Padel Court Guide
Standard dimensions, wall materials, court markings, indoor vs outdoor, and how much it costs to build — everything you need to know about padel courts.
A padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, enclosed by 3m glass back walls and wire-mesh side fencing, with a net 88cm high at the centre. The surface is sand-filled artificial turf. Courts are built indoors or outdoors and cost €25,000–€60,000 to construct. This guide covers all dimensions, materials, and specifications.
Standard Padel Court Specifications
Standard Padel Court Dimensions
A regulation padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide (65 ft 7 in × 32 ft 9 in) — giving a total playing area of 200 m². This dimension is set by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and applies to all sanctioned competition courts worldwide.
The net runs across the full width of the court at the midpoint, dividing it into two equal service zones, each 10 metres deep. The net is 92 cm high at the posts and 88 cm at the centre — slightly higher than the tennis net at the posts.
The total footprint required to build a padel court — including the enclosure structure and a recommended safety margin — is typically 22m × 12m. This is an important number if you're planning a new installation, as the surrounding area needs space for player movement and maintenance access.
Court dimensions (metric & imperial)
| Measurement | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Total length | 20.00 m | 65 ft 7 in |
| Total width | 10.00 m | 32 ft 9 in |
| Service box length | 6.95 m | 22 ft 9 in |
| Service box width | 5.00 m | 16 ft 4 in |
| No-volley zone (kitchen) | 3.05 m | 10 ft |
| Back wall height | 4.00 m | 13 ft 1 in |
| Side wall height (service box) | 3.00 m | 9 ft 10 in |
| Net height at posts | 0.92 m | 3 ft 0 in |
| Net height at centre | 0.88 m | 2 ft 10 in |
Wall Materials: Glass & Mesh
The enclosure of a padel court is built from two materials: toughened (tempered) safety glass and galvanised steel mesh. The combination determines how the ball bounces off the walls — a central part of padel strategy — and affects the visual experience for both players and spectators.
Tempered Safety Glass
Location: Back walls (full height: 4m) and lower side walls
Spec: 10–12mm toughened glass
Ball behaviour: Consistent, predictable rebound — ideal for strategic wall play
If broken, tempered glass shatters into small, blunt granules rather than sharp shards. All competition courts use tempered glass for safety compliance.
Galvanised Steel Mesh
Location: Upper side walls and above the glass on back walls
Spec: Typically 5×5cm or 3×3cm mesh panels
Ball behaviour: Softer, slightly unpredictable rebound — skilled players exploit mesh shots
Mesh allows wind flow on outdoor courts and natural light on indoor courts. It absorbs more energy than glass, so balls rebound with less pace.
The playing surface is artificial grass (astroturf) — typically green or blue — with a pile height of around 12mm. Sand infill is spread into the turf fibres to stabilise them and improve ball bounce consistency. The base layer is concrete or asphalt. Some clubs use acrylic hard-court surfaces (like a tennis club court), but artificial grass is the FIP standard.
Court Markings
Padel court markings are simpler than tennis. Lines are white, typically 5cm wide, and define the following zones:
- Service lines: Two lines run parallel to the net at 6.95m from it, dividing each half into a service box and a back court.
- Centre service line: A line running from the net to the service line, bisecting the service box into left and right courts (like tennis).
- Side lines: Mark the outer edges of the court. In padel, the walls begin immediately at the sideline — there is no out-of-bounds beyond the wall.
- Middle line: Extends from the net to the back wall, dividing the service zones. Not continued into the back court.
Unlike tennis, there are no baseline markings (the back wall IS the boundary) and no doubles/singles sideline distinction — padel is always played across the full width.
