Guide · Cost and funding
What a padel court costs, and who pays for it
What a padel court costs to build and run in the UK, using LTA figures from delivered projects, and how TopTier Padel funds it so the host pays nothing.
By Alejandro Pesquero, Founder and CEO · Last reviewed
In short
- One outdoor padel court with floodlights costs about £71,000 to build, and four cost about £268,000 (LTA figures from projects delivered in 2025, excluding VAT and fees).
- A canopy over the courts adds about £95,000 for one court and £316,000 for four.
- Running costs include about £1 an hour per court for LED lights and a sinking fund of £1,500 per court per year for resurfacing and replacement, as the LTA recommends.
What it costs to build
The LTA publishes indicative costs based on padel projects delivered in 2025. They cover the courts with floodlights and the groundworks underneath them: the ring beam, court base, ducting and drainage.
Indicative build cost for outdoor padel courts
| Courts | Courts with lights | Ring beam, base, ducting and drainage | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £36,000 | £35,000 | £71,000 |
| 2 | £70,000 | £78,000 | £148,000 |
| 3 | £100,000 | £110,000 | £210,000 |
| 4 | £128,000 | £140,000 | £268,000 |
Four courts work out cheaper per court than one: about £67,000 each, against £71,000 for a single court.
What a canopy adds
A canopy keeps play going in rain, which matters in the UK. It's a structure in its own right: it needs its own foundations, drainage and planning approval, and may need building control sign-off.
Indicative cost of a canopy over padel courts
| Courts | Canopy foundation and drainage | Canopy, including 3 m rain screen | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £20,000 | £75,000 | £95,000 |
| 2 | £30,000 | £140,000 | £170,000 |
| 3 | £43,000 | £205,000 | £248,000 |
| 4 | £56,000 | £260,000 | £316,000 |
The LTA asks for canopy membranes with a design life of at least 15 years and frames of at least 20 years.
What changes the price
- Ground conditions and drainage. Every court needs a foundation designed by a structural engineer for that site.
- The existing surface. A suitable existing hard surface can reduce the groundwork.
- Access for construction vehicles and the distance to a power supply for the lights.
- Surveys for planning: noise and light surveys are likely if homes are within 50 metres, and biodiversity work on greenfield land in England.
- Covering the courts with a canopy, as above.
Our planning permission guide explains the surveys in more detail.
What it costs to run
- Floodlights: about £1 an hour per court for LED lights, depending on the lamps and layout.
- Sinking fund: the LTA recommends £1,500 per court per year to cover the surface, lamps and lighting columns.
- Resurfacing: plan for a new surface about every five years, depending on use.
- Maintenance: weekly brushing, cleaning and checks of the glass, mesh and structure, plus bolt checks every six to twelve months.
- Bookings and access: most padel courts run on a pay-and-play basis, and the LTA recommends a gate access system so access can be controlled remotely.
How the TopTier Padel partnership works
TopTier Padel funds the courts, the planning and the build, so the host pays nothing. We insure the padel club, pay the utility costs and run the bookings, access, maintenance and day-to-day. The host keeps its land, gets agreed priority hours (free for pupils, students and staff) and receives a percentage of the revenue the courts make.
See how it works for the four steps and who pays for what.
Sources
Figures are guides, not quotes. Costs exclude VAT and fees, and rules change, so check the current position for your own site.