Pickleball is a relatively new sport that's a combination of tennis, ping pong and badminton. It's a fantastic sport because of its accessibility — you don't need hours of training to be able to play effectively, all you need is a couple of friends, a court and some gear and you're ready to have a great time.

Whether it’s for recreation or competition, building a pickleball court for your home, school or club is a great way to promote healthy hobbies. People of all ages can enjoy pickleball, from older adults to young children, making it a great pastime to share with family and friends. With the sport more popular than ever, knowing the following steps to create a great court is key to enjoying a lifetime.

Ready to get started? Keep reading to discover how to build a pickleball court and what you’ll need to make your idea into a reality.

Things to Consider Before Building a Professional Grade Pickleball Court

Now, before we dive into any schematics or materials, it’s essential to consider the cost and location of this type of court. Most courts range anywhere from $10,000 to $35,000 depending on the materials, fencing and lighting used for the project. Usually, projects like this cost around $11-$22 per square foot.

Here’s a quick cost consideration for building a pickleball court:

• Court size
• Land preparation - excavation and grading
• Court surface materials - concrete, asphalt or other
• Perimeter fencing
• Court lighting
• Supplier costs

Where you’re going to build the court is an integral part of the project since you want a flat, secluded spot that allows players to get into the game without much distraction. This means the key to picking an ideal location is choosing an area that doesn’t need much modification because flattening and excavating your yard can end up being the most expensive part of your project.

Other considerations for building a pickleball court include:

• Noise: You don’t want to build a court that’s next to a busy highway, and your community or homeowners association may oppose this project, so be sure to get the necessary permits for building your court.
• Orientation: Nobody wants to play a game with the sun in their face, so think about the typical conditions you’ll face on the court, like the position of the sun and wind. Courts facing north or south will be more effective since it's less likely one team will have to face the sun directly. 
• Color: No matter what material you build with, you’ll likely have a few options for what color you can choose for your court.
• Contractor: If this court is just for fun and you already have a base to build upon, the project won’t be that involved. But, if you need to make a new court, then having professionals take the reigns is your best option.

All of these factors are important to building the ideal court for your situation.

What You Will Need for a Pickleball Court

Now that we’ve thought about what it takes to build this project, it’s time to design your court. Here are a few items you’ll need to create a great court:

• Sidewalk chalk, tape or a spool of string
• Tape measure
• Court marker lines
• A net with permanent net poles

When making court lines, you have a few options, and what you choose will depend on your preference. Chalk is easy to use and cheap but not permanent, while the tape is more permanent and makes the lines easier to see during play. You can always paint parallel lines on the court if you’re looking for a permanent solution. In that case, using stencils and a sealer will help keep them from bleeding.

There are other options like gaffer tape or vinyl court maker lines. Gaffer tape is a great choice since it sticks to rough surfaces without leaving any residue, which is great if you’re playing on an indoor court.

The net and stands can be any tennis or badminton net with three stands. Again, this is up to personal preference whether you invest in an official or permanent net option, but it’s not required for every court.

When it comes to playing, all you’ll need is a paddle for each player and plenty of pickleball balls. Most basic paddles are made of wood, while higher-quality ones are made of composite material or lightweight graphite. While similar to a wiffleball, the ball is heavier than its counterpart and has about 26-40 holes in it.

Pickleball Court Dimensions

Setting your court up properly can be a more straightforward practice by following the guidelines provided by the USA Pickleball Association. This way, you’ll know if your court is following all the standard regulations.

Remember that an official court size is 20 feet by 44 feet, but you’ll want to go for a 24-by-54 court to comply with tournament size standards. This way, people can play the ball out of bounds and serve it safely.

The net should be 36 inches on the ends and 34 inches in the middle. The court lines are similar to tennis in that there are right and left service areas that are striped down the middle, so each area is 10 feet by 15 feet. The non-volley zone or kitchen is 7 feet long in front of the net and stretches the width of the court.

Recommended line widths are 2 inches if you’re looking for an official single court, but simply drawing these lines with chalk for recreational lines is fine, too.

Choosing Rhino Pickleball

Creating a home pickleball court can be a great way to establish an active lifestyle and get the family involved. It's also a great pastime for residents at retirement communities and kids in school. Check the details before investing your money into this project and consider everything from cost to materials to equipment for your court.

Once you’ve mapped out everything you need to create a court and you’ve chosen the perfect location, then it’s time to build. Again, making a court can be costly depending on the materials used and if you need to level the land. Luckily, Rhino Pickleball has everything you need to bring your project to the next level. 

We offer in-game products, court accessories and fitness equipment to make you a better pickleball player. We cater to players of all skill levels, no matter if you’re a veteran or just starting out. If you’re serious about building a splendid court, you need equipment to match, and Rhino Pickleball has the products to complete your court. Shop our collections for the best selection of paddles, nets and pickleballs in the industry!

Contact Rhino Pickleball Today

We only make quality products that work for both form and function. We’ve valued innovation and customer service since our founding in 1961, which is why we are the leading pickleball equipment provider today.

Reach out today and find out what makes us the premier choice in the pickleball industry.