Buying a padel court: how to compare suppliers

Most padel courts look alike in a brochure. The differences are in the glass, the steel, the turf, the paperwork and who answers the phone years later. This guide lists what to check before you order. Many of the benchmarks come from the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), the UK federation, which publishes a minimum specification for buyers. Rules differ by country, but it is a useful yardstick wherever you build.

Start with your site and how it will be used

A supplier can only recommend the right court if you can answer these first:

• Indoor or outdoor, and whether you already have a hall with at least 6 m of free height over the whole court
• Double courts, single courts or a mix, and how many
• How exposed the site is to wind, and whether it is close to the coast
• Who will play: members and pay-and-play, or competitions as well. Elite tournaments need out-of-court play areas, while most venues do not
• How close the nearest homes are, which affects noise, light and permits

What to check in the court itself

• Dimensions. A double court is 20 × 10 m inside, with a tolerance of 0.5% under the rules of the International Padel Federation (FIP).
• Glass. The LTA calls for 10 mm toughened glass indoors or 12 mm outdoors, each panel marked to the European standard, with countersunk fixings so that the bolts do not affect the bounce.
• Flush surfaces. Glass and mesh should sit level with each other. If one protrudes, the ball rebounds irregularly.
• Steel and corrosion. Ask how the steel is protected and for the certificate. The LTA expects a corrosion warranty of at least 5 years and stainless steel bolts, washers and nuts.
• Wind rating. An outdoor structure has to be designed for the wind loads at your site, so ask for the rating in m/s and compare it with your location.
• Turf. The LTA points to UNE 147201:2024, the standard for padel surfaces, and prefers monofilament yarn, with fibrillated yarn acceptable. Ask which turf you get, by name.
• Lighting. The LTA sets at least 300 lux average for recreational and regional play and 500 lux for national and international competition, and expects a lighting data pack from the contractor.
• Access. The LTA requires 1.2 m of clear access for sports wheelchairs. Check this before you order.

Paperwork to ask for

A serious supplier can hand these over before you sign:

• CE marking for the structure
• FIP approval, or the approval your federation requires
• The test certificate or standard for the glass
• The product data for the turf
• Foundation specifications for your site
• The warranty terms in writing

Read the warranty closely

The LTA says installers should provide a 10-year warranty, and it also warns that manufacturers' warranties do not usually cover structural failure of the enclosure, only wear and corrosion of individual parts. So ask what is covered, for how long, what is excluded, and who you deal with if something goes wrong.

Settle who is responsible for the foundation

The foundation is where misunderstandings get expensive. For permanent outdoor courts the LTA requires a ring beam or below-ground foundation, not a steel-plated or above-ground one, designed for the specific site by a structural engineer with professional indemnity insurance. Get it in writing who designs the foundation, who builds it, and who is responsible if the court and the base do not match.

How to judge the supplier

• Who actually makes the court, and where
• How many courts they have installed, and where
• Which installed court you can visit. The LTA advises going to see at least one and asking the owner for feedback
• Whether they will look at your site before they quote
• Who carries out the installation, and whether they have done it before
• What support and maintenance guidance you get after handover

Compare offers on equal terms

• Write one specification and send the same version to every supplier
• Ask at least three. That is what the LTA expects when it lends money for courts
• If you change anything or answer a question, tell all of them
• Set a return date and do not open anything early
• Score each offer against the specification. One that leaves things out is not a cheaper offer, it is a different one

What you get from Padelhal

We have installed 355 courts since 2020, for customers in 11 countries. Our courts are designed and made in Italy by Italian Padel, are CE certified and FIP approved, and can be supplied with Mondo XN turf. The glass is 12 mm tempered as standard, with laminated available as an option, tested to EN 12600, and outdoor variants are rated for wind of up to 36 m/s, with hot-dip galvanised versions for coastal sites. As part of the project you get a technical consultation, a customised design, foundation specifications for your site, complete installation, certification documentation and maintenance guidance.

Use the planner to see what fits on your site, then send us a quote request. Bring this checklist and hold us to it.