Backyard Sports Courts

Line Marking Australia builds backyard sports courts across Australia: basketball half courts, pickleball and tennis courts, cricket nets, putting greens and multi-sport courts. We manage the whole job from site check and slab to surface, lines, hoops and nets. A backyard basketball half court starts from about $10,000 installed, including the slab.

Most backyard courts start with a kid who won't stop shooting hoops on the driveway, or a family that wants somewhere to play without booking a public court. The idea is simple. The questions come quickly after that.

We've built backyard courts on modular tiles and acrylic, and we line mark courts every week. This page answers what homeowners ask us most, in plain words.

What sports courts can I build in my backyard?

You can build almost any court in an Australian backyard if the space allows. The most popular backyard sports courts are basketball half courts, pickleball courts, cricket nets, synthetic putting greens and small multi-sport courts. A full tennis court is the biggest option and needs a large block with room for run-off.

• Basketball half court: the most asked-for backyard court, often with an in-ground hoop
• Pickleball court: about a third of the space of a tennis court
• Tennis court: acrylic hard court or synthetic grass on larger blocks
• Cricket nets: a synthetic pitch with a netted run-up
• Putting green: synthetic grass shaped to your yard
• Multi-sport court: one surface with lines for two or three sports

How much does a backyard basketball court cost?

A backyard basketball half court in Australia starts from about $10,000 installed for up to about 165 m², including the slab (published Australian builder pricing, 2026). Your final price depends on the size, the ground you start with, access for machinery, the surface you pick and extras like a hoop, fencing or lights.

Backyard court	Starting price (installed)	Source
Basketball half court (up to about 165 m², incl. slab)	from about $10,000	Published Australian builder pricing, 2026
Home pickleball court	from about $20,000	Published Australian builder pricing, 2026
Tennis court	from about $40,000	Oneflare cost guide, 2026
Cricket nets, putting greens, multi-sport courts	Quoted per site	We itemise it in your quote

What size should a backyard basketball court be?

A good backyard basketball court is the biggest half court your yard can fit with safe space around it. A full FIBA court is 28 m by 15 m, so most homes build a half court or a smaller shooting area with a key. We measure your yard and mark out the layout before anything is dug.

Common backyard layouts we build:

• Shooting pad: a small slab with a hoop and key for one or two players
• Half court: a key, free-throw line and three-point arc, room for games of two-on-two
• Half court plus: a half court with pickleball or netball lines added

See our basketball court construction page for full-court options.

Can I build a backyard court without concrete?

Yes, you can build a backyard court without a concrete slab by using modular sports tiles on a compacted crushed rock base. Tiles go down quickly, drain through the surface and can be lifted if you move. A concrete or asphalt slab with acrylic paint is more solid and better for a true ball bounce.

One of our recent jobs was a backyard half court on grey modular tiles with a key, three-point line and a painted feature wall. Read more about sports court tiles.

Can I fit a pickleball or tennis court at home?

A home pickleball court fits many suburban blocks because the playing area is only 13.41 m by 6.10 m, plus run-off. A home tennis court is much bigger at 23.77 m by 10.97 m for doubles, plus run-off, so it suits acreage and large blocks. Home pickleball courts start from about $20,000 installed.

Court	Playing area	Best for
Pickleball	13.41 m × 6.10 m, plus run-off	Suburban blocks, all ages
Tennis (doubles)	23.77 m × 10.97 m, plus run-off	Large blocks and acreage
Basketball half court	Sized to your yard	Kids and teenagers

Are cricket nets and putting greens worth it?

Backyard cricket nets and putting greens are popular because they fit narrow or odd-shaped spaces where a full court won't. A cricket net needs a long, straight run with a synthetic pitch and netting. A synthetic putting green can follow the shape of your garden. Both are quoted per site and need little upkeep.

• Cricket nets: synthetic pitch on a firm base, side and roof netting, a run-up area
• Putting greens: shaped contours, cups and flags, a fringe that blends into lawn

Do I need council approval for a backyard court?

Many backyard courts don't need a permit, but some do. Council approval is more likely if your court includes lighting, fences over about 2 m, retaining walls, large earthworks or drainage changes, or sits in a heritage or flood overlay. Rules differ by council, so we check yours before we give you a final quote.

Think about your neighbours too. Balls bouncing at night and lights shining over fences cause most complaints, so we plan court position, fencing and light direction with that in mind.

How long does a backyard court take to build?

A backyard court is usually built over a few weeks once approvals are in place. Earthworks and the base come first, then the slab, which needs time to cure before any acrylic coating goes on. Tile courts are faster because there is no curing wait. Wet weather can push the timeline out.

1. Site visit, measure and layout
2. Services check, excavation and drainage
3. Base and slab, or base and tiles
4. Surface coating and line marking
5. Hoops, posts, nets, fencing and lights

How we keep every backyard court build compliant

Every backyard court build follows the same compliance steps, even on small jobs. We check council rules, locate underground services before digging, follow Work Health and Safety laws and use builders who hold the licence your state requires. These steps protect your home, your neighbours and the people working in your yard.

• Council requirements checked for lighting, fencing, retaining walls, earthworks, drainage and setbacks
• Before You Dig Australia (BYDA) check before excavation
• Safe Work Method Statements for excavation and mobile plant
• Silica dust controls, with water suppression or vacuum extraction when cutting concrete
• Sediment and stormwater controls so runoff stays on site
• Licensed, insured builders with public liability insurance
• Concrete to AS 3600 and courts marked to the sport's dimensions

What do you need from me to quote a backyard court?

To quote a backyard sports court, we need to understand your yard and how you want to use it. Photos and rough measurements are the best start. The more you can tell us up front, the more accurate and complete your itemised quote will be, with fewer surprises once work begins.

• Which court or sports you want, and whether it's new or a resurface
• Rough size of the space and what's there now (lawn, pavers, old slab)
• Slope, drainage and any trees or retaining walls
• Access for machinery from the street
• Preferred surface: acrylic, tiles or synthetic grass
• Hoops, nets, fencing, lighting and power
• Any council approvals already in place
• Your timing and budget