What costs are involved in building an outdoor padel court?

The total investment in an outdoor padel court starts on average from around €50,000 per court, including foundation, steel structure, glass, artificial turf, LED lighting and installation. This amount is an indicative price: the exact costs depend on the ground conditions, the foundation type, any noise measures, permit requirements and site-specific circumstances. In this article we discuss what you can expect for each cost item and which factors influence the price.

What determines the price of an outdoor padel court?

The price of an outdoor padel court is determined by a combination of the steel structure, the foundation type, the noise measures, the permit costs and site-specific circumstances. Unlike with an indoor padel court, weather, ground conditions and wind load play a direct role in the structural choices for an outdoor court, and therefore in the final price.

The steel structure of an outdoor padel court has to be heavier than that of an indoor court. Outdoor courts are exposed to wind, rain and temperature changes. This places higher demands on the material and the protective layers. At I-Padel, outdoor structures are made from S350 structural steel, hot-dip galvanised and finished with a high-quality powder coating. This duplex system combines two protective layers that reinforce each other, which considerably extends the service life compared with galvanising alone or coating alone.

Besides the structure itself, the following factors determine the total price:

• The foundation type and the ground conditions at the location
• The presence of noise-sensitive destinations in the surroundings
• The need for noise measures such as integrated panels or a noise barrier
• The wind zone of the location, which determines the structural requirements
• The accessibility of the site for transport and assembly
• The number of courts being built, because of economies of scale in production and installation

In a turnkey project, we take care of the entire process from groundwork to handover. That gives you a single point of contact and a single responsibility, which is a practical advantage in outdoor projects involving several technical disciplines.

What does the foundation of an outdoor padel court cost?

The foundation costs of an outdoor padel court average between €20,000 and €40,000 per court. This makes it the largest variable cost item in an outdoor padel project. The exact costs depend heavily on the ground conditions, the civil works required and the chosen foundation type.

Several foundation types are used for outdoor padel courts. The most commonly used solutions are drainage concrete, Supersub and ZOAB asphalt. Each type has its own technical properties and suits different situations.

Drainage concrete

Drainage concrete is a water-permeable type of concrete in which rainwater is drained directly through the foundation into the subsoil. The open structure of the material prevents puddles from forming and ensures that the court can be played on quickly again even after heavy rainfall. Drainage concrete has a high load-bearing capacity, is resistant to frost and heat and, when used correctly and with proper maintenance, lasts 25 to 40 years on average.

For padel courts, drainage concrete is usually combined with a ring foundation with steel reinforcement to properly absorb the forces from the steel structure and the wind load. You can find more information about padel court foundations on our page about foundation types.

Supersub

Supersub is a foundation solution based on foam concrete, a light and self-levelling type of concrete that provides a flat and stable base. In its outdoor version the material is water-permeable and shock-absorbing, and in many cases it can be poured within a single day. In renovation projects, such as converting an existing tennis court, the thickness is around 10 centimetres. For new builds, around 15 centimetres is usually used, depending on the ground conditions and the project requirements.

The choice between drainage concrete, Supersub or ZOAB asphalt is always based on a site analysis. In it we look at the ground conditions, the water management, the use and the available budget. All foundation materials that we use have been certified by Kiwa ISA Sport, the independent testing institute that oversees the conformity of sports surfaces in the Netherlands.

With existing tennis courts, it may sometimes be possible to reuse part of the existing sub-base. That can reduce the foundation costs, but it always requires a technical assessment of the current condition of the subsoil.

What do noise measures for an outdoor padel court cost?

The costs of noise measures for an outdoor padel court vary greatly from situation to situation and depend on the type of measure, the scale of the application and the site-specific requirements. Integrated sound-absorbing panels and freestanding noise barriers are the two most common solutions, each with its own price range and field of application.

Noise nuisance is one of the most common challenges for outdoor padel courts, especially when the location is close to homes. Padel mainly produces impulse noise from the racket and the ball hitting the glass or fencing. This type of noise is perceived as more annoying than continuous noise and is therefore a common point of objection in permit procedures.

Integrated sound-absorbing panels

Sound-absorbing panels are fitted to the outside of the cage structure and work as a source measure: they limit the spread of noise right where it originates. Because the panels become part of the overall steel structure, the structure must be recalculated for the extra wind load caused by the closed surface. This is a technical point that should not be underestimated: a panel that reduces wind permeability increases the wind catch of the structure and places higher demands on columns, connections and foundation.

