Convert a tennis court to pickleball
Good news: an old tennis court already has the hardest, priciest part of a pickleball court done. The slab (the flat block of poured concrete the court sits on) and the ground work (clearing and shaping the ground) are already there. So the job is mostly a fresh surface, new lines and new nets. Turning one tennis court into four pickleball courts costs about $5,000 to $20,000 at typical US prices. That covers resurfacing (a fresh top coat on an old court), new parts, new lines and better lighting. Want a price for where you live? Answer two questions to see a price for your state. Then you can send your plans to builders who work there.
Conversion cost (US average)
| Tennis courts | Pickleball courts | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | $5,000–$20,000 |
| 2 | 8 | $10,000–$40,000 |
How many pickleball courts can one tennis court hold?
A standard tennis court is 60 feet by 120 feet. A pickleball playing area is just 20 feet by 44 feet, so you have plenty of room.
Each pickleball court needs a pad (the flat area the court is built on) that is 30 by 60 feet. This gives players room to move past the lines. One tennis court holds 4 of those pads.
You don't have to use all the space. A single tennis court can become one, two or four pickleball courts. Four is the most it can hold.
| Tennis courts | Pickleball courts that fit |
|---|---|
| 1 | one, two or four |
| 2 | four or eight |
Fewer courts give each one more room. So choose based on how many players you expect at the same time.
Average US cost for a conversion
| Tennis courts | Pickleball courts | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | $5,000–$20,000 |
| 2 | 8 | $10,000–$40,000 |
The price guide HomeGuide says this price covers a new surface, new parts, fresh game lines and better lighting.
Resurfacing alone costs $1,500 to $3,500 for one pickleball court. For four courts, it costs $6,000 to $14,000. These prices are for resurfacing only, not a full conversion.
Prices change a little from state to state. The most useful price is one from builders near you.
Why does conversion cost so much less than building new?
A set of 4 new concrete courts with painted lines costs $49,600 to $127,600 at typical US prices. The concrete slab is the biggest part of that, at $36,000 to $72,000. Getting the ground ready adds $8,000 to $40,000.
A tennis court already has both. So turning it into 4 courts usually costs $5,000 to $20,000.
Lines, nets and surface
Lines are what turn a slab into a pickleball court. The official USA Pickleball rulebook says lines must be 2 inches wide, in one color that stands out clearly from the court. The painter then marks each pad with the 20 by 44 foot court layout.
Your tennis net is too high to keep. Each pickleball court needs its own net. It stands 36 inches tall at the sides and 34 inches in the middle.
Plan to spend $300 to $1,500 for each court's net and posts.
Court paint is given a rough texture with silica sand, a fine sand mixed into the paint. This keeps players from slipping on a wet court.
That grip matters on damp mornings. Ask your builder to confirm it is part of the coating they quote.
Lighting and fencing
Your court may have no lights, or the poles may not suit the new layout. In that case, new lighting costs $5,000 to $10,000 installed. It usually uses 2 or 4 poles, each 20 feet tall.
The typical conversion price includes upgrading the lights you already have. If you need all-new lighting, the builders' quotes will show how much more it costs for your court.
A fence around one 30 by 60 foot pad takes 180 feet of fencing. It costs $1,800 to $6,300 for one court. Fencing all 4 courts costs $3,600 to $12,600.
Tennis courts usually have a fence already. So this only matters if yours has none, or if it is in bad shape.
Fences and lights are where conversion prices vary most. A builder's quote for your own court tells you far more than any average.