Padel Court Build Cost UK (2026 Guide)
7 May 2026
Jamie Holt
A fully operational padel court in the UK typically costs £35,000 to £100,000 all-in. The court kit is only part of the bill. Groundworks, drainage, lighting, and access drive most of the variance.
Figures below reflect supplier quotes and club projects tracked through 2025–2026. Always get site-specific estimates.
Cost breakdown
| Component | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Court structure (frame, glass, turf, net) | £25,000 – £60,000 |
| Groundworks and base | £5,000 – £30,000 |
| Floodlighting | £3,000 – £10,000 |
| Delivery and installation | £3,000 – £8,000 |
| Total per court | £35,000 – £100,000 |
Court structure (£25k–£60k)
Includes steel frame, tempered glass, artificial turf, posts, net, and drainage. Entry kits start near £25k; panoramic club-spec courts run £40k–£60k. Most new UK facilities choose panoramic layouts for sightlines and spectator appeal.
Court dimensions follow the standard 20m × 10m spec. Singles lanes (6m width) are a separate product line with lower frame cost but narrower demand.
Groundworks (£5k–£30k)
This is where budgets blow out.
- Tennis court overlay: £5k–£10k if levels and drainage already work
- Greenfield with good soil: £10k–£15k
- Poor drainage or slope: £15k–£30k+
Get a ground survey before you sign a court supplier quote. The frame price is fixed; the civils rarely are.
Lighting (£3k–£10k)
LED floodlights extend bookable hours through British winters. Basic four-court padel sites budget £3k–£5k per court; competition-grade lux levels cost more. Evening slots at £35–£55/hr hire rates are where operators recover the lighting spend.
Indoor vs outdoor
| Type | Total installed |
|---|---|
| Outdoor single court | £35,000 – £60,000 |
| Indoor (in existing hall or new shell) | £60,000 – £100,000+ |
Indoor needs height (7m+ clear), ventilation, and often structural work. Revenue is steadier year-round, which is why leisure operators accept the premium.
Multi-court savings
Shared civils and one mobilisation drop per-court cost:
| Courts built | Per-court range |
|---|---|
| 1 | £45,000 – £100,000 |
| 2–4 | £35,000 – £80,000 |
| 6+ | £30,000 – £55,000 |
Most UK padel hubs open with three to six courts, not one.
Planning and compliance
Budget £500–£5,000 for planning applications, noise assessments, and lighting reports where required. LTA-aligned facilities may have additional sport-specific guidance. Permitted development can cover some tennis-court conversions, but floodlights and height often trigger full applications.
Running costs
Allow £1,000–£3,000/year for turf brushing, glass cleaning, lamp replacement, and minor fence repairs. Courts last 15–20 years with routine care.
Worked example: outdoor club court
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Panoramic court kit | £38,000 |
| Groundworks | £12,000 |
| LED lighting | £5,000 |
| Install | £5,000 |
| Total | £60,000 |
At six booked hours/day averaging £40/hr (£87,600/year gross), payback depends on utilisation, staffing, and debt service. The maths works in high-demand postcodes; it is tight on a single court in a low-density town without programming.
Timeline
- Order and planning: 4–12 weeks
- Groundworks: 1–2 weeks
- Assembly: ~1 week
Total: about 6–16 weeks site to first booking.
Operators weighing player demand should cross-check how many courts already serve your catchment before committing to build-out.
Written by
Padel expert & guide writer · Manchester
Jamie picked up padel when the first courts opened around Manchester and never looked back. A former club tennis player, he now plays three or four times a week and writes practical, UK-focused guides for Padel Court Finder — covering rules, gear, booking tips, and the local scene.
