How do you convert a tennis court into a padel court?

Converting a tennis court into a padel court is a smart way to breathe new life into existing space and infrastructure. Two padel courts fit easily side by side on one standard tennis court, and the foundation can in many cases be partly reused. That saves time, money and digging work. In this article we answer the most frequently asked questions about the conversion process, from technical details to costs and permits.

Whether you are a board member of a tennis club thinking about the future of the club, or an entrepreneur who wants to redevelop an existing location: this article gives you a clear picture of what such a conversion involves and what to take into account.

What are the main differences between a tennis court and a padel court?

A padel court is smaller, enclosed and has a different surface from a tennis court. The playing area of a padel court is 20 by 10 metres, while a standard tennis court measures 23.77 by 10.97 metres. The biggest difference lies in the cage structure: in padel the court is completely surrounded by a steel structure with glass and mesh, which keeps the ball in play and gives the game a completely different character.

As for the surface, artificial turf plays a different role. Padel is played on artificial turf with a specific sand bed that determines ball bounce and playing comfort. Tennis is usually played on hard court, clay or grass. The sports-technical requirements for padel artificial turf are laid down in the Netherlands and monitored by the quality assurance system of NOC*NSF. For official matches, an inspection by Kiwa ISA Sport is mandatory.

In addition, padel produces more noise than tennis. The ball hitting glass and steel, combined with the cage structure acting as a sounding board, results in an average sound power of around 91 dB, roughly 10 dB more than tennis. This has direct consequences for the permit situation and the choice of any noise measures.

Can every tennis court be converted into a padel court?

Not every tennis court is suitable for a direct conversion, but in most cases it is technically possible. Feasibility depends on the dimensions of the tennis court, the condition of the existing foundation, the soil conditions and the space around the court. Two padel courts fit side by side on one tennis court, provided the width allows it and the run-off zones are sufficient.

What are the conditions for a successful conversion?

The existing foundation of a tennis court is by no means always directly reusable for padel. The structural requirements are different: a padel court has a steel structure with glass walls that exert considerable forces on the base, up to around 5 tonnes. In addition, padel requires a permeable base, whereas many tennis courts have been built on a closed hard court.

Factors that determine whether conversion is feasible:

• The dimensions of the current tennis court and the available land
• The condition and type of the existing foundation
• The soil conditions (sounding data provide certainty)
• The location in relation to homes (noise nuisance and permits)
• Space for run-off zones: at least 21 by 14 metres per padel court is recommended

A site check and soil investigation are always the first step. Without that data, it is impossible to give a reliable assessment of feasibility and costs.

What steps are needed to convert a tennis court into a padel court?

Converting a tennis court into a padel court follows a fixed order: first demolition and groundwork, then foundation, and then structure and installation. The exact steps depend on the location and the condition of the existing court, but the basic process looks as follows.

1. Site check and structural calculation. Soil investigation, soundings and a measurement survey of the location. On this basis it is determined which foundation is needed and how the steel structure is calculated.
2. Permit application. For outdoor courts, an environmental permit is almost always mandatory. This process takes an average of 8 to 12 weeks and ideally runs parallel to the production phase.
3. Demolition of the existing tennis court. The old base is removed. Depending on the type of foundation, part of it can be reused, which saves costs.
4. Groundwork and foundation. Construction of the new foundation, tailored to the soil conditions, use and location. Drainage concrete, Supersub or ZOAB asphalt are the most commonly used options.
5. Installation of the steel structure. The cage structure is placed and anchored. This takes an average of two days.
6. Installation of glass and mesh. The glass walls are placed around the court.
7. Laying the artificial turf. Including sand bed and lines. This takes one to two days.
8. Installation of LED lighting. Light masts are placed and connected.
9. Completion and inspection. After completion, an inspection by Kiwa ISA Sport follows if the court is to be used for official matches.

The total lead time of a project, including production, permit and installation, averages 10 to 12 weeks. The installation itself takes 3 to 4 days.

What does it cost to convert a tennis court into a padel court?

The cost of converting a tennis court into a padel court starts, as an indication, at around €50,000 per padel court for a complete outdoor project including foundation. The exact price always depends on the condition of the existing court, the foundation type, the location and the number of courts. With existing tennis courts, part of the substructure can sometimes be reused, which reduces costs.

What determines the price?

The foundation is the largest cost factor for outdoor padel courts. Foundation costs average between €20,000 and €40,000, depending on soil conditions, accessibility and the civil engineering work required. If the existing tennis court foundation is partly reusable, this can deliver a considerable saving.

