So, How Much Does It Cost to Build Your Own Pickleball Court?

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Whoosh! Whomp! Pickleball has been the fastest-growing sport in America for the third year in a row, increasing participation by almost 160% since 2020. It's even made an appearance on the Golden Bachelor. "I got a lot of [pickleball court] requests after that episode," says Los Angeles landscape design expert Andrea Scharff.

If you welcome the sound of a wiffle ball hitting a pickleball paddle but don't want to wait to play on oversubscribed public courts, perhaps it’s time to build a private pickleball court of your very own. Joy Kim Metalios, a Zillow Premier Agent partner in Fairfield County, Connecticut, has seen homeowners convert their driveways into courts by using portable nets and chalk paint. Avid players are painting new pickleball lines onto their indoor basketball and squash courts as well as outdoor tennis courts. "Pickleball is such a social sport, an at-home court has become the latest entertaining feature, like an outdoor kitchen or a pizza oven," Kim Metalios says. "It's fun and you don’t have to be a super athlete to play." In fact everyone seems to be playing; pickleball mentions in for-sale listings are up 64% compared to last year, according to Zillow.

Clearly, a court is a sought-after amenity. But how much does it cost to put in a pickleball court? We spoke with experts to break it all down. Read on, pickleheads.

How much does a new pickleball court cost?

When it comes to pickleball courts, the most important thing is that the surface is flat. The actual pickleball court measures 20 feet wide and 44 feet but you want the overall playing surface to be 30 feet by 60 feet. "You're not going to be playing exactly on the baseline," Scharff says. "You want to run it back and out-of-bounds lines with plenty of space."

Those who have the space to build a new pickleball court should be aware that prepping the area is an expense in and of itself. Consider that you may have to clear the land, then prep it by excavating and grading in order to make sure that the court will go on top of an almost flat area–you’ll still want about a 1% slope, which is practically imperceptible, to make sure rainwater doesn't pool. Then, you'll need to have a subsurface (the actual court tile) installed. This can be concrete, asphalt, or another material. Finally, you'll have to have the lines painted and invest in a net as well as other accessories (paddle rack, benches). All in all, Homeguide clocks the cost of a pickleball court somewhere between $20,000 and $50,000, on average.

You should also consider future maintenance costs. Phil Condley, architect LEED, AP at 1Architecture in Tulsa, Oklahoma, who plays pickleball himself and is the architect of record on regulation tennis courts, points out that you may need to do some major maintenance in resurfacing the courts every four to eight years, at a cost of about $3,000 per pickleball court.

Can you use an existing surface to make a pickleball court?

A property with an existing tennis court is the ideal setup for a pickleball court. "With a tennis court being 60 feet wide and 120 feet long, there is an ample amount of space to outline your pickleball court,' Condley says. "Since a standard pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, you can actually fit up to four pickleball courts on one tennis court."

Condley notes that this conversion is common practice, especially because both the pickleball court and the tennis court are identical in surface: clay, turf, or composite. To adjust, you’d need to paint new lines that match pickleball regulations. Permanent lines can cost a few hundred dollars, or you can be scrappy and use duct tape as an inexpensive and temporary solution, Condley points out. Investing in adjustable nets, as pickleball nets are a few inches lower than tennis, is another expense. Homeguide calculates that converting one tennis court into four pickleball courts can cost between $5,000 to $20,000.

Transforming an existing patio or driveway into a pickleball court can be trickier, however. "Any monolithic surface has to have a slope, so that water can bead off the surface away from the house," Scharff explains. A patio without this elevation and drainage is not going to fall under pickleball regulation. "It may be perfectly fine but it won’t be perfect," she adds.

What is the least expensive way to build a pickleball court?

Companies like VersaCourt offer ready-to-assemble pickleball court kits with tile and pre-painted lines that are shipped and can be used on standard concrete pads. Their more custom options range from $6,800 to $9,100. FlexCourt pickleball tiles are another option for those who have a flat surface waiting to be used. You can also shop Amazon for various components that can make you a makeshift pickleball court–everything from a court marker kit to a portable net. If a pickleball court of their very own would be the ideal gift for someone you love, read on for pickle-friendly present ideas.

Franklin Sports Pickleball Court Marker Kit

PICKLETECH 5.0 Portable Pickleball Net

Newport, R.I. Paddle

Waikiki | Gray Malin

Rally Bag

Franklin Sports 2 Player Poly Pro Pickleball Set with Balls - Pink/Green

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