How Much Does It Cost to Build a Pickleball Court? [2024 Data]
Normal range: $19,400 - $51,800
Building a pickleball court costs $35,600 on average, or between $19,400 and $51,800, depending on the court size, materials, and scope of the project.
The average cost to build a pickleball court is $35,600, but you could spend anywhere between $19,400 and $51,800 for a standard-sized court depending on the scope of the project, type of surface, and materials you choose. If you want to take ping-pong to the next level but don’t want to invest in the cost of a tennis court, pickleball is a happy medium. The trendy court is all the rage, so stay tuned to see how much it costs to build a pickleball court of your own.
- Average
- $35,600
- Low end
- $13,200
- high end
- $83,200
Pickleball Court Cost Breakdown
The cost of building a pickleball court depends on several factors, including the type of surface, materials, size, labor, preparations, and more. Below, we’ve taken out some of the guesswork that comes with your expenses.
Surface Types
The type of surface you choose for your pickleball court plays one of the biggest roles in the final cost. Asphalt tends to cost the most at $14,300 on average, followed by rubber, which costs roughly $10,400. Concrete is the cheapest option for a pickleball court, costing around $7,800 on average. Here’s a breakdown of the different surface materials and their prices.
| Surface Type | Average Cost (for a 1,296 square-foot court) |
|---|---|
| Asphalt | $14,300 |
| Concrete | $7,800 |
| Rubber | $10,400 |
Materials
On top of the cost of your pickleball court’s surface, you also have several different types of materials that go with a pickleball court to complete your project. This puts your average cost per square foot for your base and materials at $15 to $40 per square foot. The following table looks at each type of material you can expect to purchase for your pickleball court.
| Pickleball Court Material | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Fencing | $3,200–$5,000 |
| Lighting | $4,400–$20,400 |
| Net | $100–$750 |
| Paddle | $30–$200 |
| Paint | $1,900–$5,200 |
| Pickleball | $10–$20 |
| Seating | $200–$1,200 |
Size
A pickleball court is typically 44 feet long and 20 feet wide, or 880 square feet. However, most homeowners go for the larger size of 54-by-24 feet, or 1,296 square feet, to accommodate for out-of-bounds perimeters. Since the average pickleball court costs $15 to $40 per square foot when you include your surface and additional material, your average price range ends up falling between $19,400 and $51,800.
Some homeowners prefer even larger sizes or custom sizes, as you can see in the following chart.
| Pickleball Court Dimensions | Pickleball Court Size | Average Cost (per Square Foot) |
|---|---|---|
| 44’x20’ | 880 | $13,200–$35,200 |
| 54’x24’ | 1,296 | $19,400–$51,800 |
| 53’x28’ | 1,484 | $22,300–$59,400 |
| 60’x30’ | 1,800 | $27,000–$72,000 |
| 65’x32’ | 2,080 | $31,200–$83,200 |
Labor
Labor makes up a significant chunk of your pickleball court project. Local paving companies charge around $5 to $10 per square foot, putting total labor costs around $6,500 to $13,000. Since building a pickleball court can be very labor-intensive, expect the project to take anywhere from one to three days to complete. If you need additional prep work, this could take an extra three to six weeks. Check out the different labor costs by professional services below.
Paving labor costs: $5 to $10 per square foot
Grading and leveling labor costs: $50 to $100 per hour
Excavation labor costs: $120 to $150 per hour
Painting labor costs: $1 to $3.50 per square foot or $25 to $100 per hour
Prep
Not all land is suitable for a pickleball court right off the bat—or should we say, swing. Before you can begin your project, you might need to invest in additional preparations. Here are a few to consider:
Excavation costs: $1,600 to $6,300
Grading and leveling costs: $1,000 to $3,300
Land clearing costs: $1,400 to $6,100
Tree trimming costs: $300 to $1,800
Location
A pickleball court tucked deep in the woods will cost significantly more than an easy-to-access piece of land located right off the street. Likewise, hilly, rocky, or mountainous land requires more TLC before you can have a suitable surface for your court. So, factor in the accessibility level, your regional topography, and the soil type when determining labor costs.
Grading and Leveling
If your yard isn’t level, then you’ll need to add grading and leveling to your shopping list. Your pickleball court must be on level land to prevent tripping or twisting ankles. Regrading a yard costs anywhere from $1,000 to $3,300, with prices varying based on the size of your property and the project scope.
Permit
Some construction for a pickleball court, like land grading, may require a permit. The cost of your permit will vary depending on where you live, but expect to pay around $100 to $500. Most local grading contractors can help you acquire the necessary permits, so be sure to ask ahead of time when vetting the best grading and leveling companies near you. The greater the cost of living, the more you have to pay, typically.
