How many padel courts fit on the site of one tennis court?

On a standard tennis court, two padel courts usually fit side by side, sometimes three if space allows and you are willing to limit the run-off zones. A tennis court is considerably larger than a padel court, which makes conversion a logical step for tennis clubs that have space to spare or want to add padel to their offering. In this article you can read exactly how the dimensions compare, how much space you need and what a conversion means in practice.

What are the official dimensions of a padel court?

An official padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, measured between the inner walls. These are the fixed playing dimensions as laid down by the international padel federation and adopted by the KNLTB and NOC*NSF. All certified courts in the Netherlands comply with these dimensions.

In addition to the playing area itself, there are also so-called run-off zones. On the sides a recommended margin of 2 metres on each side applies, and space is also needed at the front and back for safe play and access. The minimum installation space you need in practice is 21 by 11 metres.

If you also want to include comfortable run-off zones, you arrive at an optimal space of 21 by 14 metres. That difference is relevant if you want to place several courts side by side, because the run-off space between two courts is then shared.

The cage structure itself has a standard height of 3 metres on the sides, with a higher back wall of 4 metres. Light masts are usually placed at a height of 6 metres. For indoor locations, a minimum clear height of 6 metres applies as the recommended lower limit.

How big is a standard tennis court compared with a padel court?

A standard singles tennis court is 23.77 metres long and 8.23 metres wide. Including the doubles lines, the width becomes 10.97 metres. With the required free space around the court, a full tennis court comes to a total area of roughly 650 to 700 square metres. A padel court including run-off zones takes up about 300 square metres.

The difference lies not only in the length, but also in how the space is organised. A tennis court needs free run-off space on all sides for players chasing the ball. In padel, the cage structure forms the boundary, so the space is used more compactly and efficiently. That makes padel particularly suitable for locations where you want to make the best possible use of the available land.

In concrete terms: in playing surface, a tennis court is slightly narrower but longer than two padel courts side by side. The total outer dimensions of a tennis location, including the surrounding space, do however offer room for two full-size padel courts.

How many padel courts fit on one tennis court?

In most cases two padel courts fit on the site of one standard tennis court. This applies if you keep to the recommended run-off zones and place the courts side by side. If you have a little more space, or are willing to minimise the run-off zones, a third court can in some cases be fitted in, although that requires precise dimensioning per location.

How this works in practice: two padel courts side by side need a total width of at least 22 metres (twice 10 metres of playing width plus a shared gap of 1.20 to 2 metres). The length of 20 metres per court fits well within the length of a tennis location. The exact layout depends on the available outer dimensions, the position of the fencing and any obstacles such as light masts or property boundaries.

What if the tennis location has several courts?

For tennis clubs with several courts, it pays to look at the total available area as a whole, not court by court. Two tennis courts side by side offer room for four padel courts. Three tennis courts can be converted into six padel courts, which is an interesting step up in scale for many clubs. Such a redesign does require a well-thought-out plan, in which the space between the courts, the access paths and any lighting are laid out afresh.

What are the minimum space requirements around a padel court?

The minimum free space around a padel court is 0.5 metres on all sides as an absolute lower limit for installing the cage structure. In practice a margin of at least 1 metre is recommended for safety, access and maintenance. Between two courts side by side, a minimum gap of 1.20 metres applies, with 2 metres as a comfortable standard.

In addition to the physical space for the structure, there are also functional requirements. Players must be able to walk in and out of the court safely, and there must be room for spectators or a walkway. At indoor locations the clear height also plays a role: at least 6 metres is needed to play unhindered, especially with high lobs.

Additional considerations apply to outdoor courts. Think of the distance to surrounding buildings in connection with noise standards, the space for any sound-absorbing panels or a noise barrier, and accessibility for maintenance and emergencies. When granting permits, municipalities may also set specific requirements for the free space around an outdoor court.

Is it wise to convert a tennis court to padel?

For most tennis clubs, converting a tennis court into a padel court is a sensible choice, especially if there are vacant or little-used courts. Padel attracts a different and often younger audience, which helps in attracting new members. The space is also used more efficiently: two padel courts fit on one tennis court, which doubles the playing offering.

