A padel court is 20 m long by 10 m wide for doubles, which is 65.6 ft by 32.8 ft. The singles court is the same length at 6 m wide. Unlike tennis, the enclosure is part of the court, not a fence around it.
Back walls are 3 m of solid surface with 1 m of mesh above, giving 4 m total. Minimum clear height above the court is 6 m, and competition venues build higher.
Full padel court dimensions
| Element | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Court size, doubles | 20 × 10 m | 65.6 × 32.8 ft |
| Court size, singles | 20 × 6 m | 65.6 × 19.7 ft |
| Net length | 10 m | 32.8 ft |
| Net height, centre | 88 cm | 2 ft 10.6 in |
| Net height, at posts | 92 cm | 3 ft 0.2 in |
| Back wall, solid section | 3 m | 9.8 ft |
| Back wall, mesh above | 1 m | 3.3 ft |
| Back enclosure, total | 4 m | 13.1 ft |
| Service line, from back wall | 6.95 m | 22.8 ft |
| Minimum clear height | 6 m | 19.7 ft |
| Court area | 200 m² | 2,153 sq ft |
The walls are in play, which changes everything
This is what separates padel from tennis as a build. In tennis the fence keeps balls in. In padel the glass and mesh are playing surfaces, so their flatness, rigidity and fixing method directly affect how the game plays. A wall that flexes or a glass panel set even slightly out of plane produces an unpredictable rebound, and players notice immediately.
That means the structure is not a perimeter detail to be value-engineered. It is the single largest component of the build after the base, and the one where cutting cost shows up fastest in play quality.
Assessing a site for a padel court?
Padel needs 6 m of clear height and a very flat base. We will survey the site and confirm both before any design work starts.
Height clearance is what rules most sites out
Six metres is the minimum and it is a hard constraint. The lob is a core shot in padel and a low ceiling or an overhanging structure removes it. Indoor and covered courts should be assessed at the lowest obstruction, including light fittings, ducting and beams, not at the underside of the roof.
This is the most common reason a padel project stops after the first site visit, and it is worth checking before anything else.
The base under the court
Padel is normally laid as artificial turf with a sand infill over a reinforced concrete base. The base has to be genuinely flat and properly drained, because any settlement shows up as an inconsistent bounce and a wall alignment that drifts out of true over time.
For outdoor courts, drainage design matters as much as the slab itself. Standing water on a sand-infill turf surface degrades it quickly and makes the court unplayable for far longer after rain than people expect.
Space needed beyond the court itself
The 20 by 10 m figure is the court inside the enclosure. A buildable footprint needs access around the outside for maintenance and for players to reach the entry gates, plus space for the structure itself. As a planning figure, allow a footprint comfortably larger than 20 by 10 m on every side rather than working to the court dimension exactly.
Where two or more courts sit side by side, the shared circulation between them needs designing in from the start. Retrofitting access between two courts built tight against each other is not practical.
Lighting
Padel is played heavily in the evening, so floodlighting is not optional for a court expected to earn its keep. Fittings must sit outside the 6 m clear height and be positioned to avoid glare into players' eyeline when they look up to track a lob, which is a frequent shot. Uniform light across the whole court matters more than raw lux at the centre.
What to confirm before committing
- Clear height at the lowest obstruction, measured not estimated
- Base flatness tolerance and drainage design, stated in writing
- Glass specification and fixing method for the walls
- Structure gauge and corrosion protection, particularly for outdoor and coastal sites
- Floodlight positions relative to the playing envelope
- Access and circulation around the enclosure, and between courts if more than one
Related court guides
- Padel court setup and installation, full turnkey scope
- Pickleball court setup, often considered alongside padel
- PU vs acrylic vs vinyl vs wood, surfaces compared
- Multi-sport campus space planning
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a padel court?
20 m long by 10 m wide for doubles, which is 65.6 ft by 32.8 ft. The singles court is the same length at 6 m wide. Total court area is 200 square metres, about 2,153 square feet.
How high are padel court walls?
The back enclosure is 4 m total: 3 m of solid surface with 1 m of mesh above it. The walls are playing surfaces, not a perimeter fence.
What height clearance does a padel court need?
A minimum of 6 m of clear height, measured to the lowest obstruction including light fittings, ducting and beams. The lob is a core shot and a low ceiling removes it.
What is the net height on a padel court?
88 cm at the centre and 92 cm at the posts, across a net 10 m long.
What surface is a padel court built on?
Artificial turf with a sand infill over a flat, well-drained reinforced concrete base. Base flatness matters because settlement causes inconsistent bounce and wall misalignment.
Planning a padel court?
sportsOS surveys the site for height and base condition first, then scopes structure, glass, turf and floodlighting as one project.
See Padel Court Setup →