Padel court glass: height, size and thickness
How tall the glass walls are, what kind of glass a padel court uses, how thick it is and how it is fitted. The heights are the FIP's; for the glass itself there is no US padel standard, so we give what federations publish and what US spec sheets say.
How tall the walls are
The back walls are 13.1 ft (4 m) high: the first 9.8 ft (3 m) is wall, glass or solid, and the last 3.3 ft (1 m) is metal mesh.
The side walls come in two FIP variants. Variant 1 is stepped at each end: 9.8 ft (3 m) high by 6.6 ft (2 m) long, then 6.6 ft (2 m) high by 6.6 ft (2 m) long, with mesh up to 9.8 ft (3 m) along the middle and up to 13.1 ft (4 m) at both ends.
Variant 2 Crystal has a 9.8 ft (3 m) high by 13.1 ft (4 m) long glass wall at each end, without a step, and mesh up to 13.1 ft (4 m) in the last 6.6 ft (2 m).
Source: FIP, Rules of Padel (review of application January 1, 2026), “Enclosures”. All dimensions from the inside of the court. Which variant suits a panoramic padel court is a question for the manufacturer.
What glass a padel court uses
The FIP lets the walls be of any transparent or opaque material with a hard, completely smooth surface and a uniform bounce, and asks glass courts to comply with the standards for tempered glass in its courts homologation annex. In the Italian federation's edition of the rules, the reference in the European Union is EN 12150-1, and other countries are told to consult their own standards (Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP), Regole del padel, 2021 edition with FIT notes, published by Sport e Impianti, March 2022). We found no US standard specific to padel glass: ask the builder which glass safety standard the panels are certified to, in writing.
Padel court glass thickness
| Who | Tempered | Laminated |
|---|---|---|
| Italian federation (FIT note to the rules, 2022) | Monolithic, at least 10 mm (about 3/8 in) | 6 + 6 mm |
| French federation (specification, June 2026) | 10 to 12 mm; 12 mm on panoramic courts | 2 × 6 mm |
| A US manufacturer’s spec sheets (example) | 1/2 in (12 mm) clear tempered, polished edge | — |
Sources: Italian Tennis and Padel Federation (FITP), Regole del padel, 2021 edition with FIT notes, published by Sport e Impianti; French Tennis Federation (FFT), specification “La piste de padel” (ref. FF26-146), copy published by the Ligue de tennis de Nouvelle-Calédonie (June 2026); Sportsfield Specialties, Outdoor Panoramic Padel Court Systems (product specifications) and Sportsfield Specialties, Indoor Full Panoramic Padel Court Systems (product specifications). The federations' figures are not US rules; the spec sheets are one manufacturer's products, quoted as an example, not a recommendation.
Panel size, gaps and fixing
The FIP does not set the panel size. The US spec sheets above list panels 2 m (6 ft 6.5 in) wide by 3 m (9 ft 9.9 in) high, and the outdoor model as pre-engineered to ASCE 7-16, risk category I, for wind up to 130 mph in Exposure B and 106 mph in Exposure C. The French federation's 2026 specification adds rules on how the glass is fitted:
- Tempered glass to EN 12150-1 or laminated glass to EN 14449, pendulum-tested to EN 12600, with polished edges and a manufacturer's certificate for each pane.
- Gaps between panes of 2 to 8 mm, also at the corners, where a 25 to 35 mm gap is allowed only with measures that stop a hand going through; an offset of no more than 3 mm between panes and 5 mm between glass and mesh.
- The glass fixed to the structure without touching it, with neoprene or rubber spacers 5 to 8 mm thick.
- Play stops as soon as a pane shows a defect such as a crack, and the pane is replaced. A warranty of at least 3 years on the glass is recommended.
Source: French Tennis Federation (FFT), specification “La piste de padel” (ref. FF26-146), copy published by the Ligue de tennis de Nouvelle-Calédonie (June 2026), sections 2.3 and 2.5.
The mesh
The FIP asks for square, electro-welded mesh with diagonal openings of 5 to 7.08 cm (about 2 to 2.8 in), wire 2 to 3 mm thick recommended and 4 mm at most, tensioned so the ball bounces off it. Welded mesh that is not interlaced must be in squares, not rhomboids, and every weld protected on both sides. The mesh is always in line with the inner face of the glass, and nothing that is not part of the structure (cables, boxes, lights) may sit on its top.
What to ask in a quote
- Thickness and type: Tempered or laminated, and the thickness, in writing.
- Standard and certificate: Which glass safety standard the panels are certified to, and the manufacturer’s certificate for each pane.
- Panel size and edges: Width and height of each panel, and polished edges.
- Fixing: How the panes are fixed without touching the steel, the gaps between them and the joints at the corners.
- Spares and warranty: Price and delivery time of a spare pane, and how long the glass is guaranteed.
- Wind (outdoors): The wind speed and exposure the structure is engineered for, for your permit.
With a dimensioned plan, every installer prices the same courts: up to 3 installers and manufacturers in your area, through padel court quotes. What the whole court costs is in padel court cost.
Frequently asked questions
How thick is padel court glass?
The FIP rules refer to their homologation annex. The Italian federation’s note asks for tempered glass at least 10 mm thick or laminated 6 + 6 mm; the French federation’s 2026 specification asks for 10 to 12 mm tempered (12 mm on panoramic courts) or 2 × 6 mm laminated. US spec sheets we checked list 1/2 in (12 mm) tempered panels.
How tall is the glass on a padel court?
9.8 ft (3 m). The back walls are 9.8 ft (3 m) of wall plus 3.3 ft (1 m) of mesh; the side walls have 9.8 ft (3 m) high glass at the ends, either stepped down to 6.6 ft (2 m) or as a 13.1 ft (4 m) long panel without a step.
What size are padel court glass panels?
The FIP sets the wall heights, not the panel size. One US manufacturer’s spec sheets list panels 2 m (6 ft 6.5 in) wide by 3 m (9 ft 9.9 in) high.
Is padel court glass tempered?
Yes: the FIP asks glass courts to comply with the standards for tempered glass in its homologation annex. In Europe the reference is EN 12150-1; the French federation also accepts laminated glass to EN 14449.
What happens if padel glass breaks or cracks?
The French federation’s specification says play must stop as soon as a pane shows a defect such as a crack, and the pane must be replaced. Ask your installer the price and delivery time of a spare.
How big are the gaps between padel glass panels?
The French federation’s specification asks for 2 to 8 mm between panes, with a maximum offset of 3 mm between panes and 5 mm between glass and mesh.
What mesh does a padel court use?
Electro-welded mesh with diagonal openings of 5 to 7.08 cm (about 2 to 2.8 in), wire 2 to 3 mm thick recommended and 4 mm at most (FIP).
Read on: panoramic padel court · padel court dimensions · padel court turf · padel court lighting
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