Indoor Padel Courts

Line Marking Australia builds indoor padel courts for padel centres, gyms and converted warehouses across Australia, covering slab preparation, glass and mesh enclosures, playing surface, lines and lighting. A padel court starts from about $60,000 (Sydney club build reported in the trade press), and indoor fit-outs are quoted per site.

Indoor padel takes the weather out of the business. No rain cancellations, no midday heat and lights on whenever members want to play.

The building does a lot of the work, but it also sets the limits. Here are the questions operators ask us before signing a lease or ordering courts.

Why build padel courts indoors?

Operators build padel courts indoors because bookings don't depend on weather. Indoor courts can run early mornings and late nights, players stay out of the sun and rain, and the venue can add a café, pro shop and lounge under one roof. In hot or wet parts of Australia, indoor padel keeps courts full all year.

• Year-round bookings with no rain-outs
• Longer opening hours
• Comfortable play in summer heat
• Room for social areas that lift spend per visit

How much does an indoor padel court cost?

An indoor padel court starts from about $60,000 per court, based on a Sydney club build reported in the trade press. Indoor projects are quoted per site, because the existing slab, number of courts, enclosure system, surface, lighting and any building works vary. Multi-court centres often get better value per court.

Cost item	What drives it
Slab preparation	Levelness, cracks and anchoring for enclosure frames
Enclosure	Glass and mesh panel system, frame finish
Surface	Synthetic turf with infill or other padel surface
Lighting	Frame-mounted or suspended LED, glare control
Building works	Exits, amenities, ventilation and access, if required

What size building do indoor padel courts need?

Each padel court has a 20 m by 10 m playing area inside its enclosure, plus walkways between courts and access to doors. An indoor centre needs a building long and wide enough for your chosen number of courts, with columns placed outside the courts. We plan the layout on your floor plan before you commit.

Columns, roller doors, sprinklers and fire exits often decide how many courts fit, more than the raw floor area.

We also allow space for a reception desk, seating where players can watch through the glass, equipment storage and clear exit paths. A layout that feels comfortable between games keeps members coming back.

How much ceiling height does indoor padel need?

Indoor padel needs generous clear height, because lobs are a big part of the game and players lose points when the ball hits the roof. Beams, lights, ducts and sprinklers all reduce usable height. We check your building's clear height and roof structure early, because it's the most common reason a warehouse doesn't suit padel.

If you're still choosing a building, send us the floor plan and the height to the underside of the lowest beam before you sign. It's much easier to walk away from an unsuitable warehouse than to work around a low roof later.

Can padel courts go on an existing warehouse slab?

Often, yes. Many indoor padel courts sit on an existing warehouse slab, as long as it's level, sound and able to anchor the enclosure frames. We survey the slab for level, cracks and joints, then grind, patch or level where needed. Poor slabs can be fixed, but the cost is better known before you sign a lease.

Do indoor padel centres need council approval?

An indoor padel centre usually needs council approval in Australia, because turning a warehouse into a sports venue is often a change of use. Councils may look at parking, hours, noise, exits, accessibility and amenities. The building owner must consent too. We check requirements early and supply court drawings for your planner and certifier.

How should indoor padel courts be lit?

Indoor padel courts need even, glare-free lighting, because players look up for lobs and the glass walls reflect light. Lighting is designed to the AS 2560 sports lighting standards, usually with LED fittings mounted on the enclosure frames or suspended above the courts. Good lighting design is one of the biggest differences between average and great centres.

Lights should sit outside the main lob path and be aimed to avoid bright reflections in the glass. Dimming and court-by-court switching linked to bookings save power when courts are empty.

How long does an indoor padel fit-out take?

An indoor padel fit-out usually takes a few weeks on site once approvals are in place and the enclosures have arrived. Slab preparation comes first, then frames and glass, surface and lines, and lighting. Enclosure lead times can be the longest part of the program, so we plan orders around your opening date.

1. Floor plan layout and building checks
2. Council approval and landlord consent
3. Slab survey, grinding and levelling
4. Enclosure frames, glass and mesh installed
5. Surface laid, lines marked, nets fitted
6. Lighting commissioned and handover

How we keep every indoor padel build compliant

Every indoor padel court we build is planned against council rules, safety laws and the right Australian Standards. That means change of use and landlord consent checked early, safe work methods for lifting glass and using mobile plant, silica dust controlled when we grind the slab, and lighting designed to the AS 2560 series.

• Padel court dimensions: 20 m × 10 m playing area
• Local council planning or building approval checked, including change of use
• Safe Work Method Statements for mobile plant and lifting
• Silica dust controls (on-tool vacuum extraction) when grinding or cutting indoors
• Sports lighting to AS 2560.1:2018 and AS 2560.2:2021
• Accessible entry and paths considered against AS 1428.1
• Builders who hold the licence your state requires, with public liability insurance

Read our padel court construction page for padel builds in general, our sports courts for gyms and padel centres page for other indoor work, and our sports court lighting page for lighting design.

What do you need from us to quote indoor padel courts?

To quote indoor padel courts, Line Marking Australia needs the building's floor plan, internal measurements and clear height, the slab condition and how many courts you want. Tell us about columns, exits and doors, your lease status and opening date. Photos and plans help us return an accurate, itemised quote and a court layout.

• Number of padel courts
• Floor plan, internal length, width and clear height
• Column, door, sprinkler and exit positions
• Slab condition and any known cracks or joints
• Preferred enclosure, surface and colours
• Lighting and any social or café areas planned
• Lease, landlord and council approval status
• Photos, opening date and budget