How much free space is needed beside and behind an indoor padel court?

Beside and behind an indoor padel court you need at least 0.5 metres of free space, but for a comfortable and safe playing experience the recommended total space is 21 x 14 metres. The playing area of the court itself is 20 x 10 metres, so the extra metres go entirely to run-off zones and installation space. Below we answer the most frequently asked questions about space requirements for an indoor padel court, from minimum dimensions to the total hall floor area for multiple courts.

What are the minimum free spaces beside and behind an indoor padel court?

The minimum installation space for an indoor padel court is 21 x 11 metres. That means 0.5 metres on each side of the court and 0.5 metres behind each back wall. For a pleasant playing experience and sufficient safety, we recommend a total space of 21 x 14 metres, which amounts to 2 metres behind each back wall as a run-off zone.

Those extra metres are not a luxury. Players regularly run back beyond the back wall to return a ball. If the wall directly borders a wall or obstacle, this not only limits the quality of play but also increases the risk of injury. For a professional location, such as a sports hall or a commercial padel centre, the recommended size of 21 x 14 metres is therefore the standard we use as our starting point in the design.

Are you dealing with an existing hall of limited width? In some cases it is then possible to place the courts closer to the side walls, provided the structure and safety allow it. This is always tailor-made work and requires a structural assessment for each location.

How much space is needed above an indoor padel court?

The minimum clear height above an indoor padel court is 6 metres. This is the lower limit for responsible play. For professional use, the more height, the better the quality of play. With a clear height of less than 6 metres, balls regularly hit the ceiling, which disrupts the game and makes the court unsuitable for official use.

When assessing a location, we always look at the net clear height: not the height of the roof structure, but the space that remains under any beams, installations or hanging lights. Lighting fixtures that hang too low can reduce the clear height. LED lighting is preferably mounted in such a way that it does not reduce the playing space while ensuring even light distribution across the court.

A hall with a clear height of 7 or 8 metres clearly offers more playing comfort and also makes the location more attractive to players at a higher level. For new-build projects for a padel hall we always advise exceeding the minimum height by a comfortable margin.

What happens if the free space is too small?

If the free space beside, behind or above an indoor padel court is too small, it leads to three concrete problems: a poorer playing experience, a higher risk of injury and possible problems during an official inspection. A court that does not meet the minimum dimensions can be rejected for competition use by Kiwa ISA Sport.

In practice, we see that too little space behind the back wall causes problems most often. Players who chase a ball and run straight into a wall or pillar are a situation you want to avoid. Beside the court, too, too little space limits accessibility for players and spectators.

The structure also plays a role. If the court stands too close to a wall or column, this can make installation more difficult and in some cases affect the stability of the steel structure. For every location, the available space is therefore assessed first, even before a design is made.

Does the space required differ for an outdoor and an indoor court?

The playing area of a padel court is always 20 x 10 metres, both indoors and outdoors. The recommended run-off space around the court is also comparable. The difference lies not in the playing space itself, but in the space needed for the foundation, the structure and any additional provisions such as drainage or noise measures.

With an outdoor court you have to allow for extra space around the court for the foundation. Drainage concrete or a ring foundation extends beyond the cage structure. Depending on the type of foundation and the soil conditions, this can mean you need an extra half to one and a half metres around the court for the foundation itself.

In addition, factors such as wind load and sound-absorbing panels play a bigger role with outdoor courts. Panels on the outside of the cage structure require more space and a heavier steel structure. With indoor courts these factors are less decisive, although they can also be relevant indoors at locations near residential areas.

How much total hall floor area do you need for multiple padel courts?

For multiple indoor padel courts side by side, you add up the space required per court, plus the walking space between the courts. As a guideline, two courts side by side require a width of at least approximately 23 metres, including a gap of 1 metre between them. For six courts in a hall, you quickly arrive at a total hall floor area of 1,000 m² or more.

A practical calculation for a hall with four courts side by side:

• Four courts of 10 metres wide each: 40 metres
• Three gaps of 1 metre each: 3 metres
• Two outer run-off zones of 1.5 metres each: 3 metres
• Total width: approximately 46 metres
• Length per court including run-off zones: 21 to 24 metres

The exact layout always depends on the shape of the hall, the position of columns and the desired walking routes for players and spectators. With larger projects of six or more courts, economies of scale also arise in production and installation, which lowers the cost per court. Want to know more about what an indoor padel court costs in larger quantities? We explain that on our costs page.

What other factors determine whether a location is suitable for an indoor padel court?

Besides free space and height, five other factors determine whether a location is suitable for an indoor padel court: the load-bearing capacity of the floor, accessibility for installation, the presence of columns or obstacles, the availability of electricity for LED lighting and the fire safety requirements that apply to the hall.

The floor must be able to carry the load of the steel structure and the weight of the players. With existing halls, it is wise to have the floor structure assessed before a final design is made. If the existing floor is not suitable, a new foundation may be needed, which affects the cost.

Columns in the hall are a common point of attention. They can limit the width of the court or complicate the layout of multiple courts. In many cases it is possible to position the courts so that columns fall outside the playing area, but this requires careful dimensioning.

Finally, halls that receive the public are subject to fire safety requirements under the Bouwbesluit (Dutch Building Decree). When placing padel courts in an existing hall, it is wise to check beforehand whether the hall's use permit is adequate for the new function. For indoor courts without structural changes to the hall itself, a separate environmental permit is not always needed, but this depends on the situation.

How I-Padel helps with the space planning of your location

Good space planning is the foundation of a successful padel court project. We help you with this in concrete terms, from the first sketch to the final layout. This is what we do for you:

• We assess the available hall floor area and advise on the maximum number of courts that fit within the space.
• We produce a structural calculation for each location, including the position of columns, the clear height and the load-bearing capacity of the floor.
• We advise on the right run-off zones, the gaps between courts and the positioning of LED lighting.
• We produce the steel structure entirely in-house, which makes tailor-made solutions per location possible without depending on standard import sizes.
• We take care of the entire process from groundwork and foundation through to the handover of the complete indoor padel court.

Want to know how many courts fit in your hall and what that costs in concrete terms? Get in touch for an initial exploration; we are happy to think along with you, without obligation.

Frequently asked questions