Other factors that influence the price:

• Type of padel court (Pro or Panorama specification)
• Number of courts (with multiple courts you gain economies of scale)
• Accessibility of the location
• Extra options such as sound-absorbing panels, ball catchers or sliding doors
• Any demolition costs for the existing tennis court

It is wise never to choose solely on the lowest price. Lower-quality materials or an inexperienced contractor can lead to higher costs in the longer term through subsidence, structural problems or limited warranty. Always request a detailed quote with a specification of what is and is not included.

Which foundation type is best for a padel court on an old tennis court?

The best foundation type for a padel court on an old tennis court depends on the soil conditions, the condition of the existing foundation and the use of the court. The three most commonly used options are drainage concrete, Supersub and ZOAB asphalt. For renovations, Supersub is often used because of its thin build-up and quick processing.

Drainage concrete

Drainage concrete is a permeable type of concrete in which rainwater drains directly through the foundation to the subsoil. It is a proven and stable solution for outdoor padel courts, with an average lifespan of 25 to 40 years. For padel courts, drainage concrete is often combined with a ring foundation with steel reinforcement to absorb the forces of the steel structure and wind load properly.

Supersub

Supersub is a foundation solution based on foam concrete: a lightweight, self-levelling type of concrete that creates a level and stable base. For renovations, such as converting a tennis court, a layer of around 10 cm is usually applied. Supersub is shock-absorbing, permeable in the outdoor variant and can in many cases be poured within a single day. The material is fully recyclable and requires considerably less transport than traditional foundations.

ZOAB asphalt

ZOAB asphalt, also known as open-graded asphalt concrete, is a porous type of asphalt that lets water through. It is less common for padel courts than drainage concrete or Supersub, but can be a good option in certain situations, for example when the surroundings or the budget call for it.

All foundation components must be approved by Kiwa ISA Sport in the Netherlands. Working with certified materials is not only a quality guarantee, but also protects against unintended non-conformity at official matches or inspections. A good adviser helps you make the right choice based on your location, not on whatever happens to be in stock.

Do you need a permit to build a padel court?

For an outdoor padel court, an environmental permit is mandatory in almost all cases. In the Netherlands, a padel court is regarded as a structure and falls under building regulations. For indoor installation in an existing hall without structural changes, this depends on the situation, but fire safety and use regulations apply in that case too.

When is a permit mandatory?

A permit is definitely needed when:

• The padel court is installed outdoors
• Structural work takes place
• Noise or lighting affects the surroundings
• The location is within or near residential buildings

Because padel produces more noise than tennis, an acoustic study is almost always mandatory as part of the permit application when the location is near homes. Also think of a lighting study, a site plan, structural calculations in accordance with the Dutch Building Decree (Bouwbesluit) and sometimes an ecological or archaeological investigation.

What are the risks of building without a permit?

Building without the required permit is not an option. The municipality can halt the project, impose fines or require the cage structure to be removed. The lead time of a permit application averages 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the municipality and the complexity of the project. It pays to start the permit process as early as possible, so that it runs parallel to the production phase and you do not suffer unnecessary delay.

How long does it take to convert a tennis court into a padel court?

The total lead time for converting a tennis court into a padel court averages 10 to 12 weeks, including production, delivery and installation. The construction work itself, from groundwork to completion, usually takes 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the complexity of the location. In most cases the permit procedure is the longest link in the timeline.

What does the timeline look like?

A realistic timeline looks like this:

• Week 1 to 2: Site check, soil investigation and structural calculation
• Week 2 to 10: Permit application (an average of 8 to 12 weeks, runs parallel to production)
• Week 2 to 10: Production of the steel structure
• After the permit: Demolition of the old court, groundwork and foundation construction
• Installation: Placing the cage structure (2 days), glass, artificial turf and LED lighting (1 to 2 days)
• Completion: Inspection and commissioning

The permit procedure is therefore the factor with the most influence on the total lead time. By starting the permit and production at the same time, you save weeks in the overall timeline. If you plan the conversion for a particular season, make sure you start the preparations well in advance.

At I-Padel we guide the entire process from A to Z: from the first site check and structural calculation through to completion and inspection. We also coordinate the permit process, including consultation with the municipality and the submission of structural calculations and an acoustic study.

That way, as a club or operator, you do not have to manage all the separate parties yourself. Do you want to know what converting your tennis court into a padel court involves in concrete terms? Get in touch for an initial exploration, and we will look at your situation, without obligation.

Frequently asked questions