We integrate sound-absorbing panels into the design during the engineering phase, so that the structural adjustments are correctly accounted for. The cost of the panels themselves depends on the number of sides to be treated, the height of the installation and the configuration. Because every location is different, the price is always determined per project. You can read more about how they work and how they are applied on our page about acoustic solutions for padel.

Noise barriers

A noise barrier is a freestanding structure placed next to or around the padel court that blocks and absorbs noise towards homes. Noise barriers can be built to heights of 6 to 8 metres and can be tens of metres long. They require a structural calculation, cone penetration test data for the subsoil and, in almost all cases, an environmental permit.

The costs depend on the height, length, design and the foundation required. In some situations a combination of sound-absorbing panels and a noise barrier is the most effective, with the panels able to limit the required height of the barrier and thereby save costs.

Which measure is suitable depends entirely on the project situation. An independent acoustic consultant determines, based on calculations, which approach is needed and what effect can be expected from it. For this we supply the technical product specifications and structural data, but we do not carry out acoustic studies ourselves.

What permit costs are involved with an outdoor padel court?

An outdoor padel court requires an environmental permit in most cases. The direct costs of the permit application itself are generally limited, but the additional costs for the required studies and documents can run to several thousand euros per project. The exact costs depend on the municipality and the complexity of the project.

A permit application for an outdoor padel court requires a number of technical documents. Think of structural calculations in accordance with the Bouwbesluit (Dutch Building Decree), an acoustic study, a lighting study, a site plan and sometimes an ecological or archaeological study. An acoustic study is almost always mandatory for locations near homes, because padel produces more noise than tennis and municipalities are imposing ever stricter requirements on noise impact.

The lead time of a permit process averages 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the municipality and the complexity of the application. If residents object, this process can take considerably longer. We can fully guide and coordinate the permit for a padel court, including liaising with the municipality and supplying structural calculations.

Building without a permit is not an option. The municipality can halt a project, impose fines or require the cage structure to be removed. In addition, after completion an inspection by Kiwa ISA Sport is mandatory for official competitions.

What is the cost difference between an indoor and an outdoor padel court?

An outdoor padel court is structurally more expensive than a comparable indoor padel court. The difference lies in the heavier steel structure, the foundation, the permit costs and any noise measures that come with outdoor projects. As an indication: an indoor padel court starts from around €23,000 per court turnkey, while an outdoor padel court starts from around €30,000 excluding foundation and, including foundation, from around €50,000 on average.

The higher costs of outdoor courts can be explained by three technical factors. First, the steel structure must be built for outdoor installation: hot-dip galvanised, fitted with a duplex protection system and structurally calculated for the wind load at the specific location.

Second, the foundation for an outdoor court is always a separate and substantial cost item, whereas for indoor courts the existing concrete floor of the hall usually serves as the base. Third, outdoor projects almost always require permits and the accompanying studies, which brings extra costs.

When comparing prices, it is important to look at exactly what is included. A price excluding foundation says little about the actual investment. Always ask for a project-level quote that takes the site-specific circumstances into account.

What is the total cost of an outdoor padel court in the Netherlands?

The total cost of an outdoor padel court in the Netherlands starts on average from around €50,000 per court, including foundation, steel structure, glass, artificial turf, LED lighting and installation. This is an indicative price for a standard outdoor padel court without additional noise measures. When noise measures, a noise barrier or complex foundation conditions come into play, the costs are higher.

A realistic cost picture for an outdoor padel court in the Netherlands consists of the following components:

• Steel structure including glass, artificial turf, LED lighting and installation: from around €30,000
• Foundation, depending on type and ground conditions: €20,000 to €40,000 on average
• Noise measures, where applicable: project-specific, based on an acoustic study
• Permit costs including studies: variable, depending on the municipality and complexity

With several courts at one location, economies of scale arise in production, transport and installation. This can reduce the average price per court. We produce the steel structure entirely in-house, without dependence on foreign suppliers. That gives us more control over lead times, quality and customisation options, and makes it possible to price more sharply than companies that import their structures.

A project-specific quote is needed for a reliable estimate of the total investment. The location, the foundation type, the wind zone, the presence of homes in the surroundings and the desired specification together determine the final price. You can find more background on all cost items on our page about the cost of a padel court.

Curious what a complete padel court costs?

Request a project-based quote for a quote for a complete padel court including assembly, artificial turf, LED lighting, foundation or groundwork and any preparation for sound-absorbing panels. We map out the site-specific circumstances and give you a realistic picture of the total investment, with no surprises afterwards.

Frequently asked questions