How to build a padel court – price, requirements and trends

Padel is an accessible, sociable, generally great sport for a wide range of players, making it an attractive option for clubs, developers and investors. But as demand grows, more and more questions are being asked: How are padel courts build? How much does it cost? Does it have to be built on a fresh site or can I modify an existing sports venue?

This article will answer all these questions, whilst also addressing the technical and financial challenges awaiting anyone considering investing their own money into padel courts.

What is a padel court and what are its key features?

A padel court is an enclosed sports area with solid walls (usually made of glass and metal), typically 20 metres long and 10 metres wide. Padel is played by four players and is quite different from tennis. It is closed on all sides, which has a big impact on the game. The ball can bounce off the walls, which gives the game a flavour akin to a combination of tennis and squash.

From a construction standpoint, this means that it’s not just a flat playing surface, but the entire construction bears the load of the glass panels and light systems, which requires a stable and well-designed base and frame structure.

Construction requirements

Foundation slab and ground preparation

Unlike a clay or hard tennis surface, a padel court requires more technical preparation. The glass walls and strong metal frame must be anchored in a stable concrete construction that can support its weight and ensure a level playing surface. An unsuitable foundation slab can lead to problems with the bounce of the ball, deformation or unevenness, and this can have a big impact on the quality of the game and safety.

With outdoor padel courts, drainage is also a consideration to avoid water remaining on or under the playing surface. This increases the complexity and cost of construction, since the system must be designed with sufficient drainage capacity.

Playing area and surface

A padel court’s main playing area is made of artificial turf and sand, which allows for proper ball bounce and ensures player comfort. This surface differs from traditional clay or hard tennis courts, installing it requires quality layers and potentially a cushioning mat for increased comfort and injury prevention.

Walls and construction

The defining characteristic of padel are the glass walls They are usually made of tempered glass around 10-12 mm thick and set in a solid metal structure. These elements are some of the most costly parts of the project and have a big impact on the design requirements, especially when the foundations are uneven or there is a risk of ground movement.

How much does it cost to build a padel court?

Answering this question isn’t always straightforward. The cost depends on several factors. These includes whether it’s an indoor or outdoor court, the materials used, where it’ll be built and any additional facilities (e.g. lighting, showers, changing rooms).

Price range

According to various sources, the cost of a single padel court usually ranges from around 20,000 EUR to 60,000 EUR. That’s just the cost of construction and the surface. For more premium solutions and complex projects, the total investment may end up being higher.

Outdoor courts are usually more expensive as technical layers, drainage and a concrete slab need to be factored in. In this case, the cost can exceed 60,000 EUR for a quality solution that includes lighting.

Indoor courts tend to be cheaper if you can use the existing hall floor. This allows you to save on the cost of complicated foundations, which are absolutely needed for outdoor courts.

Cost breakdown

According to various price lists, costs can be roughly as follows:

• Foundations and ground preparations: from a few thousand to tens of thousands of euros (depending on the complexity of the ground)
• Court construction (glass + metal): around 16,500-33,000 EUR
• Surface and artificial grass: 3,600-11500 EUR
• Lighting: 1,800-8000 EUR
• Extras (e.g. benches, your logo etc.): ~1,600-8,200 EUR

You also need to factor in installation work, which in many cases can account for up to 20-30% of the entire budget.

Maintenance costs

Padel courts generally require less maintenance than clay tennis courts, but of course there are some regular costs:

• Maintaining the artificial turf various between 500-1000 EUR, with a complete renewal required every 5-10 years.
• Lighting and small repairs, replacing lights, maintaining the glass, cleaning etc.

These costs are generally lower in comparison to tennis courts (e.g. clay, which needs to be watered, rolled and maintained regularly). The artificial surface and solid walls don’t require daily professional servicing.

Can you build a padel court anywhere?

A greenfield site or empty plot of land

Of course, one of the most common approaches is to build a padel court on a greenfield site, i.e. an empty plot of land. The benefit being that you can design the entire space in accordance with your requirements (i.e. the orientation of the cardinal points, distances from built-up areas, parking, social amenities), but the downside is the higher cost of foundations. A greenfield site often lacks pre-existing infrastructure that can be used.

Converting existing tennis courts

Yes, a current trend is to convert or use existing tennis courts This approach has several upsides:

• There is already a concrete or tarmac foundation available
• You’ll save some money on materials and costs
• It is a known place for your customers (e.g. a sports centre), with existing footfall.

Nevertheless, tennis courts are not built for glass walls and the entire load-bearing structure of a padel court. This often means that additional reinforcements or foundations will be required just to anchor the walls securely, which can eat away at any savings if not addressed at the start of the project.

Using industrial halls and other covered spaces

Another extremely interesting option to place padel courts in an existing hall, warehouse or other large building.

• Construction can be faster if the floor is even and load-bearing, with no complex foundations needed.
• This kind of site can be used all year round, so there’s no need to factor in the weather, which is a big plus in winter.
• There are lower drainage and construction costs.

The drawback is usually the higher price of renting or acquiring such a site, along with the need to install ventilation, lighting and possible heating or air con in order to make the space comfortable for players all year round.

What you need to know before construction

Building permits and legislation

In many countries, building a padel court is considered the structural conversion of a sports centre, requiring planning permission or a building permit. Depending on local regulations, some projects may require permits for light, drainage or structures over a certain height.

This is why it’s important to have the project documentation ready to go through it with the relevant authorities to avoid any complications. A respected padel court supplier will usually help their client prepare the necessary documentation.

Orientation and placement of the court

The orientation of the cardinal points can affect play Ideally, the court would be positioned such that the sun doesn’t glare in players’ faces during key times of the day. This is something that needs to be taken into account, especially for outdoor courts.

Trends and points of interest with padel court construction

Padel is rapidly evolving and so is the related technology and construction options. Some of the latest trends include:

• Panoramic glass courts with an aesthetic look that are becoming increasingly popular in commercial clubs (albeit at a higher price)
• Using LED lighting to save energy and facilitate night playing without incurring significant energy costs.
• Hybrid sport complexes where padel is part of sports centre that also includes tennis, squash or multi-purpose courts.

Building padel courts is technically and financially more demanding than, for example, tennis courts, but are more appealing to players and promise potentially lucrative revenue. Whether it’s the position and foundations, the choice of materials and construction elements, or the maintenance and legislative requirements, the entire investment is quite complex.

On the other hand, a well-designed padel court project can be a smart investment that can be good for both the operators and players, whilst the sport’s increasing popularity can make it a intelligent move for anyone currently weighing up a sports investment.

Author: Jaroslav Vondrášek