Sports Court Fencing

Line Marking Australia installs tennis court fencing across Australia, along with fencing for pickleball, basketball, netball and multi-sport courts. We supply chain-wire fences on galvanised or powder-coated posts, windscreens and gates, and check council rules for taller fences. Court fencing is quoted per site, based on length, height and ground conditions.

A good court fence keeps balls in, stops stray players walking across the court and protects the surface. It also has to stand up to wind, especially once windscreens are fitted, and look tidy for years.

We build and line mark courts, so we plan fencing around the court layout, the run-off and the gates you'll actually use. Here's what to think about.

What type of fence is used for tennis courts?

Tennis courts in Australia are usually fenced with chain-wire mesh, also called chain-link, on galvanised or powder-coated steel posts set in concrete footings. Chain-wire is strong, lets players and spectators see through it, handles balls hitting it all day and suits tennis, pickleball, basketball and multi-sport courts.

Fence option	Best for	Good to know
Galvanised chain-wire	Club, school and council courts	Hard-wearing and the most common choice
Black powder-coated chain-wire	Home courts and premium club courts	Blends into gardens and looks tidy
Chain-wire with windscreens	Windy or exposed sites, privacy	Fence must be designed for the extra wind load
Weld mesh panels	Lower fences, school courts, surrounds	Rigid panels, often used for lower sections

How high should a tennis court fence be?

Tennis court fences are usually taller than standard boundary fences so balls stay in the court, and Tennis Australia guidance sets the heights it recommends for club and community courts. Home courts often use lower sections along the sides. Because tennis fences commonly exceed about 2 m, many need council approval.

How we decide on fence height:

• Behind the baselines: the tallest sections, where most balls are hit
• Along the sides: often lower, to keep views open and save cost
• Between courts: divider fences or nets on multi-court sites
• Near neighbours: height, location and setbacks checked against council rules

Do you need council approval for a tennis court fence?

A tennis court fence may need council approval in Australia, especially if it's over about 2 m high, close to a boundary, in a heritage or flood overlay area, or combined with retaining walls or lighting. Rules differ between councils and states, so we check your local requirements before we finalise the design and price.

We can help you prepare drawings and details for the council, including fence heights, post spacing and footing details.

Do basketball courts need fencing?

Basketball courts don't always need full fencing, but many backyard, school and park courts in Australia use fences or ball-stop netting behind the hoops to stop balls rolling into gardens, roads or neighbouring yards. Fencing also keeps a school court separate from walkways and gives a park court a defined, safer edge.

For backyard half courts, a section of fence or netting behind the ring often does the job. Our basketball hoop installation and rebound wall pages cover rebound nets and walls that work alongside fencing.

What are tennis court windscreens?

Tennis court windscreens are fabric screens, usually made of shade-cloth style mesh, fixed to the chain-wire fence. They cut wind across the court, give players a cleaner background to see the ball and add privacy from neighbours or the street. Club logos and sponsor names can be printed on them.

Windscreens catch a lot of wind, so the fence posts, footings and bracing must be designed for that extra load. We plan this from the start rather than adding screens to a fence that wasn't built for them.

What gates does a court fence need?

A court fence usually needs at least one pedestrian gate for players and a wider double gate for maintenance machinery, such as a sweeper or resurfacing equipment. Gates should sit where people naturally walk to the court, with a level, accessible path leading to them. Self-closing hardware helps keep balls in.

• Pedestrian gate: for players, near seating or the clubhouse
• Double maintenance gate: wide enough for machinery access
• Accessible paths: designed with AS 1428.1 in mind for paths to the court
• Locks: keyed or coded locks for clubs and schools

Can you fence a pickleball court?

Yes. Pickleball courts are often fenced with chain-wire, sometimes lower than tennis fencing because pickleball balls don't travel as far. On converted tennis courts with several pickleball courts, divider fences or netting between courts stop balls rolling into the next game. Fencing can also help with screening near homes.

If you're converting a tennis court, see our tennis court to pickleball conversion page for layouts and fencing options.

Can you replace or repair an old court fence?

Yes. Line Marking Australia can repair sagging or torn chain-wire, replace rusted posts and rails, re-tension the mesh or replace the whole fence. Replacing a fence at the same time as a resurface or new lighting saves money, because access and site set-up are already planned and the work can be staged together.

If your court also needs a new surface, see court resurfacing.

How much does tennis court fencing cost in Australia?

Tennis court fencing in Australia is quoted per site, because the cost depends on the total length, fence height, mesh and post finish, windscreens, gates, footings and ground conditions such as rock or slope. We itemise each part so you can compare options, such as lower side fences or adding windscreens later.

Clubs may be eligible for grants. The Queensland Gambling Community Benefit Fund, for example, offers up to $35,000 for club projects including fencing, lighting and resurfacing.

How we keep every court fencing job compliant

Every court fencing job follows the same approval, safety and construction checks, whether it's a backyard tennis court or a school multi-sport court. Fences involve digging, concrete footings and sometimes council approval, so these are the steps that apply to every fence we build, before the first post goes in.

• Local council check for fences over about 2 m, setbacks, retaining walls and heritage or flood overlays
• Before You Dig Australia check before digging post holes
• AS 3600 for concrete post footings
• AS 1428.1 considered for accessible paths and gates to the court
• Work Health and Safety laws with Safe Work Method Statements for high-risk construction work, such as excavation and mobile plant
• Silica dust controls when cutting concrete for posts
• Licensed builders who hold the licence your state requires, with public liability insurance
• Tennis Australia guidance for club and community tennis courts
• School sites: work scheduled for school holidays where possible, and Working with Children checks for crews

What do you need from me to quote court fencing?

To quote court fencing, we need the court type and size, the fence length and heights you want, and photos of the site and any existing fence. A rough sketch showing where the gates should go, the boundaries and nearby neighbours helps us price accurately. Tell us:

• Court type and sports played
• New court, existing court or fence replacement
• Court size, number of courts, indoor or outdoor
• Site type: home, school, club, council or strata
• What's on the ground now, slope and any rock
• Machinery access
• Preferred fence finish and heights
• Windscreens, gates and locks
• Lighting or power planned at the same time
• Approvals, plans and photos
• Timing and budget