How to open a padel club, step by step
Nine steps, in the order that saves you money: from checking demand to opening day. Each one links to the page that covers it in full.
- Check demand and location
- Find a building or a site
- Work out how many courts fit
- Know what it costs
- Check that the numbers work
- Clear zoning and permits
- Design the club and get the plan
- Get quotes and choose a builder
- Build and open
Check demand and location
Padel is still young in the US: a directory count from October 2026 found 1,305 open courts at 335 clubs in 38 states plus Puerto Rico, with 344 more courts announced or under construction (Padel Browser, How many padel courts are there in the US, October 24, 2026). Look at the clubs within driving distance, their prices and how full they are at the times you would sell, and at parking and access.
Find a building or a site
Indoors, check the clear height first: the FIP asks for at least 19.7 ft (6 m) over the whole court and suggests 26.2 ft (8 m) for new facilities (FIP, Rules of Padel, review of application January 1, 2026). Then the columns and the span between them, which can cost you a court. Outdoors, the FIP recommends running the courts north–south.
Work out how many courts fit
A court is about 2,150 sq ft, but with access zones, clearances and walkways our layouts work out at about 2,900 to 5,000 sq ft of building per court in warehouses from 12,000 to 60,000 sq ft. On a tennis court, only 1 fits with the minimum rules. The padel court calculator does it with your building.
Know what it costs
A 2026 guide from a US padel directory puts most single outdoor courts at $25,000–$60,000 and indoor courts, with their share of the building, at $70,000–$100,000 and up (Padel Browser, How much does it cost to build a padel court, June 16, 2026). These are the publisher's estimates; the building fit-out, services and fees come on top.
Check that the numbers work
Two published references to start from: court rental at $20–$60 per hour in most of the US (Padel Browser, How much does padel cost in the US, June 8, 2026) and a U.S. industrial average net asking rent of $11.16 per sq ft (CBRE, Q3 2026 U.S. Industrial & Logistics Market Report, October 23, 2026). The first number to look at is the occupancy you need to break even.
Clear zoning and permits
Before you sign a lease, ask the planning department whether recreation is allowed on the site by right or needs a conditional use permit. The fit-out goes through the building department. The permits page has the checklist, as general guidance, not legal advice.
Design the club and get the plan
Draw the building in the planner with its roof, columns and doors, check the layout in 3D and download the dimensioned plan as a PDF. It is what the architect, the bank and the builders will ask for first. The court itself is in padel court dimensions.
Get quotes and choose a builder
If you want, we pass your plan to up to 3 installers and manufacturers in your area so they all quote the same thing. The USPA recommends courts that meet FIP standards and a builder that is bonded, licensed, insured and legally able to work in the USA as a licensed contractor (USA Padel (USPA), New clubs).
Build and open
Ask each builder for the delivery and installation time in writing, and the building department what it needs to sign off before you let players in. Keep the final plan that matches what was approved: the insurer and any later change will need it.
Start with step 3: how many courts fit.
Draw your building in the planner, in feet or meters. Free, no sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a padel club?
In this order: check demand, find a building with enough clear height, work out how many courts really fit, cost it, check the numbers, clear zoning and permits, get a dimensioned plan, get comparable quotes, then build and open.
How much does it cost to open a padel club?
It depends above all on how many courts fit and on the building. As a reference, a 2026 US directory guide puts most single outdoor courts at $25,000–$60,000; fit-out, services, design and permits come on top.
How much space do I need for a padel club?
In our layouts, warehouses from 12,000 to 60,000 sq ft need about 2,900 to 5,000 sq ft per court, plus room for the front desk, locker rooms and restrooms.
What ceiling height does a padel club need?
At least 19.7 ft (6 m) of clear height over the whole court, with 26.2 ft (8 m) suggested for new facilities, according to the FIP rules.