How to Build a Padel Court: Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Building a padel court involves more than assembling steel, glass and turf. A complete project combines a manufactured court system with site-specific foundations, drainage, electrical work, permits, logistics and professional installation.

This guide explains the process from the first site assessment to final handover. It is written for clubs, developers, contractors, schools, resorts and distributors planning a new padel court project.

What Is a Padel Court Made Of?

A padel court is a 10 × 20 m enclosed playing area in which the walls form part of the game. Because the enclosure affects both play and structural performance, the steel, glass, mesh, turf, net and lighting must be designed and installed as one coordinated system.

According to the FIP Rules of Padel, the internal dimensions of a doubles court are 10 m wide by 20 m long. A complete manufactured court system normally includes:

• Galvanized and powder-coated steel structure
• Tempered safety-glass panels
• Welded steel mesh panels and doors
• Artificial turf and specified infill
• Net, posts and tensioning hardware
• LED fixtures with poles or mounting arms
• Anchors, bolts, glass fixings and installation hardware
• Drawings, packing lists and assembly instructions

The manufactured package does not normally include excavation, foundations, drainage, international freight, import charges, local electrical infrastructure, installation equipment or permits unless the quotation states otherwise.

Why Is Padel Court Construction More Complex Than It Looks?

Three workstreams must meet accurately: the manufactured court, local civil works and installation. The manufacturer controls the court and system interfaces; local engineers and contractors control the site, foundation, drainage, utilities and regulatory compliance.

Responsibility should therefore be assigned before work begins:

Manufacturer drawings define the court interfaces, but a qualified local engineer must approve the foundation and site compliance.

Step 1: Assess and Plan the Site

Confirm the available space, ground conditions, construction access, utilities and environmental constraints before ordering a court.

Start with a survey showing boundaries, levels, existing surfaces, services, overhead restrictions and drainage routes. Obtain geotechnical advice if the soil or groundwater conditions are uncertain.

The design team should also record:

• Indoor, outdoor or covered installation
• Local wind and seismic criteria
• Temperature, rainfall, humidity and frost conditions
• Coastal or corrosive exposure
• Roof and snow loads where applicable
• Available electrical capacity
• Noise and light-sensitive neighboring properties

Confirm that concrete vehicles, containers, cranes, forklifts and glass stillages can reach the installation area safely.

How Much Space Does a Padel Court Need?

The internal playing area is 200 m², but additional space is needed for the enclosure, entrances, circulation, maintenance and any out-of-court play zone.

For preliminary planning, the LTA Padel Court Construction Guidance Note uses 20.80 × 10.80 m as the minimum area for one outdoor court. Confirm the final footprint against the selected model and local access rules.

FIP rules specify a minimum clear height of 6 m and recommend 8 m throughout new facilities. For indoor projects, measure to the lowest beam, duct, light, sprinkler or roof brace.

For outdoor courts, north–south is the usual starting orientation. The final layout should also consider the actual sun path, prevailing wind, terrain, access and neighboring properties.

Do You Need Permission to Build a Padel Court?

Requirements depend on the jurisdiction and project. Possible approvals include:

• Planning or land-use permission
• Building and structural approval
• Drainage or stormwater approval
• Electrical inspection
• Accessibility compliance
• Lighting, signage, noise or acoustic approval
• Fire, egress and change-of-use approval for indoor conversions

Confirm the approval route before ordering or starting civil work. Assess noise and lighting early where courts are close to sensitive uses.

Step 2: Choose the Court Type and Manufacturer

Select the court according to its intended use, environment, viewing requirements, maintenance needs and project budget—not appearance or price alone.

When comparing suppliers, request:

• External dimensions and anchor plan
• Structural design basis and available calculations
• Steel grades, section sizes and wall thicknesses
• Surface preparation, galvanizing and coating specification
• Glass thickness, processing and compliance documents
• Mesh, door and hardware details
• Turf product data and installation requirements
• Lighting layout and photometric information
• Packing details, installation instructions, warranty and spare-parts support

Compare named specifications, documents, inspection procedures, project experience and after-sales support—not country of origin alone.

What Materials Should You Check Before Ordering?

For steel, check the grade, sections, wall thickness, weld quality and corrosion protection. Coastal projects may require stronger protection than indoor courts.

For glass, confirm thickness, tempering, edge finishing, holes and replacement availability. Compliance documents must match the supplied product.

For turf, request the fiber type, Dtex, pile height, density, backing, infill and installation method. Compare Padel Turf Systems — Onto Padel by playing characteristics, traffic and maintenance.

For lighting, compare the fixture model, quantity, wattage, beam distribution, pole arrangement, target illumination, uniformity and glare control. Wattage alone does not demonstrate lighting performance.

