Pickleball Conversions for Tennis Clubs

Line Marking Australia converts tennis club courts across Australia into pickleball courts, either as shared lines that keep tennis or as dedicated pickleball banks. A conversion usually starts from the cost of an acrylic resurface, from about $8,000 per court (Airtasker cost guide, 2026), plus lines, posts and nets.

Plenty of tennis clubs have a court or two that sit empty on weeknights. Pickleball fills them. The courts are small, the game is quick to learn and members bring their friends.

We work with club committees from the first idea through to opening day. Here are the questions committees ask us most, with straight answers.

Why are tennis clubs converting courts to pickleball?

Tennis clubs are converting courts to pickleball because demand is growing fast and a tennis court already has the slab, fencing and often the lights. Pickleball Australia reports more than 27,000 members and 410-plus affiliated clubs and venues (June 2026), and Tennis Australia and the National Pickleball League are turning tennis venues into multi-sport racquet hubs.

For a club, the case usually comes down to three things:

• New members: pickleball attracts social players, families and older members who've stepped back from tennis
• Better court use: courts that are empty at 7 pm on a Tuesday start earning court-hire income
• Low build cost: the court is already there, so most of the money goes on the surface and lines

How many pickleball courts fit on a tennis court?

A standard tennis court fits two pickleball courts with the tennis lines kept, or up to four dedicated pickleball courts once the tennis net is removed and run-off is planned. Each pickleball court is 13.41 m by 6.10 m with a 2.13 m kitchen, so the layout depends on your fence lines and posts.

We measure every court before we draw a layout. Old net-post footings, light poles and gates inside the fence can change what fits safely.

Should our club keep tennis lines or convert fully?

Most tennis clubs start with shared lines on one or two courts, then convert fully once pickleball bookings justify it. Shared courts keep tennis available but carry more lines. Dedicated courts give pickleball players permanent nets, cleaner lines and more courts per slab. Your booking data and member survey should decide it.

Option	What we do	Best for
Shared lines, portable nets	Mark pickleball lines in a contrasting colour over the tennis court	Clubs testing demand
Shared lines after a resurface	Repair cracks, recoat in acrylic, then mark tennis and pickleball lines	Courts due for resurfacing anyway
Dedicated pickleball bank	Remove tennis net, resurface, mark up to four courts, fit permanent posts and nets	Clubs with strong pickleball bookings
Dividers and lighting added	Low internal fencing between courts and lighting upgrades	Busy night competitions

How much does it cost to convert a club tennis court to pickleball?

Converting a club tennis court to pickleball usually costs much less than building new. Line marking with portable nets is the cheapest option. A full conversion starts from the cost of an acrylic resurface, from about $8,000 per court (Airtasker cost guide, 2026), plus lines, posts, nets and any lighting or fencing changes.

The price moves with the condition of the slab. Deep cracks, ponding and failed patches need repair before any coating goes on. Cushioned acrylic, internal dividers and lighting upgrades are extras. We itemise each one so the committee can approve stage one now and add the rest later. A new standalone pickleball court, for comparison, starts from about $20,000 (published Australian builder pricing, 2026).

Are there grants for tennis clubs converting courts to pickleball?

Yes, many Australian tennis clubs fund conversions with state, federal and council grants. Examples include the SA Community Facilities Program, which funded Mount Gambier Tennis Club $431,000, Queensland's Gambling Community Benefit Fund (up to $35,000 for club resurfacing, lighting and fencing), and council and federal grants such as Noosa's $248,900 for pickleball.

Grant assessors look for a clear scope and a firm price. We provide:

• An itemised quote with each stage priced separately
• A court layout drawing showing pickleball and tennis lines
• A written scope covering surface, lines, nets, lighting and fencing
• Photos of the current court condition

Check each program's current round and rules on the official site before you apply, because rounds open and close through the year.

Will pickleball noise bother the club's neighbours?

Pickleball noise can be a concern for tennis clubs with homes close by, because the paddle makes a sharper sound than a tennis racquet. Courts set furthest from houses, acoustic screening on fences and sensible hours of play all help. Some councils ask about noise when a conversion includes new lighting or longer hours.

When we plan a layout we look at which courts sit closest to neighbours and suggest putting pickleball on the furthest courts first.

Does our club need approval to convert a tennis court?

A straight resurface and re-line of a club tennis court often needs no planning approval, but new lighting, fences over about 2 m, extended hours or works on leased council land may. Many clubs lease their courts from council, so the landlord's consent is usually needed as well. We check your council's requirements before the final quote.

If your club is affiliated with Tennis Australia, it's also worth talking to your state tennis association early. Tennis Australia guidance for club and community tennis covers court planning, and associations often help with hub planning and grant letters.

How long will our courts be out of play?

A tennis-to-pickleball line marking job can be done in a day or two. A full resurface and conversion usually takes about a week per court in good weather, because each acrylic coat needs time to dry. Rain adds days. We stage multi-court jobs so the rest of the club keeps playing.

1. Site measure, layout drawing and committee sign-off
2. Crack repairs, patching and cleaning
3. Acrylic coats in your chosen colours
4. Line marking for pickleball, and tennis if shared
5. Posts, nets and any dividers fitted

How we keep every club pickleball conversion compliant

Every tennis club pickleball conversion we deliver is planned against council rules, safety laws and the sport's court dimensions. That means approvals checked before work starts, safe work methods on site, dust controlled when we grind or cut, and lines marked to the 13.41 m by 6.10 m court with the 2.13 m kitchen.

• Local council planning or building approval checked for lighting, fencing, hours and leased land
• Tennis Australia guidance for club and community tennis followed where tennis is kept
• Pickleball court dimensions: 13.41 m × 6.10 m playing area, 50 mm lines, 2.13 m kitchen
• Sports lighting to AS 2560.1:2018 and AS 2560.2:2021, with spill limited under AS/NZS 4282
• Safe Work Method Statements for high-risk work and silica dust controls when grinding or cutting concrete
• Slip-resistant textured acrylic finishes
• Builders who hold the licence your state requires, with public liability insurance

Read more about the general process on our tennis court to pickleball conversion page, or see everything we do for clubs on our sports courts for sports clubs page. If you're adding new courts as well, our pickleball court construction page covers new builds.

What do you need from us to quote a club pickleball conversion?

To quote a tennis club pickleball conversion, Line Marking Australia needs to know how many courts you want to convert, whether tennis stays, the current surface and its condition, and what lighting and fencing you have. Photos, a site plan and your grant deadline help us return an accurate, itemised quote quickly.

• Number of tennis courts and which ones you'd like converted
• Shared lines or dedicated pickleball courts
• Current surface (acrylic, asphalt, synthetic grass) and visible cracks or ponding
• Preferred finish: standard or cushioned acrylic, and colours
• Nets: portable or permanent posts, and any internal dividers
• Existing lighting and fencing, and whether you want upgrades
• Machinery access through the club gates
• Lease or council approvals already in place
• Grant program and deadline, timing and budget