What padel club construction covers
Short answer: building a padel club means choosing a site or building, deciding how many courts it can hold, ordering court systems, preparing slabs or floors, lighting the courts, and fitting out the club: reception, changing rooms, a shop, seating and often a café. Court builders handle the courts; architects and general contractors usually handle the building.
In the US, most new clubs are indoors in warehouses or purpose-built halls so courts can be booked year-round and at night. Outdoor clubs are common in warm states, often with shade structures added later.
How many courts?
Court count drives revenue, staffing and the site you need. A few rules of thumb builders use:
- Space per court. Each court needs its 10.5 × 20.5 m slab plus aisles. Many indoor plans budget roughly 300 to 350 m² (3,200 to 3,800 sq ft) of floor per court once circulation is included, before reception and amenities.
- Clear height. Indoors, federation guidance sets 6 m of clear height as a minimum, and many builders recommend 8 m or more under lights so lobs are playable. Low warehouses can rule out a site.
- Phasing. Some clubs open with 4 courts and leave slab space for 4 more. Ask builders to plan the layout for the final count.
Budgeting a club
| Line | What drives it |
|---|---|
| Court systems | Standard vs panoramic, glass thickness, maker, freight |
| Floors or slabs | Existing warehouse floor vs new slab; leveling; drainage outdoors |
| Lighting | Fixtures per court, building lights already present, controls |
| Building | Lease and fit-out vs new construction; HVAC; restrooms |
| Soft costs | Design, engineering, permits, booking software, opening marketing |
Published US estimates for indoor multi-court projects land around $42,000 to $46,000 per court for the courts themselves; outdoor multi-court projects with slabs and lights run around $84,000 to $95,000 per court. Use our estimator for a rough range and see starting a padel club for the business side.
Timeline
A typical sequence is site selection and feasibility, layout and court selection, building approvals, ordering courts, floor or slab work, installation, then fit-out and opening. Court installation itself is fast compared with the rest. Lead times for court systems and approvals are usually what sets the opening date, so ask builders early.
What to ask a club builder
- How many club projects have you delivered, and how many courts per project?
- Can you produce a court layout for our building and confirm clear heights?
- Which court systems do you offer, and what are current lead times?
- Who is responsible for the floor or slab, lighting design and electrical work?
- What maintenance, spare glass and turf replacement do you provide after opening?
Questions
How many padel courts fit in a warehouse?
As a rough guide, budget about 300 to 350 m² of floor per court including aisles, plus space for reception and amenities, and confirm the clear height under lights. A builder can draw a layout for a specific building.
Is indoor or outdoor better for a club?
Indoor courts can be booked year-round and at night and are standard in most US markets. Outdoor courts cost less up front and work well in warm climates. See indoor vs outdoor.
Does building more courts lower the cost per court?
Usually. Freight, mobilization and site work are shared, so per-court cost often drops 15–30% when several courts are built together.
Do I need a permit?
It depends on your city, county and HOA, and on what's included (slab, lighting, structure). Ask your local building department and HOA, and ask builders what they needed on recent projects near you.