Give every shortlisted supplier the same specification and quotation requirements so that exclusions remain visible.

Step 3: Design the Foundation and Drainage

The foundation must be designed for the selected court and actual site. There is no universal slab thickness, reinforcement detail or anchor solution suitable for every project.

The local design should account for:

• Soil strength and settlement
• Groundwater, rainfall and frost
• Court reactions and anchor loads
• Wind, seismic and other environmental loads
• Surface tolerances, drainage and local standards

The solution may use a reinforced slab, an engineered ring beam with a permeable base or another approved design. Coordinate surface falls, channels, pipes and discharge points before concrete or asphalt is placed.

Can You Install a Padel Court on an Existing Tennis Court or Slab?

An existing tennis court or concrete slab may be reusable, but it should never be assumed suitable without inspection.

Survey the dimensions, levels, cracking, settlement and drainage. Verify the construction, strength, reinforcement and anchor zones below the surface. A tennis base does not automatically support an enclosed padel structure.

Reuse it only after documented approval or safe modification.

How Do You Approve the Base Before Installation?

Measure and sign off the finished base before the installation crew arrives. The acceptance record should cover:

• Overall dimensions and centerlines
• Diagonals, elevations and surface tolerances
• Anchor positions and edge distances
• Visible cracking or settlement
• Drainage falls and outlets
• Electrical ducts and connection points
• Access for lifting and installation equipment

Correct inaccurate civil work before assembly; do not force the steel or glass to compensate.

Step 4: Finalize Engineering, Permits and Production

Before manufacturing, approve the model, dimensions, anchors, design loads, colors, turf, lights, doors, branding and document package.

Mark drawings as preliminary, for approval or approved for construction. Civil work and production may overlap after shared dimensions, loads and interfaces are confirmed.

The purchase contract should also define:

• Product price and optional items
• Bill of supply and exclusions
• Packing method
• Production lead-time assumptions
• Incoterm and delivery destination
• Payment terms and quotation validity
• Installation responsibilities
• Warranty and replacement-part procedure

For international orders, assign responsibility for export, freight, insurance, customs, taxes, inland transport, unloading and storage.

Step 5: Deliver and Install the Court

Inspect the shipment before unloading, then assemble the system in the manufacturer’s approved sequence.

Check the seal, packaging and glass stillages. Compare components with the packing list and photograph damage or missing hardware immediately. Store glass vertically on stable ground and protect other components from impact and moisture.

A typical installation sequence is:

1. Re-establish court centerlines and elevations.
2. Position base plates, anchors or other foundation interfaces.
3. Erect and temporarily brace the steel frame.
4. Check plumb, level, diagonals, doors and openings.
5. Install mesh panels and complete structural alignment.
6. Inspect and install the tempered-glass panels.
7. Lay and seam the artificial turf.
8. Add the specified infill gradually and brush it evenly.
9. Install the lighting, controls, net and accessories.
10. Complete final tightening, coating repairs, cleaning and inspection.

Inspect every glass panel before lifting, use suitable equipment and exclusion zones, and never install a damaged or incorrectly machined panel.

How Do You Install the Turf, Infill and Net?

Install the playing surface only after the base and enclosure have been accepted. The base must be clean, dry and suitable for the specified seam method.

Lay the turf in the approved direction, form accurate joins and add the specified infill in controlled passes. The quantity depends on the product and performance requirements.

After brushing, inspect the infill, fiber exposure, seams and ball response. The net should measure 0.88 m at the center and 0.92 m at the ends.

How Should Padel Court Lighting Be Installed and Tested?

Lighting should provide the required visibility without obstructing play or creating unacceptable glare and spill.

Define the level of play before selecting fixtures. As one regional reference, LTA guidance uses 300 lux average with 0.5 uniformity for recreational and regional competition, and 500 lux with 0.7 uniformity for national or international competition. Local requirements remain controlling.

Use a photometric layout where required and have qualified local personnel install and test the electrical system.

Onto Padel provides remote installation guidance, including drawings, videos and technical support. Local installation teams may be arranged in selected markets. Where they are unavailable, one or two Onto Padel technicians can provide on-site guidance, with travel, accommodation, visa and service costs covered by the client.

Step 6: Inspect, Hand Over and Open the Court

Commissioning confirms that the court matches the approved drawings. Inspect the structure, glass, doors, turf, net, drainage, lighting and controls. Record each defect, responsible party and completion date.

The handover package should include:

• Approved and as-built drawings
• Foundation acceptance records
• Installation and inspection checklists
• Electrical and lighting test results
• Product identification and specifications
• Warranties and spare-parts information
• Operation and maintenance manuals

Commercial venues should also prepare booking, access, staffing, emergency and maintenance procedures before opening.

