What Is the Minimum Height for a Padel Hall?

The minimum clear height for a padel hall is 6 metres. That is the minimum for playing padel properly, without the ball constantly hitting the ceiling. For professional use, matches or a more comfortable playing experience, the rule is: the higher, the better. Do you have a hall in mind and want to know whether it is suitable? Then the dimensions of the padel court are the starting point of any good plan.

In this article we answer the most frequently asked questions about the height and dimensions of a padel hall, so that you know exactly what to look out for when planning your location.

Does the same minimum height apply everywhere in the hall?

The minimum clear height of 6 metres applies to the entire playing area, including the space directly above the court. What matters is the clear height: the distance from the floor to the lowest obstruction above the playing area, such as a roof beam, a light fitting or a service pipe. That 6 metres must be achieved everywhere above the playing surface.

In practice we see that halls with steel structures often have roof beams or purlins that hang lower at regular intervals. It is therefore not enough to measure only the ridge or the highest point of the hall. Always check the lowest point above the playing area itself. If in doubt, a survey on site is the only reliable way to be certain.

Also take the LED lighting above the court into account. The light masts of a padel court are 6 metres high as standard. If the lighting is integrated into the roof structure, there must be enough space for both the fittings and the clear playing space beneath them. A hall of exactly 6 metres is tight in that case and calls for a custom lighting layout.

What happens if the hall falls just short of the minimum height?

If the clear height comes out just under 6 metres, recreational play may still be possible, but professional use and official matches are not permitted. A court that does not meet the height requirements cannot obtain certification from Kiwa ISA Sport, which is mandatory for competition use under the KNLTB.

That has concrete consequences. Without valid certification, the court may not be used for official competition. For commercial operators or clubs that want to organise matches, that is a serious limitation. Tenants or buyers who later want to apply for certification will hit a wall.

In practical terms, solutions are sometimes possible, depending on the exact situation. Think of lowering the floor, adjusting the roof structure or choosing a different court layout within the hall. But these are far-reaching and costly modifications. The wisest approach is always to check the height of a hall first, before you make further plans.

Which other dimensions are mandatory for an indoor padel court?

In addition to the minimum height of 6 metres, fixed dimensions apply to the playing area and the space needed around it. The playing surface of a padel court is always 20 x 10 metres. For the assembly of the cage structure you need at least 21 x 11 metres. The recommended space, including run-off zones, is 21 x 14 metres.

Those run-off zones are there for a reason. They ensure the safety of players who end up behind the court and noticeably improve the playing experience. In a hall with several courts side by side, those extra metres add up quickly, so include them in your space planning.

• Playing area: 20 x 10 metres
• Minimum assembly space: 21 x 11 metres
• Recommended space including run-off zones: 21 x 14 metres
• Minimum clear height: 6 metres

For a hall with several courts, you add up the width per court, including the space between the courts. An aisle of at least 1 to 2 metres between two courts is customary and also advisable from a safety point of view. Make sure that your planning always takes emergency exits, escape routes and the requirements of the local fire brigade into account.

What is the difference between an indoor and outdoor padel court in terms of structural requirements?

The biggest difference lies in the steel structure. An outdoor padel court is exposed to wind, rain, frost and sunlight. That calls for a heavier steel structure, better protection of the steel and a foundation calculated for wind load and weather influences. With an indoor padel court a large part of those requirements falls away, because the hall protects the court.

Concretely, this means that outdoor courts are built as standard with hot-dip galvanised steel as protection against rust and deterioration. The structure is also dimensioned more heavily to absorb wind forces, especially on open sites or in coastal areas. With indoor courts this is not necessary, which makes the structure simpler and cheaper.

The foundation differs too. For outdoor courts the foundation is a large, location-dependent cost item. Drainage concrete and Supersub are commonly used foundation types for outdoors, where rainwater is drained directly through the foundation. For indoor courts, drainage through the foundation is less relevant and the build-up is tailored to the indoor environment. The exact choice of foundation always depends on the soil conditions and the specific location.

Finally, permits play a different role. An indoor padel court in an existing hall does not always require a separate building permit, depending on the situation. An outdoor padel court requires an environmental permit in virtually all cases because of noise, lighting and spatial impact.

How much does it cost to have an indoor padel court built?

As an indication, a standard indoor padel court, including cage structure, glass, artificial turf, LED lighting and installation, is possible from around €23,000 per court. The exact price always depends on the type of court, the number of courts, the accessibility of the location and the chosen specification.

A common mistake is to look only at the lowest price. In practice that often leads to higher costs in the long term, due to lower-quality materials, limited warranty or technical limitations that are expensive to correct later. A padel court is an investment that has to last for decades, so the total cost over its lifetime is more relevant than the purchase price alone.

Factors that influence the price:

• Type of court:
  Pro, Panorama or Single, each with its own look and structure
• Number of courts:
  with several courts there are economies of scale in production and installation
• Accessibility:
  transport and assembly conditions inside the hall
• Artificial turf and LED lighting:
  different quality levels are available
• Extra options:
  run-off zones, sound-absorbing panels or alternative lighting systems

Keep in mind that this price level applies to indoor courts. Outdoor courts are more expensive because of the heavier structure and the foundation, which is a separate and large cost factor.

Read more about the cost of an indoor padel court

How do you choose the right foundation for an indoor padel court?

The right foundation for an indoor padel court depends on the soil conditions, the existing floor and the use of the location. For new builds in a hall without an existing floor, the foundation is laid completely new. With an existing floor or a conversion from another sports floor, part of the substructure can sometimes be reused.

Supersub is a foundation solution based on foam concrete that works well for both new builds and renovations. The material is light, self-levelling and provides an extremely flat base, which is important for consistent ball bounce. For indoor use, a non-water-permeable variant is used, tailored to the indoor environment. The thickness is generally 10 to 15 cm, depending on the soil conditions and the project requirements.

Drainage concrete is another commonly used option, especially for outdoor courts, but also applicable in certain indoor situations. The material is water-permeable and has high stability and bearing capacity, suitable for the heavy load of a steel structure with glass walls.

An important point to know: all foundation components must have been inspected by Kiwa ISA Sport in the Netherlands. Working with certified materials is not only a matter of quality, but also a condition for official competition use. Inexperienced buyers who do not know this run the risk of using materials that will later fail the inspection.

A foundation recommendation is always drawn up on the basis of a cone penetration test of the subsoil. Without that test, a reliable foundation recommendation is simply not possible, because soil conditions can differ greatly from one location to another.

At I-Padel we produce the steel structure entirely ourselves and handle the complete process from foundation to completion. That way you have one point of contact and one party responsible for the whole project. Want to know what the options are for your location? Get in touch for an initial exploration and we will be happy to think along with you, without obligation.

Read more about foundations

Frequently asked questions