Indoor padel court: building size, height and cost
An indoor padel court needs a building with enough clear height over every court, room for the access zones and the gaps between courts, and columns where they do not get in the way. Draw yours in the planner and see how many courts really fit, free.
How high an indoor padel court needs to be
The clear height is measured to the lowest thing over the court: a truss, a light, a duct or a gutter, not the ridge of the roof. Plenty of buildings that work on floor area fail on clear height. The references:
| Source | Clear height |
|---|---|
| FIP rules | At least 6 m (19 ft 8 in) clear throughout the court, with nothing such as lights in that space; 8 m (26 ft 3 in) suggested for new facilities. |
| Roof spanning end to end | LTA guidance note: at least 6 m clear at the ends of the courts and at least 8 m above the net line. |
| Roof spanning side to side | LTA guidance note: at least 6 m at the sides and 8 m clear at the highest point of the ridge, above the centre of the net. |
| Elite competition | LTA guidance note: at least 8 m over the net line. |
The lights count too: under the FIP rules, their underside must be at least 6 m above the ground. Every court measurement, in metres and feet: padel court dimensions.
Sources: International Padel Federation (FIP), Rules of Padel, review in force from 1 January 2026, Dimensions and Illumination; LTA Padel, Padel Court Construction Guidance Note (2025), Covered facilities and Tournament facilities.
Columns, access and the space around each court
- Access zone: the LTA guidance asks for an 8 m × 2 m opening on the sides of the court for player access. The planner keeps 8 × 2 m clear at the side opening, centred on the net.
- Between courts: a 1.5 m gap between each court, which does not include an outer play area. The planner keeps the same to the walls.
- Out-of-court play: if you want it, the FIP rules ask for two openings per side and no obstacles in an area at least 3 m wide (4 m recommended), 4 m long and 3 m high on either side.
- Columns: SAPCA's code, on covered structures, says columns must not get in the way of play, the out-of-court area or the 1.2 m sports wheelchair access. In a fully enclosed structure it asks for at least 1.2 m of clear corridor between courts for Part M, plus room for escape routes.
- Route to the exit: the planner keeps 1.2 m clear from every court to the entrance.
Inside a building the glass can be thinner (the LTA guidance asks for 12 mm toughened glass for outdoor courts, which can be reduced to 10 mm for indoor courts), and the LTA and SAPCA set 300 lux with 0.5 uniformity for indoor courts: see padel court glass and padel court lighting.
Sources: LTA Padel, padel construction (2025); FIP Rules of Padel, Access and Safety area; SAPCA, The SAPCA Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts (September 2025), clauses 4.1 to 4.5; LTA Padel, Padel Court Construction Guidance Note.
How many indoor padel courts fit, by building size
From the layout engine with the LTA clearances: a clear-span building with 8 m clear height, no columns and one entrance on a long side. Competition adds 2 m clear all round and an exit on both sides.
| Building | Dimensions | Courts (LTA) | Competition | Sq ft per court |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6,000 sq ft | 18.5 × 30 m | 1 | 1 | 6,000 |
| 8,000 sq ft | 21.5 × 34.5 m | 1 | 1 | 8,000 |
| 10,000 sq ft | 24 × 38.5 m | 2 | 1 | 5,000 |
| 12,000 sq ft | 26.5 × 42 m | 3 | 3 | 4,000 |
| 15,000 sq ft | 29.5 × 47 m | 4 | 4 | 3,800 |
| 18,000 sq ft | 32.5 × 51.5 m | 4 | 4 | 4,500 |
| 20,000 sq ft | 34 × 54.5 m | 4 | 4 | 5,000 |
| 25,000 sq ft | 38 × 61 m | 6 | 4 | 4,200 |
| 30,000 sq ft | 41.5 × 67 m | 8 | 6 | 3,800 |
| 35,000 sq ft | 45 × 72.5 m | 10 | 9 | 3,500 |
| 40,000 sq ft | 48 × 77.5 m | 12 | 12 | 3,300 |
| 50,000 sq ft | 54 × 86 m | 14 | 12 | 3,600 |
| 60,000 sq ft | 59 × 94.5 m | 16 | 16 | 3,800 |
15,000 sq ft (29.5 × 47 m) fits 4 courts. Columns, a lower truss or a second entrance change the count: Open this layout
Every size, with its layout: how many padel courts fit in a warehouse, from 6,000 to 60,000 sq ft.
