Padel Court Construction Cost Guide for Project Owners

23 Jun.,2025

 

Padel Court Construction Cost Guide for Project Owners

Are you obsessed with the newest sports craze, padel? Sometimes referred to as padel tennis, this sport is an exciting combination of tennis and squash. But as a relatively recent phenomenon here in the United States, there aren’t many courts designed specifically for the sport. 

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However, playing padel on a professionally designed court can be a thrilling experience for players and spectators. But before starting construction, you must understand the costs and design choices involved in constructing your padel court.

This guide will cover everything from construction costs to surface materials and court layout.

As with any sport, many factors go into the total cost of your padel court construction project. Let’s break each down so you can better prepare for your project.

Competition level

What type of athletes will you be hosting at your facility? If you intend to host professionals and amateurs, consider a more durable surface that can withstand the regular pounding of padel matches.

The needs of professionals will greatly differ from those of young students or casual gamers. Understanding your ideal participant will greatly help you choose the specific design features and materials necessary for your court.

  • Size: professional padel courts must meet the standard dimensions of 33 feet – 66 feet (approx. 2,153 sq ft.), recreational courts are not bound by such regulations.
  • Flooring: recreational courts may get away with installing an asphalt or a cement court surface, but professional courts need an artificial turf surface. 
  • Walls: Professional padel courts have transparent back and side walls made of glass. Recreational walls may use cheaper alternatives.
  • Lighting requirements: professional padel courts must meet lighting requirements and standards, whereas, there are no regulations for recreational courts. 
  • Amenities: professional courts may come with bleachers, scoreboards, locker rooms, etc. 

Number of courts and total area

Will you need more than one court, or will a single playing surface suffice?

With each playing area measuring 20 meters (66 feet) long by 10 meters wide (33 feet), you’ll need to account for the space of multiple courts if that’s your goal. The more courts you need, the greater your total project cost and construction timeline will become.

Additionally, if you plan on spectators, benches, and other amenities, you’ll need to plan for a safe space between each court. Configuring multiple courts and accurately measuring can get complex — fast. Therefore, it’s best to work with a professional court installation company that understands the requirements for padel tennis.

Outdoor or indoor court?

The construction costs for indoor vs. outdoor padel courts vary due to differences in structural requirements, climate considerations, and facility features:

  • Structural Requirements: Indoor courts require a building or roof structure, increasing costs. Outdoor courts do not, making them cheaper initially.
  • Surface & Subfloor: Outdoor courts need drainage systems for weather protection, adding cost. Indoor courts use simpler subfloors, reducing ongoing maintenance.
  • Lighting: Indoor courts require comprehensive lighting systems, raising costs. Outdoor courts benefit from natural light, reducing energy expenses.
  • Climate Control: Indoor courts need heating/cooling systems, increasing installation and operational costs. Outdoor courts don’t, but may need windbreaks.
  • Maintenance: Indoor courts have lower long-term maintenance due to protection from weather. Outdoor courts face higher maintenance from sun, rain, and temperature changes.

Choice of Subfloor and Court Surface Materials

The choice of subfloor and surface materials significantly influences the overall cost of constructing a padel court. These decisions impact not only the initial investment but also the long-term maintenance and durability of the court.

Subfloor Options: Asphalt vs. Concrete

Padel courts are typically built on either an asphalt or concrete subfloor/base layer. The decision between these materials can have a notable effect on construction costs:

  • Asphalt is generally more affordable upfront, making it a popular choice for outdoor courts. It provides a stable base, but it may require additional maintenance over time, especially in climates with extreme temperature fluctuations that can lead to cracking or shifting.
  • Concrete, while more expensive initially, offers greater durability and requires less maintenance over the long term. This can make it a more cost-effective choice over time, especially for facilities in regions with variable weather. Concrete is also a preferred base for indoor padel courts due to its stable, flat surface.

Choosing the right subfloor material should take into account both the project’s budget and the anticipated usage and climate conditions of the court. While concrete has a higher upfront cost, its long-term stability can make it a sound investment for facilities looking to minimize future repair expenses.

Surface Material Choices and Their Cost Implications

The selection of surface material directly affects both the construction cost and the quality of the playing experience:

  • Artificial Turf is the most popular and recommended surface for padel courts. It provides a balance between player comfort and durability, with its shock-absorbing properties reducing the risk of injuries. However, it comes with varying price points depending on the quality of the turf, the density of the fibers, and the presence of additional padding. While higher-quality artificial turf increases initial costs, it offers better longevity and player satisfaction, which can reduce maintenance costs and provide a better return on investment over time.

Other concepts to consider

Believe it or not, your geographic location can greatly impact the overall cost of your project. From material sourcing to taxes and labor, your court’s location will dictate your final price.

A modern sports facility isn’t complete without a few extra amenities. Bleachers, lighting systems, sound systems, scoreboards, and more can elevate your facility and provide a better experience for athletes.

There are also some sport-specific considerations like fencing or back and side walls. Adding adequate fencing or walls can help keep balls from sailing away from the playing area — keeping everyone safe.

Get a cost estimate for your padel court construction project

Once you have established your project team and you are ready to start planning the construction project, you should kick off the planning with budgeting and financing. Getting a cost estimate for the total cost of your project at an early stage will help you make a plan for raising funds (if necessary), and getting buy-ins from different stakeholders (municipality, school board, etc.).

