Most people who call us about building a padel court start with the same question: what does it cost? That is the right question. But the more important thing to understand first is what a padel court build actually involves, because it is not like building a tennis court or a pickleball court. There are more moving parts, more vendors, and more ways for a project to go sideways if nobody is coordinating the full picture.
This guide walks through every phase of a padel court build in the US, what happens at each step, what you need to plan for, and where most first-time builds run into trouble.
What Is a Padel Court Actually Made Of?
A padel court is 66 feet long by 33 feet wide — about one quarter the size of a tennis court, and slightly bigger than a pickleball court. A single tennis court footprint can fit roughly four padel courts, which is why multi-court facilities work well even on tighter lots. The total space you need including player buffer around the court is about 98 by 66 feet.
The court is fully enclosed, with glass walls on the back and lower sides and steel mesh above. The walls are part of the game — players can let the ball bounce off the back glass and play it back over the net, similar to squash.
Here is what the court is made of:
- Glass panels: Tempered safety glass on the back walls and lower side panels. Tempered glass is required because it breaks into small blunt pieces instead of sharp shards — a safety standard, not a style choice.
- Mesh enclosure: Steel or aluminum mesh on the upper panels and above the glass line.
- Net: 34.6 inches high at the center, slightly lower than a tennis net.
- Surface: Artificial turf with sand infill. Purpose-built padel turf gives the right amount of grip and ball bounce — regular artificial grass does not perform the same way.
- Lighting: 300 lux minimum for recreational play, 500 lux for competitive. Budget $10,000 to $20,000 for a properly lit single court.
- Foundation anchoring: Steel posts are set directly into the concrete slab. The anchor depth varies by manufacturer and your local wind load requirements.
None of these are optional for a regulation court. Cutting corners on any of them affects how the court plays, how long it lasts, and whether you can host sanctioned events.
Why Padel Court Construction Is More Complex Than Most People Expect
A pickleball court is relatively straightforward. You hire a local concrete crew, pour a slab, apply surface coating, and paint the lines. Most of the vendors are local and the whole supply chain is domestic.
A padel court is different. There are three separate components that have to come together on the same job site at the same time, and each one comes from a different source.
First, you need the court system itself. The structural steel frame, tempered glass wall panels, steel mesh enclosure, net, and turf surface all come from a padel court manufacturer. In 2026, there are a handful of US-based manufacturers and many more international ones, primarily from Spain and Latin America, where the industry has decades of history. That system gets manufactured in a factory and shipped to your site.
Second, you need a local concrete crew to prepare your foundation before any court components arrive. The slab needs to be engineered correctly for drainage, sub-base, and structural load. If the foundation is off, everything built on top of it will have problems.
Third, you need a certified installation crew to assemble the court once the materials arrive. Most international manufacturers historically flew their own teams to the US to do this. That model works, but it is expensive, inflexible on timing, and creates real coordination risk when the install crew’s schedule does not align with when your foundation is ready and your materials actually arrive.
This three-party supply chain is the main reason padel construction in the US has been complicated. We built US Padel Court Builders specifically to manage all three, because no one else was doing that from the US side.
Step 1: Site Assessment and Project Planning
Before anything else, you need to understand what your site can actually support.
A standard padel court measures 20 meters by 10 meters, or 66 by 33 feet. Each court needs a minimum footprint of roughly 69 by 36 feet including surrounding access space. For multi-court facilities, you also need clearance between courts, player circulation space, and ideally a social area.
For outdoor builds, orientation matters. Courts oriented north to south avoid the worst direct sun during play. Drainage is critical, especially in Florida, Texas, and other high-rainfall markets. A site that looks flat may have grading problems that add cost and time to foundation work.
For indoor builds, the first thing to assess is ceiling height. The minimum is 24 feet clear. At that height, play is functional but lobbing is constrained. Thirty to 36 feet is the optimal range for a full playing experience. Many warehouse conversions fall short here and only discover it after they have committed to the space.
Site assessment also drives the permit strategy. A commercial outdoor installation in Miami-Dade County has very different requirements than a club build in suburban Dallas. Getting clarity on the permit path early prevents the most common cause of project delays.
Step 2: Court Type and Manufacturer Selection
Padel courts come in two primary styles. Panoramic courts feature full glass walls on all sides, giving the court an open, modern look with maximum sightlines. Classic courts use a combination of glass on the back walls and steel mesh on the sides, which adds structural resilience and is often preferred in higher-wind environments.
Both are regulation compliant. The choice comes down to aesthetics, budget, and your local engineering requirements.
Manufacturer selection is where most first-time builders spend too much time on price and not enough on fit. The questions that actually matter are: What is the manufacturer’s lead time and how does it align with your foundation timeline? Are their installation crews certified and available in your region? What is their track record for US projects specifically? Do they have local warranty support, or does every service call require an international team?
US-based manufacturers offer faster lead times, no import complexity, and no tariff exposure. International manufacturers, primarily Spanish and Latin American brands, often offer competitive pricing and deep manufacturing experience. We work with both and recommend based on what fits the specific project. For full cost context, see our padel court cost guide.
