Padel court glass: height, thickness and specification
How high the glass walls of a padel court are under the FIP rules, how thick the glass must be in the UK, and the details that decide whether it plays well and lasts: toughened and kitemarked panels, gaps, mesh, breakage and cleaning.
Padel court glass height and size
The FIP rules set the walls, measured from inside the court. The walls may be glass or another solid material; glass is what most courts use.
| Wall | FIP rule |
|---|---|
| Back walls (both ends) | 10 m long; the first 3 m (9 ft 10 in) wall (glass, brick or another solid material), then 1 m (3 ft 3 in) of mesh: 4 m (13 ft 1 in) in total |
| Sides, Variant 1 (stepped) | At each end a step 3 m (9 ft 10 in) high × 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long, then 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high × 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long; mesh completes the enclosure, up to 3 m in the centre and 4 m at both ends |
| Sides, Variant 2 Crystal | At each end a wall 3 m (9 ft 10 in) high × 4 m (13 ft 1 in) long, with no step; mesh completes the enclosure, up to 4 m high over the end 2 m |
Back wall
Side wall, stepped (Variant 1)
Side wall, Variant 2 Crystal
The rules fix the walls, not the panels. How the walls are divided into panels is each manufacturer’s design, so ask for the panel layout in the quote. Courts without posts between the panels are called panoramic: see panoramic padel court.
Source: International Padel Federation (FIP), Rules of Padel, review in force from 1 January 2026, Enclosures.
Padel court glass thickness and specifications
The FIP rules leave the glass to the tempered glass standards of their homologation annex. The UK guidance is specific:
| Item | UK guidance |
|---|---|
| Thickness, outdoors | 12 mm toughened glass, also under a canopy. SAPCA: because UK wind loads are substantially different from mainland Europe, 10 mm should not be considered outdoors. |
| Thickness, indoors | 10 mm toughened glass can be considered for courts inside a building. |
| Type | Toughened (tempered) glass, which breaks into small blunt pieces rather than shards. The FIP refers glass courts to the tempered glass standards of its homologation annex. |
| Marking | Every panel individually kitemarked to the relevant European standard. |
| Fixings | Countersunk, so they do not affect the bounce. |
| Alignment | The inner face of the glass flush with the mesh: if either protrudes, the bounce becomes irregular and the risk of injury rises. |
| Gaps between panels | At least 3 mm, so the panels do not strike each other as they expand and contract, and no more than 6 mm, to avoid finger traps and an irregular bounce; uniform along the whole joint. |
| Manifestations | Markings at the bottom of the panels and between 850 and 1,000 mm high, as small spots or balls, not large stickers or adverts that may compromise the toughened glass. SAPCA points to Part K of the Building Regulations. |
Sources: LTA Padel, Padel Court Construction Guidance Note (2025), Surrounding enclosure and example specification; SAPCA, The SAPCA Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts (September 2025), clauses 1.1.2, 2.15.2 and 5.3.3; FIP Rules of Padel, Enclosures.
The mesh above and beside the glass
The two references differ in how they describe it, so name the one your quote follows:
- FIP rules: square, electro-welded mesh; the diagonal of each hole between 5 and 7.08 cm; wire recommended between 2 and 3 mm, 4 mm at most, tensioned so the ball bounces on it.
- LTA and SAPCA: 50 × 50 mm weldmesh with the horizontal wire on the inner face, 3 or 4 mm wire for a consistent rebound, protected against corrosion like the posts.
In both, the mesh is in line with the inner face of the glass.
Padel court glass shattering and safety
Toughened glass is used because it breaks into small blunt pieces, far safer than the shards of ordinary glass. What the UK guidance asks to keep it that way:
- Keep the gaps right. Glass expands and contracts with temperature: gaps of 3 to 6 mm, uniform along each joint. SAPCA suggests 100 mm silicone strands between panels, top and bottom, to show any movement.
- Check the fixings. SAPCA asks for the glass fixings to be checked monthly, with their torque, and tightened where loose.
- Inspect the glass. The LTA suggests a weekly check for cracks and chips.
- Mind the weather. Nothing loose near the court that could be blown into the glass, and snow and ice removed carefully.
- No large stickers. Manifestations as small spots, not large stickers or adverts that may compromise how the glass breaks.
Cleaning padel court glass
The LTA guidance note suggests a mild detergent and water; the SAPCA code recommends glass-specific cleaning products. Both faces need cleaning, so leave room around the court to reach the outside of the glass.
Branding on padel court glass
The FIP rules allow a logo printed or painted on a wall, no more than one per wall, with a size and colours that do not interfere with the players’ vision. On glass, SAPCA’s warning about large stickers and adverts applies.
Sources: SAPCA, The SAPCA Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts, clauses 1.1.2, 2.15.2 and 5.3; LTA Padel, Padel Court Construction Guidance Note, Maintenance; FIP Rules of Padel, Enclosures.
Padel court glass price
We have found no UK source that prices the glass on its own, so we give no figure. The LTA prices the court with its glass and lighting together: see padel court cost in the UK. In a quote, ask for the thickness, the kitemark on each panel and the panel layout; the checklist in padel court quotes starts there.
Frequently asked questions
How high is the glass on a padel court?
Under the FIP rules, the walls are 3 m (9 ft 10 in) high, with mesh above to a total of 4 m (13 ft 1 in) at the ends. On the sides, the glass is 3 m high over the end 2 m and 2 m high over the next 2 m in the stepped variant, or 3 m high over the end 4 m in Variant 2 Crystal.
How thick is padel court glass?
In the UK, 12 mm toughened glass for outdoor courts and courts under a canopy; 10 mm can be considered indoors. That is what the LTA guidance note and the SAPCA code of practice ask for.
What size are padel court glass panels?
The FIP rules fix the size of the walls, not of the panels: 3 m high, 10 m long at each end and 2 or 4 m long at each end of the sides. How the walls are divided into panels is up to each manufacturer, so ask for the panel layout in the quote.
What are the specifications of padel court glass?
Toughened glass, 12 mm outdoors or 10 mm indoors, each panel kitemarked, with countersunk fixings, the inner face flush with the mesh and gaps of 3 to 6 mm between panels (LTA and SAPCA).
Does padel court glass shatter?
Toughened glass is used because, if it breaks, it breaks into small blunt pieces rather than sharp shards. SAPCA warns that large stickers or adverts may compromise how toughened glass shatters, and that the right gap between panels helps prevent breakages as the glass expands and contracts.
How do you clean padel court glass?
The LTA suggests a mild detergent and water and a weekly check for cracks or chips; SAPCA recommends glass-specific cleaning products. Leave room around the court to clean both faces of the glass.
Can you put branding on padel court glass?
The FIP rules allow one logo per wall, with a size and colours that do not interfere with the players’ vision. On glass, SAPCA advises against large stickers or adverts that may compromise the toughened glass.
Read on: padel court dimensions · padel court at home · single padel court · panoramic padel court · padel court turf · padel court lighting · covered padel court
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