Indoor padel court cost
The LTA publishes what the courts cost, with lighting. Its figures for the ring beam, base and drainage are for outdoor courts, so they are left out here:
| Courts | Courts with lighting |
|---|---|
| 1 | £36,000 |
| 2 | £70,000 |
| 3 | £100,000 |
| 4 | £128,000 |
Source: LTA Padel, padel construction (2025). Market references, not quotes; the LTA notes that site conditions and local requirements change the final price.
Indoors, the rest of the budget is the building. Savills reports average quoting rents of £10.35 per sq ft a year for secondary industrial space and £12.55 for prime: at £10.35, a 20,000 sq ft building would be about £207,000 a year.
Source: Savills, May 2025. Rents vary widely from one area to another.
Not in those figures, and for each builder or contractor to quote:
- The building: Buying or leasing it.
- Fitting it out: Levelling or relaying the floor, removing what is there, fire separation and escape routes.
- What is not a court: Reception, changing rooms, toilets, storage and, if you want one, a café or social area.
- Building services: Heating or ventilation, fire protection and electrics.
- Design and consents: Planning, Building Regulations approval, and fees for the architect, engineer and acoustic consultant.
The full cost table, outdoors and with a canopy: padel court cost in the UK. Before you ask for prices: padel court builders and padel court quotes.
Indoor or covered?
A canopy over outdoor courts is a different project: an open-sided roof, 12 mm glass as outdoors, its own foundation and drainage, and the LTA puts it at £75,000 for one court. Heights, structure types and planning for a roof: covered padel court.
Planning and Building Regulations
The LTA guidance note and the SAPCA code say planning approval will be required for a new indoor structure, and building control for fully enclosed indoor structures. In an existing building, indoor padel generally falls within Use Class E(d), and a change of use within the same class is not development; check the planning history first. The checklist: padel court planning permission.
Sources: LTA Padel, Padel Court Construction Guidance Note, Covered facilities; SAPCA, The SAPCA Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts, clause 1.1.1; Freeths, “Planning for more padel” (May 2026), on use classes. General guidance, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What ceiling height do you need for an indoor padel court?
At least 6 m (19 ft 8 in) clear over the whole court under the FIP rules, with no lights or other elements in that space, and 8 m (26 ft 3 in) suggested for new facilities. The LTA guidance note asks for at least 6 m at the ends or sides of the courts and 8 m above the net line. Measure under the lowest truss, light or duct over the court, not at the ridge.
How big a building do you need for an indoor padel court?
The court is 20 × 10 m, but the building needs more: the access zone at the side opening, 1.5 m between courts and to the walls, and a route to the exit. In our layouts the smallest building that fits one court is 18.5 × 30 m (6,000 sq ft), with 8 m clear height.
How many indoor padel courts fit in a 20,000 sq ft building?
4 with the LTA clearances in a 34 × 54.5 m clear-span building with 8 m clear height and one entrance on a long side, and 4 with a competition layout. Columns and the shape of the building change it.
How much does an indoor padel court cost?
The LTA puts one court with lighting at £36,000 and four at £128,000. Its base and drainage figures are for outdoor courts; indoors, what replaces them is the building and its fit-out, which depend on the building and have to be quoted.
What glass does an indoor padel court need?
The LTA guidance asks for 12 mm toughened glass outdoors, which can be reduced to 10 mm for indoor courts. Under a canopy, SAPCA treats courts like outdoor courts: 12 mm.
How much light does an indoor padel court need?
The LTA and SAPCA set an average of 300 lux at ground level with 0.5 uniformity for indoor courts, regional competition, school and recreational use, and 500 lux with 0.7 uniformity for national and international competition.
Do you need planning permission for an indoor padel court?
For a new indoor structure, yes: the LTA guidance note and the SAPCA code say planning approval will be required. In an existing building it depends on its lawful use: indoor padel generally falls within Use Class E(d), and a change of use within the same class is not development. Building control is required for fully enclosed indoor structures.
What is the difference between an indoor and a covered padel court?
An indoor court is inside a building with walls. A covered court is an outdoor court under a canopy or roof, often open-sided; it keeps 12 mm glass and has its own heights, costs and planning questions.
Read on: courts by building size · padel court dimensions · covered padel court · padel court cost in the UK · padel court builders
Check your building before you sign for it.
Enter its width, length, clear height and columns: the planner lays out the courts that fit. Free, no sign-up; leave with a dimensioned plan and a 3D view.