Padel has grown from a niche sport into one of the fastest-growing racket sports worldwide, and with that growth comes demand for properly constructed courts. Building a padel court is not like building a tennis court. The dimensions are different, the materials are different, and the playing experience depends on getting the details right. A well-constructed court plays well from day one and holds up for years. A poorly constructed one frustrates players and costs the facility owner in repairs and lost bookings.
Court Dimensions and Layout
The International Padel Federation specifies a playing area of 10 meters wide by 20 meters long, enclosed on all sides. The total court area including the structure measures 12 meters by 22 meters, accounting for the frame and wall thickness. The net divides the court at 10 meters from each baseline and stands 88 centimeters high at the center post, rising to 92 centimeters at the posts. The playing surface must be flat and level, with a maximum slope of 0.5 percent for drainage if the court is outdoors. Getting these dimensions right is the foundation of everything else. A court that is even slightly off-spec will affect how the ball bounces and how players move.
Glass Wall Systems
One of the defining features of a padel court is the combination of glass walls and metal mesh. The back walls are typically 10 millimeters thick tempered safety glass, extending 3 meters high along the full width of the court. The side walls feature glass from the net posts to the back, usually 3 meters in length on each side. The remaining side sections use galvanized steel mesh. The glass panels must be tempered to withstand ball impacts and the occasional player collision. They are held in aluminum frames that resist corrosion and provide structural rigidity. A quality supplier uses anodized or powder-coated aluminum that will not discolor or pit under exposure to sun and rain.
Synthetic Turf Selection
The playing surface for padel is synthetic turf with an infill of silica sand. The turf pile height ranges from 10 to 13 millimeters, with the sand infill reaching about 70 percent of the pile height. This combination gives the surface the right balance of grip and ball bounce. The turf should be UV-stabilized and have a minimum face weight of 900 grams per square meter. Lighter turf wears out faster and does not play consistently. The sand infill needs to be renewed periodically — typically every one to two years for courts in regular use — because the sand compacts and migrates over time. Proper drainage beneath the turf prevents water pooling and extends the life of the surface.
Lighting Specifications
Indoor and outdoor padel courts require lighting that provides even illumination without creating harsh shadows that affect play. The recommended minimum is 300 lux for recreational play and 500 lux for competition-level use. The lights should be positioned to provide uniform coverage across the entire playing surface. LED fixtures are now the standard choice because they deliver consistent color temperature, instant on-off capability, and significantly lower energy consumption than metal halide or halogen alternatives. The mounting height of the fixtures should be at least 6 meters to reduce glare for players at the net.
Accessories and Finishing Touches
Beyond the core structure, several accessories make a court functional and player-friendly. The net and net posts must meet competition specifications — the net mesh size should be small enough to prevent the ball from passing through, and the tensioning system should hold the net taut without sagging. Corner protection strips on the concrete or metal corners prevent player injuries during fast play. The metal mesh sections of the side walls should have openings no larger than 50 by 50 millimeters to prevent the ball from exiting the court. A well-equipped court also includes a scoring system, player entry gates with self-closing mechanisms, and a bench or chair area for players waiting to enter.
References:
FIP (International Padel Federation) — Official Court Regulations and Technical Specifications
UNE 137100:2020 — Surfaces for Sports Areas, Padel Court Specification
EN 12150-1:2015 Glass in Building — Thermally Toughened Soda Lime Silicate Safety Glass
ASTM F1951-21 Standard Specification for Determination of Accessibility of Surface Systems
ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems for Manufacturing