Indoor vs Outdoor Padel Courts
The same 20m × 10m court dimensions apply whether the court is indoors or outdoors. The main differences are in construction, playing conditions, and cost:
| Indoor | Outdoor | |
|---|---|---|
| Playing conditions | Controlled — no wind, no rain | Weather-dependent |
| Lighting | LED lighting required | Natural light (night: artificial) |
| Ball behaviour | Consistent year-round | Can vary with temperature & wind |
| Roof clearance | Min. 6–8m recommended | Open air |
| Build cost | Higher (structure required) | Lower (enclosure only) |
| Popularity | Northern Europe favourite | Southern Europe / year-round climates |
Sweden — one of Europe's biggest padel markets — has built thousands of indoor courts to accommodate year-round play in cold winters. In Spain and southern France, outdoor courts dominate. Most commercial clubs in the UK offer a mix.
Padel Court vs Tennis Court
A padel court is approximately one-third the size of a full tennis court. One tennis court footprint can typically fit two padel courts side by side — which is why many tennis clubs have converted spare courts into padel facilities.
| Padel Court | Tennis Court | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 20.0 m | 23.8 m (singles) |
| Width | 10.0 m | 8.23 m (singles) / 10.97 m (doubles) |
| Area | 200 m² | ~195 m² (singles) / ~261 m² (doubles) |
| Enclosure | Glass + mesh walls (essential) | None — open court |
| Net height (centre) | 88 cm | 91.4 cm |
| Players per court | Always 4 (doubles) | 2 (singles) or 4 (doubles) |
| Walls in play | Yes — fundamental to game | No |
How Much Does a Padel Court Cost to Build?
The cost of building a padel court varies significantly by country, surface type, enclosure quality, and whether it's indoor or outdoor. The ranges below reflect UK and European market pricing as of 2024–2025.
Entry-level outdoor
£25,000 – £40,000
€28,000 – €46,000
Includes: Steel structure, basic tempered glass, artificial grass surface, LED lighting
Typical for clubs adding courts with a standard spec.
Mid-range outdoor
£40,000 – £60,000
€46,000 – €70,000
Includes: Premium glass panels, higher-grade artificial grass, drainage, spectator zone
Most new club-standard courts in the UK fall in this range.
Premium / panoramic
£60,000 – £80,000+
€70,000 – €95,000+
Includes: Full-glass panoramic enclosure, tournament-grade surface, professional LED, branding
Used for dedicated padel centres and competition venues.
Indoor (add-on)
+£15,000 – £50,000
+€17,000 – €58,000
Includes: Structural roof or full building enclosure over the court
Cost added on top of the court itself. Highly variable by building specification.
These figures exclude planning permission, ground preparation, drainage, and electrical supply connection — which can add £5,000–£20,000. Installation typically takes 2–4 weeks for an outdoor court.
Padel Court FAQs
How big is a padel court?
A standard padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide (65 ft × 32 ft), with a total playing area of 200 m². The total footprint including the enclosure structure and safety margin is typically 22m × 12m.
What is a padel court made of?
The enclosure uses toughened (tempered) safety glass for the back walls and lower side sections, and galvanised steel mesh fencing on the upper areas. The playing surface is artificial grass (astroturf) with sand infill, laid over a concrete or asphalt base.
Can you play padel on a tennis court?
No — a tennis court is too large (23.8m × 8.2m for singles, no enclosing walls) for padel. However, one tennis court footprint can fit two padel courts side by side. Many UK tennis clubs have used this conversion to add padel.
What is the height of a padel court?
The back walls of a padel court are 4 metres high. The side walls within the service box area are 3 metres high. Above the solid walls, mesh fencing continues. For indoor courts, a roof clearance of at least 6 metres is recommended to allow lob shots.
How much does a padel court cost to build in the UK?
An outdoor padel court in the UK typically costs £25,000–£80,000 depending on quality spec. Entry-level courts start around £25,000–£40,000. Premium panoramic glass courts can exceed £80,000. Indoor structures add £15,000–£50,000 on top.
What surface do padel courts use?
FIP-standard padel courts use artificial grass (astroturf) with sand infill on a concrete or asphalt base. The turf is typically green or blue, 10–12mm pile height. Some clubs use acrylic hard-court surfaces, but artificial grass is the international competition standard.