Nevertheless, there are a number of points to think carefully about before you make the decision:

• Member support: a conversion affects existing tennis members. Communicate in good time and make sure there is sufficient tennis capacity on the remaining courts.
• Permits: an outdoor padel court requires an environmental permit in almost all cases, including an acoustic study. This certainly applies if the location is close to homes.
• Foundation: the existing tennis court surfacing can sometimes be partly reused, but this depends on the location. An assessment of the base is always needed.
• Noise: padel produces more noise than tennis. This sometimes calls for additional measures, such as sound-absorbing panels.

The financial side is relevant too. Converting a tennis court to padel is generally cheaper than a completely new build, because part of the existing infrastructure can be reused. But it remains an investment that needs to be well substantiated, preferably with a business case and a realistic picture of the expected occupancy.

What does it cost to build a padel court on a former tennis location?

The cost of a padel court on a former tennis location is generally lower than for a completely new build, because part of the existing substructure can sometimes be reused. As an indication, a guide price applies from around €50,000 per court for a complete outdoor project including foundation, but the exact price always depends on the situation on site.

The largest cost item for an outdoor court is the foundation. Even if the existing tennis court surfacing is still in good condition, it must be assessed whether it is suitable as a base for the steel structure and glass walls of a padel court. The forces a padel court exerts on the foundation are different from those of a tennis court. A structural assessment is therefore always needed, even for a conversion.

What are the cost items in a conversion?

• Demolition or adaptation of the existing surfacing: depending on the condition and type of base.
• New foundation: for outdoor courts on average between €20,000 and €40,000 per court, depending on the soil conditions and the chosen foundation type.
• Steel structure and cage structure: the superstructure of an outdoor court, excluding foundation, starts from around €30,000 per court.
• Artificial turf and LED lighting: included in a turnkey package, but also separate items in partial projects.
• Permit costs: variable per municipality, including costs for studies and structural calculations.

It is wise to always request a tailor-made quote for a conversion, so that you get a realistic picture of the total investment for your specific location. Quoting a fixed price without knowing the base, the location and the desired specification is not possible.

What foundation options are there when building a padel court?

There are three commonly used foundation types when building a padel court: drainage concrete, Supersub and ZOAB asphalt. Each type has its own properties and suits different situations. The choice depends on the soil conditions, the use and the budget. In the Netherlands, all foundation components must be approved by Kiwa ISA Sport, the recognised quality-mark institute for sports infrastructure.

Drainage concrete

Drainage concrete is a permeable type of concrete in which rainwater drains directly through the foundation into the subsoil. It is a widely used solution for outdoor courts, with an average lifespan of 25 to 40 years with good maintenance. The open structure also provides some sound dampening, which is relevant for courts close to residential areas. Drainage concrete is often combined with a ring foundation to absorb the forces of the steel structure properly.

Supersub

Supersub is a foundation solution based on foam concrete, a lightweight, self-levelling material that creates an extremely level and stable base. It is shock-absorbing, permeable (in the outdoor variant) and fully recyclable.

When converting a tennis court, Supersub is usually applied in a layer of around 10 centimetres. Installation is quick: in many cases the foundation is poured within a single day. Supersub is suitable both outdoors and indoors, with the outdoor variant being permeable and the indoor variant adapted to the indoor environment.

ZOAB asphalt

ZOAB asphalt, also known as open-graded asphalt concrete, is a porous type of asphalt that lets water through. It is used less often for padel courts than drainage concrete or Supersub, but can be a good choice in certain situations, for example if the location already has an asphalt base or if specific technical requirements call for it.

In addition to these three types, we also work with ring foundations and strong plastic panels as an alternative to poured concrete. Foundation advice is always drawn up on the basis of soundings of the subsoil, the wind load at the location and the expected use. Working with certified materials is no side issue here: inexperienced clients who do not check this risk using materials that are not approved for competition use by the KNLTB.

Do you want to know which foundation option best suits your location and what converting a tennis court into padel courts costs in your situation? We are happy to think along with you, without obligation. Get in touch for an initial exploration and we will look at the possibilities together.

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