Step 3: Foundation and Site Preparation
Foundation work begins before any court equipment arrives. For new builds on raw land or sites without an existing concrete slab, this means excavation, grading, sub-base preparation, and pouring a reinforced concrete slab.
The slab specification matters. Courts in high-wind regions need deeper anchor points for the structural steel posts. Courts in heavy-rain markets need engineered drainage to prevent water pooling under the turf surface. Courts in expansive clay soil regions, common in Texas, need sub-base preparation that accounts for soil movement.
Budget $15,000 to $25,000 for foundation and site prep on a single new-build court. If you already have a concrete slab in good condition, this cost can be significantly reduced, but the slab still needs to be assessed for level, drainage, and anchor point viability before court installation begins.
Timing is critical here. The foundation needs to be complete and cured before installation crews arrive and materials are on-site. Coordinating those three timelines, foundation completion, material delivery, and crew availability, is where poorly managed projects lose weeks.
Step 4: Permitting
Permit requirements vary by municipality and can be the longest phase of the entire project.
Most permanent outdoor padel court installations require a building permit covering the foundation and a structural permit for the court system. Some jurisdictions also require stamped engineering drawings, wind load calculations, and environmental review. Coastal counties in Florida operate under the Florida Building Code with strict wind load requirements. California coastal projects face additional permitting layers.
Start permitting as early as possible. The permit application can often be submitted in parallel with manufacturer lead time, meaning permitting and manufacturing happen simultaneously rather than sequentially. That alone can save 6 to 10 weeks on a project timeline.
We work with partner structural engineers on every project to prepare and submit the permit package. This is not optional for any permanent installation and it is not something to hand off to a local contractor who has never pulled a padel court permit before.
Step 5: Court Installation
Once the foundation is ready, materials are on-site, and permits are in hand, installation moves quickly. A single court typically takes 5 to 7 days for a certified crew to complete.
The installation sequence starts with setting the structural steel posts into the foundation anchor points. The steel frame goes up next, followed by the tempered glass wall panels and steel mesh enclosure. Surface work comes last, with professional-grade artificial turf installed over the slab and the net system rigged to regulation height.
Final inspection verifies structural integrity, glass panel seating, surface quality, and net tension. A court that passes final inspection is ready for play from day one.
One note on installation crews: the quality of the installation directly affects how the court plays and how long it lasts. Glass panels that are not properly anchored flex under wind load. Turf that is not properly laid creates surface irregularities that affect ball bounce. Use certified crews who have installed the specific manufacturer system you purchased.
Step 6: Launch and Operations Setup
The court is built. That is the beginning, not the end.
Before your first players arrive, you need booking software configured, pricing set, and a plan for how you are going to find your first members or court renters. The padel facilities that struggle in year one are almost always the ones that focused entirely on construction and did not think about operations until after opening day.
Booking software, player acquisition strategy, programming, and community building all need to be in place at launch. For a full breakdown of the business side of opening a padel facility, read our guide on how to start a padel facility in the US.
What We Handle for You
Every phase above is something we manage directly. We assess your site, recommend the right manufacturer for your timeline and budget, coordinate foundation crews, manage permit submissions, schedule installation, and support your launch.
Our service does not add cost to your project. We earn through our manufacturer and installer partnerships, which means our incentive is always to get your project built right and on time.
If you are planning a padel court build and want a clear picture of what your specific project involves, the best next step is a free consultation where we can walk through your site, your timeline, and your budget in real terms.
Frequently Asked Questions About Building a Padel Court
How long does it take to build a padel court?
A typical padel court project runs 3 to 6 months from initial planning to opening day. The biggest variable is permitting, which can range from 4 weeks in straightforward jurisdictions to several months in coastal or highly regulated markets. Court installation itself takes 5 to 7 days once the foundation is ready and materials are on-site.
Do you need a concrete foundation for a padel court?
Yes. A properly engineered reinforced concrete slab is required for any permanent padel court installation. The slab needs correct sub-base preparation, drainage engineering, and grading. A foundation that is not properly leveled will compromise the structural integrity of the glass panel system above it. If you have an existing concrete slab in good condition, costs are reduced significantly.
Can I buy a padel court and install it myself?
Technically possible, but not recommended. Padel court installation requires certified crews trained on the specific manufacturer system. Structural steel framing, tempered glass panel anchoring, and wind load compliance are not DIY tasks. Most manufacturers void warranties on courts not installed by their certified partners.
What permits are needed to build a padel court in the US?
Requirements vary by municipality. Most permanent outdoor installations require a building permit covering the foundation and a structural permit for the court system. Some jurisdictions also require wind load calculations, stamped engineering drawings, and zoning approval. Coastal counties and HOA communities typically have stricter requirements. Budget 6 to 16 weeks for permitting depending on your location.
How much does it cost to build a padel court in the US?
A complete single outdoor padel court project in the US typically costs between $74,000 and $131,000. That includes the court system, foundation and site prep, lighting, and permits. See our complete padel court cost guide for a full breakdown by line item.