Table tennis is a sport where shorter players traditionally hold an advantage due to their lower centre of gravity and quicker reaction times close to the table. However, some remarkably tall players have found success by using their reach and power to play a devastating attacking game from further back. These tall athletes adapted their game to turn perceived disadvantages into weapons.
⚡ Quick Facts:
- The tallest table tennis player ever is Joo Se-hyuk at 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
- This list covers the top 10 tallest table tennis players of all time
- Heights are shown in both feet/inches and centimetres
Complete List: Top 10 Tallest Table tennis Players
| Rank | Player | Height | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joo Se-hyuk | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | South Korea |
| 2 | Michael Maze | 6 ft 1 in (185 cm) | Denmark |
| 3 | Benedikt Duda | 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) | Germany |
| 4 | Bastian Steger | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | Germany |
| 5 | Dimitrij Ovtcharov | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | Germany |
| 6 | Timo Boll | 5 ft 11 in (181 cm) | Germany |
| 7 | Jan-Ove Waldner | 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) | Sweden |
| 8 | Ma Long | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) | China |
| 9 | Fan Zhendong | 5 ft 9 in (174 cm) | China |
| 10 | Wang Hao | 5 ft 11 in (182 cm) | China |
1. Joo Se-hyuk — 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Country: South Korea
Joo Se-hyuk is one of the tallest elite table tennis players in history and was a World Championship silver medallist. The South Korean was the last great chopper in men’s table tennis, using his height and long arms to retrieve seemingly impossible shots. Joo Se-hyuk reached world No. 7 and was famous for his defensive playing style.
2. Michael Maze — 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Country: Denmark
Michael Maze won the European Championship singles title and was one of the tallest players to reach the top of European table tennis. The Danish player reached a career-high world ranking in the top 15 and was known for his powerful forehand loops. Maze used his height to generate exceptional topspin from both wings.
3. Benedikt Duda — 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Country: Germany
Benedikt Duda is one of the tallest professional table tennis players in the world. The German player has competed in the Bundesliga and international events, using his extraordinary reach to cover the table. Duda adapted his game to take advantage of his height for powerful attacks from mid-distance.
4. Bastian Steger — 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Country: Germany
Bastian Steger was one of the tallest players in the German national team and competed at the highest international level for over a decade. The German left-hander was known for his strong backhand and ability to play both close to and away from the table. Steger represented Germany at multiple World Championships and European Championships.
5. Dimitrij Ovtcharov — 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Country: Germany
Dimitrij Ovtcharov won Olympic bronze medals at the 2012 and 2020 Olympics and has been ranked as high as world No. 1. The German player of Ukrainian origin is one of the tallest players to reach the top of the world rankings. Ovtcharov is known for his powerful forehand and exceptional physical fitness.
6. Timo Boll — 5 ft 11 in (181 cm)
Country: Germany
Timo Boll held the world No. 1 ranking and was the highest-ranked European player for two decades. The German legend won multiple European Championship titles and competed at seven Olympic Games from 2000 to 2024. Boll was known for his elegant playing style and exceptional consistency.
7. Jan-Ove Waldner — 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Country: Sweden
Jan-Ove Waldner won Olympic gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and is widely considered the greatest table tennis player of all time. The Swedish legend was known as the Mozart of Table Tennis for his sublime touch and tactical genius. Waldner competed at an elite level for three decades and won the World Championship in 1989.
8. Ma Long — 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Country: China
Ma Long is the most decorated table tennis player in Olympic history with five gold medals across the 2012, 2016, 2020, and 2024 Games. The Chinese superstar has won the World Championship three times and held the world No. 1 ranking for an extended period. Ma Long is considered by many as the greatest male player of the modern era.
9. Fan Zhendong — 5 ft 9 in (174 cm)
Country: China
Fan Zhendong became the youngest world No. 1 in table tennis history and won Olympic gold in singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Chinese player has dominated the sport alongside Ma Long and has won multiple World Tour Grand Finals titles. Fan Zhendong is known for his explosive forehand and powerful backhand attack.
10. Wang Hao — 5 ft 11 in (182 cm)
Country: China
Wang Hao won three consecutive Olympic silver medals in singles from 2004 to 2012 and was one of the tallest Chinese national team players. The Chinese star pioneered the reverse penhold backhand technique that revolutionised the sport. Wang Hao was a World Championship gold medallist and reached world No. 1 during his career.
📏 Want to see how you compare?
Use our free Height Converter to convert your height, or try the Height Comparison Tool to visually compare yourself with these table tennis giants. Browse our Celebrity Heights database or check out Average Height by Country for more data.
Final Thoughts
Table tennis proves that height is not a prerequisite for success, and in many ways can be a hindrance at the highest level. However, the tallest players on this list demonstrated that with adaptation, creativity, and exceptional talent, tall athletes can compete with and beat the best in the world. Their success often came from developing unique playing styles that maximised the advantages of their long reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the tallest professional table tennis player?
Benedikt Duda of Germany at 6 ft 4 in (193 cm) is one of the tallest professional table tennis players. Most elite players are between 5 ft 7 in and 5 ft 11 in, making the sport one where shorter athletes have a natural advantage.
Does height help in table tennis?
Height is generally a disadvantage in table tennis. Shorter players have a lower centre of gravity for quicker movements and are closer to the table for faster reactions. However, taller players benefit from longer reach and can generate more power on attacks from mid-distance.
What is the ideal height for table tennis?
Most elite table tennis players are between 5 ft 7 in and 5 ft 11 in (170-180 cm). This range allows for quick reflexes near the table while still providing adequate reach and power for attacking play.