Is it cheaper to build several padel courts at the same time?

Yes, it is cheaper to build several padel courts at the same time. The more courts you realise in a single project, the lower the average cost per court. That is because transport, installation and foundation costs are shared. But exactly how much does it save, and when is it smart to build in phases? Below you will find everything you need to make a good decision.

How much does it cost to build one padel court in the Netherlands?

An indoor padel court costs indicatively from around €23,000 per court, turnkey. That means: including the steel structure, glass, artificial turf, LED lighting and complete installation. For an outdoor padel court the costs are higher: from around €30,000 for the court itself, and from around €50,000 if you include the foundation.

There is a clear reason for this higher price on outdoor projects. An outdoor court has to withstand wind, rain and frost. That calls for a heavier, hot-dip galvanised steel structure and a foundation specifically matched to the ground conditions of the location. Foundation costs for an outdoor padel court average between €20,000 and €40,000, depending on the ground conditions and accessibility.

What else determines the price of an indoor court:

• The type of court: a panoramic court has a different look from a pro court and sometimes requires heavier materials, making the price slightly higher.
• The location and accessibility of the hall
• The quality level of the artificial turf and the LED lighting
• Extra options, such as run-off zones or sound-absorbing panels

Keep in mind that the lowest price is not always the best choice. Cheaper materials or a less solid foundation can lead to higher maintenance costs in the long run.

Why is it cheaper to build several padel courts at the same time?

With several padel courts in one project, the cost per court falls because a large part of the fixed project costs is shared. Think of transport, crane work, the installation crew and site preparation. You incur these costs once, regardless of whether two or six courts are built.

Besides the shared project costs, economies of scale in production also play a role. With larger volumes, it is possible to purchase materials more efficiently and plan production better. That translates directly into a lower price per court.

A concrete example: suppose the transport and installation costs for one court come to €4,000. With four courts at the same location, those costs are spread across all four courts. Per court, that quickly saves €1,500 to €2,500, depending on the situation. Add the production and material advantages, and the price difference on larger projects quickly grows.

In short: the more courts you have built at the same time, the lower the average cost per court. That makes a multi-court project financially more attractive than several separate orders at different times.

Which costs are shared in a multi-court project?

In a project with several padel courts, the following costs are shared across all courts: transport of materials and structures, crane and lifting work on site, the installation crew and their travel time, and the preparation of the subsoil. The more courts, the smaller the share of these costs per individual court.

Specifically, you can think of the following cost categories that work out cheaper with several courts:

• Transport: one lorry can carry several structures to the same location
• Crane work: the crane is on site anyway, so extra courts require little extra crane time
• Installation crew: the crew is already present and scheduled; extra courts cost fewer additional man-hours than the first court
• Foundation work: with several courts side by side, the foundation can be laid more efficiently, especially if a single continuous floor is poured
• Project management and custom engineering: the structural calculation per location is made once for the whole project

For outdoor projects, the foundation also plays a major role. If you place several courts side by side, the foundation slab can be laid as one continuous piece. That is more efficient than several separate slabs at separate times. The saving can be considerable, especially if the groundwork is complex.

How many padel courts are needed for a profitable operation?

For a profitable operation, most commercial padel venues assume a minimum of four courts. With four courts you can set up a full playing schedule, organise tournaments and generate enough income to cover the fixed costs. Two courts are feasible for a sports club, but leave less room for growth.

The exact number depends on several factors:

• Type of venue: a commercial padel hall needs more courts than a tennis club offering padel as an addition
• Available space: an indoor hall of 1,000 m² has room for four to six courts, depending on the layout and run-off zones
• Target group and occupancy rate: the more players you expect, the more courts you need to avoid waiting times
• Investment budget: more courts mean higher start-up costs, but also higher potential revenue

Tennis clubs often start with two or three courts as a first step. That is a good way to test whether demand is large enough before expanding further. For a fully commercial operation, four courts is a realistic starting point. Six or more courts offer more flexibility in scheduling and tournament organisation.

What is the difference between indoor and outdoor padel courts in larger projects?

In larger projects, indoor padel courts are cheaper per court than outdoor courts. Indoor courts start from around €23,000 per court, turnkey. Outdoor courts start at around €50,000 per court, including foundation, because the structure has to be heavier and the foundation is more complex. With several courts, this difference applies to every court in the project.

Why are outdoor courts more expensive in larger projects?

For outdoor padel courts, wind load plays a major role. The Netherlands is divided into three wind zones, and different structural requirements apply to each. The steel structure has to be heavier and is hot-dip galvanised as standard to prevent rust. That makes the structure more expensive per court than an indoor version.

In addition, the foundation for outdoor courts is a separate and substantial cost item. The most widely used solution is a ring foundation combined with a water-permeable sports floor, such as drainage concrete or Supersub. Drainage concrete is a water-permeable type of concrete in which rainwater drains straight through the foundation into the subsoil. Supersub is a foundation solution based on foam concrete that provides a flat, stable and shock-absorbing base. Both options have their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on the ground conditions and use.

When do you choose indoor for a larger project?

Indoor courts are interesting if you have an existing hall available or are having a new hall built. The investment per court is lower, you are not dependent on the weather and you can operate all year round. For larger projects of four courts or more, an indoor location is often financially more attractive than a comparable outdoor project.

When is it smart to build in phases rather than all at once?

Phased building is smart if you do not have enough budget for the full project, if you first want to test whether demand is large enough, or if the location is not yet fully available. In those cases, you build two or three courts in phase one and expand later if the operation justifies it.

The drawback of phased building is that you miss the economies of scale of a larger project. Transport, installation and foundation work are organised twice instead of once. That makes phased building more expensive overall than realising everything in one go.

There are situations in which phased building is still the best choice:

• You first want to build support among members or stakeholders before making the full investment
• The permit procedure is still ongoing and you want to start already with a limited number of courts
• The available space grows over time, for example because of a planned extension of the hall
• The financing for the full project is not yet in place

If you know you ultimately want to grow to four or more courts, it is wise to take the later expansion into account in the first phase. Make sure the foundation and the spatial layout allow for expansion. That prevents you from incurring extra costs later to undo earlier choices.

How do you request a quotation for a project with several padel courts?

For a quotation for several padel courts, provide at least the following information: the desired number of courts, the available space and the height of the location, whether it is an indoor or outdoor project, and whether you want a turnkey package or only the materials. The more details you provide, the more accurate the quotation.

A good quotation for a multi-court project always involves custom engineering. Every location has different conditions: ground conditions, wind load, permit requirements and spatial constraints. That means a structural calculation is needed per location before a final price can be given. All foundation components must be approved by Kiwa ISA Sport in the Netherlands, which means certified materials are mandatory. That is something you can look out for when requesting a quotation: always ask about the certification of the materials used.

In practical terms, it also helps to state the following when requesting a quotation:

• Whether there is an existing floor or foundation that could possibly be reused
• Whether noise requirements apply from the municipality or the surroundings
• What the desired completion date is
• Whether you also want to include lighting, artificial turf and installation in the quotation

At I-Padel, as a producer of padel courts we work directly, without intermediaries. We produce the steel structure ourselves, which means shorter lead times and more flexibility in custom work. For a project with several courts, we are happy to think along about the best layout, the right foundation type and the most cost-effective approach. Take a look at our options for building padel courts or get in touch directly. We are happy to think along with you, without obligation.

Frequently asked questions