Use our padel court cost calculator to get a tailored cost estimate in a matter of minutes.

Find a suitable location for the padel court

Finding a suitable location for your padel court complex is not as straightforward as you might imagine. Firstly, there are the physical requirements i.e. the padel courts have to fit on the site that you have chosen. Secondly, there are the feasibility and profitability considerations to ponder. You can build a padel court center in the middle of the desert, but if nobody wants to become a member, your business will not stay open for long. Read more about feasibility considerations. in this article:

  • Feasibility study

Raising funds for the padel court project

There are various grant and funding programs available for sports and recreational facility development (such as padel courts) offered by public and private entities. Check out these resources to get started:

Are you interested in learning more about What Is the Best Roof Type for a Padel Club?? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!

  • Funding opportunities for padel court projects

Build a padel court

The project team is convinced about the feasibility of the plan, the funding has been secured, and required permits have received the green light from local authorities. It’s time to get your hands dirty and begin the construction of the padel court! Building a padel court requires technical expertise, special equipment and knowhow, which is why you should always leave it to the professionals. The most important decision you have at this point of the project is the selection of the padel court building company. The cheapest offer is not always the best one. You should use online (website, social media, etc.) and offline channels (padel players, other padel court facility operators, etc.) to compare different companies and ask for a quote from at least three companies.

Indoor and outdoor padel courts look very similar on the surface (no pun intended). However, as you begin to dissect the finer details, you’ll find that there are some very important design considerations to keep in mind.

The first is the weather in your area. If you live (and play) in a climate that’s prone to extreme heat, cold, or moisture, this will greatly affect the type of materials you choose for your court. Remember, an outdoor court will be exposed to the elements year-round, so choosing a durable material is necessary.

Second, if you’re building a court inside of an existing facility, you’ll need to ensure your roof is at least 7 meters above the surface. Padel is a fast, intense sport; having enough vertical space is key to a good game.

You’ll need to consider how to light your padel tennis court in both instances. For outdoor courts, choose a lighting system that can withstand rain, wind, and other elements. You’ll need to select a bright enough system for play without causing eyestrain or fatigue for indoor courts.

Consider LED lighting for your court for facilities looking for an efficient solution. While the initial investment may be more than traditional metal halide lighting, the long-term cost savings are significant.

Padel Court Guide | Materials, Sizes & Costs - Net World Sports

Padel is a doubles-only racket sport that blends elements of tennis and squash. Originating in Mexico, padel has gained immense popularity in countries around the world including Spain, France and Argentina. While it shares a similar scoring system to tennis, padel is played on a unique court that differs significantly from a traditional tennis court.

At the time of writing, there are roughly only 454 padel courts in the United States although that number is growing all the time. The 454 existing courts are primarily concentrated in cities like Miami, Los Angeles, New York City, and Austin, but with the sport's increasing popularity, padel courts should become more accessible throughout the US over the next few years.

In this comprehensive guide, we will be providing you with everything you need to know about the size of padel courts, the height of padel court enclosures, the materials used to make padel courts, and the cost to build a padel court.

Padel courts are slightly smaller than tennis courts, measuring 65ft 7in long (20m) and 32ft 10in wide (10m).

Regulation padel court dimensions are set by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and the 65ft 7in x 32ft 10in area refers to the playable area within the court's boundaries. There's a slight tolerance of 0.5% for official padel court dimensions. Courts within this range are suitable for competitive play.

While courts that don't meet these exact dimensions can still be used for casual play, it's best to practice on regulation-sized courts, if possible, to get used to the official playing area.

A padel court is divided in half by a net. On each side, 23 feet (7m) from the net is a service line that runs across the full width of the court.

The center service line splits each service line into two boxes, extending 8 inches beyond the service line.

Unlike tennis, padel serves are underhand and must bounce before being hit. The serve must land diagonally opposite the server in the designated service box.

All court lines should be 2 inches wide and be a contrasting color to the court surface, typically white or black.

FIP regulations for padel nets are quite specific. The net must span the full 32ft 10in width (10m) of the court without any gaps. Its height should be 2ft 11in (0.88m) at the center and 3 feet (0.92m) at the posts.

The net is suspended and kept in place by a metal cable that should be no thicker than 0.39 inches. It should have a white band between 2 and 2.5 inches wide that sits at the top of the net. The net material is synthetic fiber with a mesh fine enough to prevent the ball from passing through.

To build a padel court, you'll need a solid foundation. A concrete base reinforced with steel mesh is commonly used. Once the foundation is set, the walls can be constructed. These are typically made of tempered or toughened glass panels and metal mesh fencing.

The playing surface is crucial for optimal gameplay. High-quality artificial turf, often filled with silica sand, is the preferred choice as it provides excellent traction and ball bounce. Other potential floor surfaces include carpet and porous concrete. Padel court surfaces are often blue although they can be other colors (green and terracotta are also popular). Black is approved by the FIP for indoor courts but not outdoor courts.

Additional materials needed include metal posts to support the glass and mesh, a net and net posts, line marking paint or tape, and lighting fixtures for indoor or night play.

For more information, please visit How to Install a Padel Tennis Court.