Pickleball Court Material Costs
Choosing the right surface material is important when it comes to having the ideal pickleball court for your home. Though we already touched base on the types of materials and their costs, here’s a closer breakdown to help you determine which is the best base for your pickleball court.
| Surface Type | Average Cost (Per Square Foot) | Total Cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Asphalt | $7–$15 | $9,100–$19,400 |
| Concrete | $4–$8 | $5,200–$10,400 |
| Rubber | $4–$12 | $5,200–$15,600 |
*Cost data represents a standard 1,296-square-foot pickleball court
Asphalt
Asphalt costs between $9,100 and $19,400 for your typical pickleball court. Asphalt materials are easier to repair than concrete but are also the hardest on joints. However, asphalt is durable, less likely to crack than concrete, and able to handle heavy foot traffic.
Another disadvantage is that asphalt takes a long time to cure—six months to an entire year—and one to three days to fully dry after your local asphalt company applies it, making the installation process longer.
Concrete
Concrete slabs cost between $5,200 and $10,400 for an average pickleball court. As one of the cheapest options, concrete is a solid choice. It takes just one to two days to dry enough to paint and put on the finishing touches and has a shorter cure time of around one month. The main downside of concrete is how hard it is. Like asphalt, concrete can hurt your joints when you play pickleball. It’s also more difficult to maintain and repair if it cracks.
Rubber
Rubber flooring costs an average of $5,200 to $15,600. This pickleball court flooring material is one of the best surfaces you can choose. It’s durable, weather-resistant, and won’t crack as quickly as your other options. Rubber flooring for pickleball courts usually contains polyurethane and rubber and comes in mat forms, making it easy to replace any damaged or worn pieces without having to replace the entire court surface.
Pickleball Court Ongoing Expenses
Once your pickleball court is up and running, there are additional expenses you may incur over time, including standard maintenance and repairs.
Maintenance
Resurfacing your pickleball court is a major expense that might throw some homeowners off once their installation is complete. You should resurface concrete and asphalt pickleball courts every five to eight years. Concrete resurfacing costs between $3,900 and $6,500 for a 1,296-square-foot court. Meanwhile, asphalt resurfacing costs $1,300 to $5,200.
Repairs
Over the years, your pickleball court will likely experience normal wear and tear and require repairs. The cost of your repairs depends on the type of surface.
Asphalt cracks: $1 to $3 per linear foot
Asphalt patching: $100 to $500 per patch
Large asphalt damage: $2 to $5 per square foot
Concrete cracks: $0.10 to $0.15 per linear foot
Large concrete replacement: $6 to $14 per square foot
Concrete potholes: $10 to $150 each
Rubber tile replacement: $2 to $7 per square foot
DIY Pickleball Court vs. Hiring a Pro
Building a pickleball court is a labor-intensive, multi-faceted project. If you have experience designing and building your own pickleball court, then you can DIY it and save anywhere between $6,500 and $13,000 in labor costs. However, we don’t recommend most homeowners try to build their own pickleball courts. From the leveling and grading to the pouring of concrete or asphalt, there are many steps along the way that are best left to the professionals.
We suggest reaching out to an asphalt or concrete contractor near you to see what services they offer and help you get your project in motion.
Cost of Common Pickleball Court Add-Ons
While your installation pros work on building your pickleball court, they might offer additional services to help pull off the look. For example, if you’re working with a land clearing and leveling company, they might offer several landscaping services. Likewise, a pavement company might offer walkway services to access your new pickleball court. Talk with your pros when planning your project to see if they’ll bundle additional services and charge you a flat fee.
Landscaping costs: $1,300 to $6,000
Landscape lighting costs: $2,000 to $6,000
Walkway costs: $1,600 to $2,400
How You Can Save Money While Building a Pickleball Court
Building a pickleball court can be a pricy investment. Thankfully, there are ways you can reduce the cost of your project. Here are five tips on how to save money while building your pickleball court.
Choose concrete as an economical, low-cost surface material.
Choose vinyl-coated fencing over costlier metals.
If you have the skills, DIY it.
If you don’t have the skills to build a pickleball court yourself, choose things you can do, like painting your court and installing netting.
Don't splurge on unnecessary equipment like lighting, benches, and high-end netting.
Frequently Asked Questions
The life span of your pickleball court depends on the type of surface material you choose. ds on the type of material you choose for the surface, how well you maintain it, and where you live. Asphalt pickleball courts have a life span of 10 to 25 years, concrete lasts for around 10 to 30 years, and rubber lasts for 10 to 15 years. Both asphalt and concrete surfaces need resurfacing every five to eight years.
Extreme climates can shorten the life span of materials over time, so homes in regions with milder climates tend to get the most out of the materials before needing to replace them.
If you’re unsure if you should build a pickleball court, you have several considerations. First, building a pickleball court is a personal decision. If you enjoy the sport, then it may be worth it to seal the deal. Some homeowners base their financial decisions on whether there’s a return on investment.
Pickleball has grown in popularity, with an almost 30% increase in USA Pickleball memberships from 2022 to 2023. It was also named the fastest-growing sport in the U.S. for three years straight, with over 8.9 million players, so it’s possible that you could see an ROI.