffet opens so food does not end up on the competition tables.

Frequently asked questions

How many table tennis balls do I need for a tournament?: Plan on 3 balls per active table, plus 10 spare balls for the full tournament. For example, 4 active tables require at least 22 balls.
How many paddles should I bring to a table tennis tournament?: Provide one paddle for each player who may play at the same time, plus one spare paddle per 4 tables. Round the spare quantity up so a broken or missing paddle does not delay a match.
How many drinks do I need for a table tennis tournament?: Allow 2 to 3 drinks per person for the first hour and 1 additional drink per person for every later hour. For 40 players over 3 hours, that means about 160 to 200 drinks, depending on the weather and activity level.
When should I buy ice and chill the drinks?: Buy the ice on the day of the tournament and chill drinks at least 3 hours before doors open. Keep extra ice in coolers so the buffet and registration area can be replenished during the event.

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