Padel court turf: the UK specification
Almost every padel court in the UK is played on short-pile, sand-filled artificial grass. What the FIP rules allow, the product and performance values the SAPCA code of practice asks for, how it is laid, how to look after it and when to replace it.
What the FIP rules allow
- Materials. Cement, synthetic material or artificial grass, provided the ball bounces regularly.
- Colour. Green, blue or terracotta, or similar tones, one colour for the whole floor and clearly different from the walls.
- Flatness. Differences of less than 3 mm measured with a 3 m rule.
- Falls. On surfaces without drainage, a cross-fall of 1 % at most from the centre towards the edges.
- Homologation. Synthetic and artificial grass surfaces must meet the FIP’s court homologation annex.
Source: International Padel Federation (FIP), Rules of Padel, review in force from 1 January 2026, Ground surface.
Padel court turf specifications
The SAPCA code of practice, written with the LTA, describes the surface as a single-tone, sand-dressed or sand-filled artificial grass, loose laid on the asphalt base and filled with silica sand following the manufacturer’s guidance. It should be designed specifically for padel, with this specification “or similar”:
| Characteristic | Product specification |
|---|---|
| Pile height | 10 mm – 15 mm |
| Yarn | Monofilament (preferred); texturised or fibrillated (acceptable) |
| Yarn weight | More than 8,000 dtex |
| Infill | Silica sand |
| Primary backing | Polypropylene |
| Secondary backing | Latex or polyurethane |
| Stitch rate | 35,000 – 60,000 |
Performance values
The playing surface should meet UNE 147301:2018, the Spanish standard for padel surfaces whose requirements the FIP has adopted. SAPCA expects products to be tested in the laboratory, dry and wet; testing the installed court is not normally required unless the tender asks for it.
| Property | Requirement | Test method |
|---|---|---|
| Shock absorbency (force reduction) | 15 – 25 % | EN 14808 |
| Ball rebound | More than 80 % | EN 12235 |
| Rotational resistance | 25 – 50 Nm | EN 15301-1 |
| Water permeability | More than 500 mm/h | EN 12616 |
Source: SAPCA, The SAPCA Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts (September 2025), clause 2.13.1. The LTA guidance note (2025) refers to UNE 147201:2024 in its example specification and to UNE 41958 IN in its general text, and also prefers monofilament yarn with fibrillated as acceptable. Ask the supplier which standard and edition its test report covers.
Sand-filled turf and other surfaces
On most padel courts the playing surface is a short-pile, sand-filled or sand-dressed synthetic turf, and most tournaments are played on artificial grass. Two points the SAPCA code makes for the UK:
- The sand grade. Some grades of sand used in continental Europe are considered too fine for the UK climate, so suppliers and installers should use a grade suited to it.
- Other surfaces. Padel can be played on any hard surface, and the FIP rules allow cement and synthetic surfaces. For temporary courts, prefabricated surfaces that can be lifted and re-used can be considered.
Padel court turf installation
- On a sound base. On a new outdoor court, two layers of porous asphalt; the turf is loose laid on top.
- Flat. SAPCA’s construction tolerance is ±6 mm under a 3 m straight edge, measured to BS EN 13036-7; the FIP asks for less than 3 mm.
- Free draining. A newly laid porous surface should be clear of ponding within fifteen minutes of rain stopping.
- In the right weather. Seam adhesives may not bond in very cold or wet conditions, and the turf and sand must be dry for the sand to flow into the pile. SAPCA says installers should not be pressed to lay in poor conditions to finish on time.
- Seams and sand. Rolls laid to a seaming plan, edges trimmed to a butt joint on a carrier tape, and the sand brushed in evenly in stages to a constant depth. The sand may need topping up after installation.
Source: SAPCA, The SAPCA Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts, clauses 2.11 to 2.14.
Maintenance and replacing padel court turf
- Cleaning: at least weekly, daily at a busy venue, with a soft broom or a blower, paying attention to the corners, along the walls and around the net.
- Brushing: to redistribute the sand and stop the fibres flattening, with a medium-strength nylon brush, sweeping against the direction of the fibres; the more the court is used, the more often.
- Sand top-ups: collect sand from corners and edges, and top up with fresh sand where it has been lost.
- Inspection: check for wear, rips and loose seams, and that the drainage is working.
On replacement, the LTA guidance note says to plan to resurface padel courts every 5 years, varying with use, and recommends a sinking fund of £1,500 per court per year to cover the court surface and lamp and column replacement. The contractor’s maintenance manual should be followed: skipping maintenance can invalidate the warranty.
Sources: SAPCA, The SAPCA Code of Practice for the Construction of Padel Courts, clause 5.1; LTA Padel, Padel Court Construction Guidance Note (2025), Operational considerations and Maintenance.
Padel court turf price
We have found no UK source that prices padel turf on its own, so we give no figure. The LTA’s court prices include the surface with the enclosure and the lighting: see padel court cost in the UK. In a quote, ask for the product by name with its pile height, yarn, dtex and infill, and the test report against the standard; the checklist in padel court quotes includes it.
Frequently asked questions
What are the specifications of padel court turf?
The SAPCA code of practice asks for artificial grass designed for padel: 10–15 mm pile, monofilament yarn preferred (fibrillated or texturised acceptable) of more than 8,000 dtex, silica sand infill, a polypropylene primary backing and a latex or polyurethane secondary backing. Its performance should meet UNE 147301:2018: force reduction 15–25 %, ball rebound over 80 %, rotational resistance 25–50 Nm and water permeability over 500 mm/h.
How thick is padel court turf?
The SAPCA specification gives a pile height of 10 to 15 mm. It is a short-pile turf, dressed or filled with silica sand to a constant depth within the base of the pile.
What colour can padel court turf be?
Under the FIP rules, green, blue or terracotta, or similar tones, in a single colour for the whole court and clearly different from the colour of the walls. SAPCA asks for a single-tone surface and white lines.
How often does padel court turf need replacing?
The LTA advises planning to resurface padel courts every 5 years, depending on how much they are used, and recommends a sinking fund of £1,500 per court per year for the surface, lamps and columns.
Can you use ordinary artificial grass for a padel court?
The SAPCA code says the surface should be designed specifically for padel, and that most courts use a short-pile sand-filled or sand-dressed turf. Garden or football turf is a different product.
How much does padel court turf cost?
We have found no UK source that prices the turf on its own. The LTA figures price the court with its surface and lighting together; ask each installer to state the turf, its pile height, yarn and infill, and its test report.
How do you maintain a padel court turf?
Clean it at least weekly (daily at a busy venue), brush it to redistribute the sand and keep the fibres upright, sweeping against the direction of the fibres, and top up the sand where it has been lost. Check for wear, rips and loose seams.
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