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Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, and it’s not hard to see why. The game is easy to learn, but challenging to master, making it popular among people of all ages and skill levels. As a result, many sports facilities are looking to add pickleball courts to attract new players and diversify their offerings. However, building a pickleball court is a significant investment, and it’s essential to understand the costs involved before taking the plunge. In this blog post, we’ll explore the various factors that impact the cost of building a pickleball court or courts at a sports facility, so you can make an informed decision about whether this investment makes sense for your organization. (The following cost information is based on data provided by SFC’s advisory services team).
Factors and Amenities That Affect Cost
Pickleball courts, much like tennis courts, are all very similar in their design and construction. But there are some factors that can greatly affect the quality of a court while some other amenities are optional additions that improve quality of life. An important consideration for any court, no matter the budget, is site development. What the court will be built on top of is vital to the performance and longevity of the court. The location of the court needs to be cleared, prepped, and graded so that the playing surface is flat but also has a slope of just under 1% (somewhere between 0.833% and 1%) so that rain or any liquids that fall on the court won’t pool and will run off the court.
Amenities that improve a court include items such as lighting, seating, and fencing. If you are planning on hosting tournaments or offering pickleball programs, it is recommended that these things are implemented. However, if you are trying to cut costs then you can go without the lights and seats. Fencing lands somewhere between vital and optional and greatly depends on the court location and the number of courts being built. The only scenario in which it is acceptable to not have fencing would be if you are building a single court that will be surrounded by grass or another soft material.
Pickleball Court Cost Breakdown
The per-court cost of building a pickleball court, starting from an undeveloped site, is between $28,000 and $37,500 depending on which amenities you decide to include.
The site development cost is typically around $7,000 for each court area, with the surface area of a court’s playing area being 60 feet by 34 feet. The coloring, striping, and surfacing of the court itself will cost around $10,000 per court. For the net of a pickleball court, it is recommended to install permanent net posts that go into the ground on both sides of the court. These poles and the pickleball net will cost $750. The fencing going around the perimeter of the court will cost around $2,000 per court. Pickleball gear and training equipment will cost around $1,250. With shipping costs of supplies and equipment plus the costs of labor and permits, the total cost to build a pickleball court without any seating or lighting is $28,000.
Lighting for a court will cost $1,800. On-court seating for players will cost $1,200. If you plan on hosting tournaments and want to have spectator seating, it will cost $6,000. Thus, the cost of building a single pickleball court that is ready for tournaments and nighttime play is around $37,000.
Alternative Options
If you are interested in offering pickleball at your facility but don’t have the budget to build a new court, you have a few options. If you already have a tennis court, then you can easily set up some temporary netting and pickleball lines and fit four pickleball courts on the playing surface of one tennis court. The same can be done on a basketball court and there is enough room to fit around three or four pickleball courts. Plus, if the basketball court is indoors, players will be able to escape the elements or heat.
Building a pickleball court or courts at your sports facility can be a fantastic investment that attracts players of all ages and skill levels. Site preparation, materials, labor, and additional fees can all impact the overall cost of building a court, so it’s crucial to get an accurate estimate before proceeding. If building a new court is not feasible for your facility, converting existing courts is an option to consider. Ultimately, with proper planning and research, adding pickleball to your facility can be a valuable investment that benefits your organization and the community it serves. If you need guidance in planning or developing a new pickleball project or have any questions, feel free to contact us or give us a call at (727) 474-3845.
