How much does it cost to build a padel court in 2026?
A clear breakdown of what a padel court really costs in 2026 - court kit, surface, lighting, groundwork and the full-club numbers - so you can budget with confidence.
The short answer: a single padel court costs roughly 15,000 to 30,000 EUR for the court itself, and 35,000 to over 100,000 EUR all-in once you add groundwork, lighting and an indoor structure. The range is wide because three things move the number a lot: indoor vs outdoor, the court model you choose, and your site conditions.
What you are actually paying for
A padel court is not one purchase - it is a stack of line items:
- The court kit (steel + glass + mesh) - the structure, tempered glass walls and metal fencing. This is the headline price, usually 15,000 to 20,000 EUR for a standard court and 23,000 to 30,000 EUR for a panoramic / full-glass court.
- The surface - artificial turf plus sand infill.
- The foundation - a level concrete slab. On a poor or sloped site this can rival the court kit.
- Lighting and electrics - LED towers and wiring for evening play, which is when courts earn most.
- Transport and installation - delivery and assembly of the prefabricated components.
- Permits and engineering - drawings, sign-off and construction management.
Indoor vs outdoor
Outdoor is cheaper to build but loses hours to weather. Indoor courts run materially higher - in markets like Germany roughly 24,000 to 59,000 EUR per court just for the indoor kit, and 45,000 to over 110,000 EUR per court once the enclosing structure and services are included. Indoor also unlocks year-round, weather-proof revenue, which usually pays for the difference.
You need about 200 square metres per court
A regulation court is 20 m by 10 m (200 m2). Add run-off, walkways and shared space and plan for a bit more per court. Land or rent is a separate cost and varies enormously by location.
The full-club number
Most operators do not build one court. A 4-court club typically lands between 150,000 and 500,000 EUR depending on indoor vs outdoor, finish level and clubhouse amenities. Budget separately for reception, changing rooms, a cafe and - critically - the software that runs bookings and payments.
Will it pay back?
Yes, when courts stay full. A single court can generate 1,000 to 3,000 EUR per month at typical occupancy, with hourly rates of 10 to 30 EUR. The investment usually pays back inside 12 to 24 months, but only if you keep utilisation high and off-peak hours filled - which is an operations problem, not a construction one.
That is where most of the money is won or lost after opening: pricing, retention and keeping the schedule full. Build the court right, then run it like a business from day one.