PADEL COURT DIMENSIONS, COSTS & MORE

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO BUILDING A PADEL COURT

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.

Padel courts are enclosed by walls, typically made of glass panels and metal mesh fencing, though other materials like fiberglass, concrete, or rendered blocks can be used. These walls set padel apart from tennis, as they play a crucial role in the game.

The walls are 32ft 10in (10m) long and 65ft 7in (20m) wide. FIP regulations allow two primary wall configurations:

Option 1:

• The first 6ft 7in wide section at each end of the court is 13ft 1in high, with a 9ft 10in high glass panel topped by a 3ft 3in metal mesh fence.
• The second 6ft 7in section is 9ft 10in high, with a 6ft 7in high glass panel and a 3ft 3in high metal mesh fence.
• The remaining 39ft 4in between each end of the court is enclosed by a 9ft 10in heigh metal mesh fence.

Option 2:

• Both stepped sections are 13ft 1in high, with the first section at each end consisting of a 9ft 10in glass rebound panel and a 3ft 3in metal mesh fence. The second 6ft 7in wide section consists of a 6ft 7in glass panel and a 6ft 7in metal mesh fence.
• The middle 39ft 4in of the court is enclosed by a 13ft 1in high metal mesh fence.
• In both options, the transition between the glass and mesh sections should be smooth to avoid irregular bounces

To build a padel court, you need a space of at least 82 feet (25m) by 49ft 3in (15m). Indoor courts require a ceiling height of 19ft 8in (6m), but the FIP recommends 26ft 3in (8m) for new constructions.

When planning a multi-court facility, consider adding amenities like benches and water stations to enhance the experience for both players and spectators.

Proper spacing and design is crucial for player safety, comfort, and spectator enjoyment.

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.

Padel court construction costs can vary significantly in the United States depending on several factors, including:

• Location: Costs can vary depending on local labor and material costs.  
• Court Type: Indoor courts typically cost more due to the need for a climate-controlled environment and specialized construction.
• Materials: The quality of materials used, such as the type of glass and artificial turf, can impact the overall cost.  
• Additional Features: Optional features like lighting, seating, and storage can add to the total cost.  

Generally, the cost of building a padel court in the US ranges from $24,000 to $65,000.  

It's recommended to consult with a professional padel court builder or contractor to get an accurate estimate for your specific project. They can assess your needs, provide detailed cost breakdowns, and help you make informed decisions.

Now that you’ve read our guide you should be much more familiar with padel courts. Building a padel court is a significant investment but it can also be a highly worthwhile venture. Whether you’re planning to build a home court for personal use, or you’re planning to create one or more new courts for a padel facility, by understanding the key factors such as court dimensions, materials, and construction costs, you can make informed decisions to successfully deliver a FIP standard padel court.

At Net World Sports we supply a wide range of padel equipment. From padel nets and posts to high-quality padel rackets and balls, we have options to suit all skill levels and budgets.