Snooker Ball Values: How Many Points Is Each Ball Worth?
Snooker scoring · Reference · Updated 2026-07-31
The seven snooker balls score red 1, yellow 2, green 3, brown 4, blue 5, pink 6 and black 7. A full frame starts with 22 balls on the table: 15 reds, the 6 colours, and the white cue ball, which never scores.
Those values explain every famous number in the game - why a maximum break is 147, why 'needing snookers' happens at a specific score, and why the black is respotted for a tie. This page is the reference: values, spots, totals, and the arithmetic behind them.
The values, and where each ball spots
| Ball | Points | Spot |
|---|---|---|
| Red (x15) | 1 | Triangle between the pink spot and the top cushion |
| Yellow | 2 | Right corner of the D |
| Green | 3 | Left corner of the D |
| Brown | 4 | Middle of the baulk line |
| Blue | 5 | Centre of the table |
| Pink | 6 | Midway between centre and the top cushion |
| Black | 7 | 12.75 in. from the top cushion, on the centre line |
Why the maximum break is 147
Each of the 15 reds can be followed by a black: 15 x (1 + 7) = 120. The closing clearance of the six colours adds 2 + 3 + 4 + 5 + 6 + 7 = 27. Together: 147. Take a pink instead of one black and the ceiling drops to 146; take a yellow and it is 142. This is why commentators note which colour a player takes with the very first red of a possible maximum.
| Format | Reds | Reds + blacks | Colour clearance | Maximum break |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full frame | 15 | 120 | 27 | 147 |
| Ten-red | 10 | 80 | 27 | 107 |
| Six-red | 6 | 48 | 27 | 75 |
Points on the table: the number that decides frames
At any moment, the points still available are (reds remaining x 8) + 27 while a red is on - each red carries a potential black with it - plus 7 more while a colour is on after a red. Once the clearance starts it is simply the sum of the colours left: 27, then 25, 22, 18, 13, and finally 7. Compare that number with the score gap and you know instantly whether a frame can still be won on the balls, or only with penalty points. That comparison, made after every single shot, is what 'snookers required' means on a proper scoreboard.
How many balls are on the table?
- 22 in a full frame: 15 reds, 6 colours, 1 cue ball.
- 17 in ten-red snooker, and 13 in six-red - the shortened formats change only the red count.
- The cue ball is never worth points; potting it is a foul of at least 4.
- Snooker balls are 52.5 mm across - smaller than pool balls - on a 12 ft x 6 ft full-size table.
The values, applied for you. Snooker Scoreboard₊ prints the point value on every ball and scores the sequence for you - including points remaining and snookers required after every shot, in 15, 10 or 6 red formats. Scoring is free, offline, with no account. Learn more about Snooker Scoreboard₊.
Colour order in the final clearance
When the last red's colour has been taken, the balls on are the colours in ascending value: yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, black. Each stays off the table once potted. A player who takes all six from the last red has scored a 27 clearance - and if the frame is close, the arithmetic above tells you exactly which colour the frame ball is.
Why the black is special
At 7 points the black is the engine of big breaks - every classic maximum is built on red-black - and it is also the tiebreaker. Scores level after the final black? The black is respotted, the cue ball goes in hand, and the next score or foul settles the frame. One ball, three jobs: highest value, break builder, and sudden death.
Frequently asked questions
What is the total of all the balls in snooker?
Potting every ball once - each red with a black - yields 147. The colours alone sum to 27, and the 15 reds to 15. A frame's two scores can total more than 147 because of respotted colours and penalty points.
Which snooker ball is worth 5 points?
The blue, which spots at the exact centre of the table. It sits between brown (4) and pink (6) in the clearance order.
Are snooker balls the same as pool balls?
No. Snooker uses 22 balls of 52.5 mm with no numbers; pool uses 16 larger balls, numbered, on a smaller table. The scoring systems are unrelated.
What does the pink count as a frame ball mean?
The frame ball is the ball that would put the frame mathematically beyond the opponent. When the gap is such that the pink's 6 points seal it, the pink is the frame ball even though the black remains.