How Long Does It Take to Build a Padel Court?

A complete padel court project commonly takes several weeks to several months, depending mainly on permits, site conditions, freight and project scale. The following ranges are planning references rather than fixed commitments:

Some phases can overlap. Foundation work and court manufacture, for example, may proceed together after all shared dimensions, anchor details and design loads have been approved.

The programme should also allow for weather, authority review, utility upgrades, customs clearance and corrective work. These risks are more likely to affect the opening date than the physical assembly of the court.

How Much Does It Cost to Build a Padel Court?

The complete project cost includes the court system, logistics, civil works, installation, electrical work and professional requirements. A factory price is not the total investment required to open a court.

Budget separately for:

• Manufactured court and optional equipment
• Export packing, freight and insurance
• Import charges and inland delivery
• Survey, excavation, foundation and drainage
• Installation labor and equipment
• Electrical supply and lighting connections
• Engineering, permits and inspections

As a regional benchmark, the LTA’s 2025 guidance reports a total of £71,000 for one outdoor court with lights, ring beam or base, ducting and drainage, excluding VAT and professional fees. This helps illustrate project scope but should not be treated as a worldwide quotation.

See the Padel Court Cost Guide for a more detailed padel court cost breakdown.

Should You Build an Indoor or Outdoor Padel Court?

Indoor courts provide weather protection and more predictable playing hours, while outdoor courts avoid the cost of an enclosing building. The correct choice depends on climate, usable hours, approvals and total facility investment.

A covered court sits between these options. The canopy has its own wind loads, columns, foundations and drainage, so it should be engineered as a separate structure.

What Changes When You Build Multiple Padel Courts?

Multi-court projects can share packing, freight, cranes, installer mobilization, drainage, electrical distribution and project management. This may reduce some costs per court.

However, a larger venue also needs facility-level planning. Draw the doors, circulation routes, drains, electrical cabinets, spectator areas and maintenance access before fixing the court count. Power supply, parking, accessibility, fire provisions, club facilities and acoustic measures may also need to increase with the project scale.

Reviewing Projects — Onto Padel can help identify practical layout questions, but every facility still requires its own site design.

What Are the Most Common Padel Court Construction Mistakes?

The most common mistakes are:

• Ordering before confirming the site and permit route
• Selecting a court without defining local environmental loads
• Building a generic foundation without site-specific engineering
• Using an outdated anchor or court drawing
• Treating drainage as a later correction
• Ignoring container access, unloading and glass storage
• Installing over a base that has not been measured and accepted
• Forcing glass or steel to compensate for civil-work errors
• Applying the same infill quantity to every turf
• Selecting lighting without checking uniformity and glare
• Opening before defects, manuals and warranties are complete

A short approval record at each critical stage helps prevent expensive corrections later.

How Do You Maintain a Padel Court?

Routine maintenance includes removing debris, brushing and redistributing infill, clearing drainage, cleaning and inspecting glass, checking doors and nets, and looking for loose fixings or coating damage.

Periodic technical inspections should also cover anchors, corrosion, seals, lighting supports and electrical equipment. Follow the supplied maintenance manual and warranty conditions, and adjust the schedule to actual court usage and local climate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Build a Padel Court Yourself?

Owner-managed procurement is possible, but structural assembly, glass lifting and electrical work require competent personnel. A local crew can install an imported system when it has the correct drawings, equipment, training and manufacturer support.

Does Every Padel Court Need a Concrete Slab?

No. The correct foundation may be a reinforced slab, ring beam with a permeable base or another engineered solution. It depends on the court system, soil, drainage, environmental loads and local regulations.

Can You Import a Padel Court From China and Install It Locally?

Yes. Confirm compatible court and foundation drawings before production, then define freight, customs, unloading, installation support, replacement parts and warranty responsibilities in writing.

What Information Does a Manufacturer Need to Prepare a Quotation?

Provide the country and city, court quantity, preferred model, indoor or outdoor setting, intended use, site photos or drawings, available slab information, turf and lighting preferences, branding requirements, delivery term, installation method, target dates and applicable wind, seismic or certification requirements.

The quotation should return a defined specification, supply scope, optional items, lead-time assumptions, exclusions, delivery basis, payment terms and validity period.

Ready to Plan Your Padel Court?

A reliable proposal begins with the site, intended use and responsibility split. Share your project location, number of courts, indoor or outdoor setting, preferred opening date and any environmental or branding requirements.

Explore all Onto Padel court systems or contact the Onto Padel team to discuss your project.