Padel Court Dimensions & Requirements

Official Court Dimensions

The playing area measures exactly 20m x 10m (65.6 ft x 32.8 ft), divided by a net into two equal halves. The net height is 88cm (34.6 in) at the center and 92cm (36.2 in) at the posts, which extend 0.5m beyond each sideline. Service boxes are formed by a center service line and a service line located 6.95m from the net.

The total space required for a padel court, including surrounding safety zones, is approximately 23m x 13m (75.5 ft x 42.6 ft). This accounts for space behind the glass walls for player movement and structural support. For multi-court facilities, courts can share side walls, reducing the total footprint per court.

Wall & Fence Specifications

The back walls are 4 meters high — the bottom 3 meters are tempered glass (10-12mm thick) and the top 1 meter is metallic mesh. Side walls have a stepped configuration: 4 meters of glass/mesh starting from the back wall, stepping down to 3 meters of metallic mesh toward the net area. The first 2 meters of the side walls (from the back) are glass, and the remainder is mesh.

Tempered glass panels must be 10mm or 12mm thick, transparent, and capable of withstanding ball impacts at high velocity. The metallic mesh must have a maximum grid size of 6.25 x 6.25 cm and be tensioned to prevent excessive ball bounce. All structures must be free of sharp edges or protrusions that could injure players.

Playing Surface

The most common padel court surface is artificial turf (typically 12-15mm pile height) with silica sand infill. This provides consistent ball bounce, good traction, and all-weather playability. The surface must be uniform in color — blue, green, or terracotta are the most popular choices.

Alternative surfaces include porous concrete (common in warmer climates), acrylic coatings, and synthetic carpet. Each surface type affects ball speed and bounce differently. Artificial turf is preferred for outdoor courts because it drains well, while indoor courts sometimes use concrete or specialized carpet for lower maintenance.

Lighting Requirements

Proper lighting is critical for padel, especially for evening play and indoor facilities. The minimum illumination level is 400 lux for recreational play, 600 lux for club competitions, and 1,000+ lux for professional tournaments and TV broadcasts.

LED lighting has become the standard for new padel installations due to energy efficiency, instant-on capability, and minimal glare. Lights are typically mounted at 6-8 meters height on poles outside the court enclosure. Anti-glare design is essential — players should never look directly into a light source during play. Four to eight fixtures per court is typical depending on the lux requirement.

Construction Costs

Building a standard padel court costs between $25,000 and $60,000 depending on location, materials, and whether it is indoor or outdoor. Premium courts with professional-grade glass, high-end turf, and LED lighting can exceed $80,000. Indoor courts require additional investment in roofing and climate control.

Key cost components include: structural steelwork and glass panels (40-50% of total cost), surface and drainage (15-20%), lighting (10-15%), fencing and netting (10%), and foundation/groundwork (10-15%). Multi-court facilities benefit from economies of scale, reducing per-court costs by 15-25%.

Frequently Asked Questions