How to Start a Padel Club in the U.S.
People tend to picture a padel club as a lively scene of four players and a glass box. Behind that is a more ordinary project: finding a building or a lot, getting power to it, and getting a city or county to say yes. If those three go well, the rest is running a good club.
Where the U.S. market stands
The country passed 1,000 padel courts in early April 2026, according to The Padel Paper, and the sport now has a presence in 37 states. Directory data from Padel Browser puts Texas second after Florida, with roughly 260 courts. The United States Padel Association expects far more by 2030, though that is a forecast, not a count.
What that means for you: the market is real, but most cities still have few courts. In a place like Houston or Miami you will compete with other clubs. In a mid-size city you may be the first.
Step 1: Find the site
One padel court is 65.6 x 32.8 ft (20 x 10 m). With 5 ft (1.5 m) of clearance on each side, plan for about 75.5 x 42.7 ft (23 x 13 m), roughly 3,200 sq ft per court. Our dimensions guide has the full breakdown.
For an indoor club, height matters as much as floor area. You need at least 19.7 ft (6 m) of clear height, and 26 ft (8 m) or more is better, because players lob. Many warehouse conversions fail on height or on columns that land in the middle of a court, so measure before you sign a lease.
For an outdoor club, look at parking, neighbors and lighting hours. A court with floodlights at 9 p.m. next to houses will meet resistance. Check zoning for commercial recreation use before anything else.
Step 2: Match the setup to your climate
- Florida, Texas and the Southeast. Outdoor courts work most of the year. Heat and sudden storms are the problem, so shade or a cover helps a lot. Coastal sites also need engineering for high winds.
- Arizona and the Southwest. Summer midday play is hard. Evening lighting and a cover that blocks sun make the courts usable in the hours people actually want.
- New York, Illinois, Connecticut and the rest of the Northeast and Midwest. Indoor space, or a cover designed for snow loads, is what keeps courts earning in winter.
- California. Mild weather helps, but seismic requirements shape the structure, especially for covers.
If you are leaning toward outdoor courts with weather protection, read about our fixed and retractable covers.
Step 3: Choose the courts
We offer three types: Standard, Panoramic and Full Panoramic. The main differences are the glass, the back wall and the structure. A Panoramic back wall has no posts, which gives spectators and cameras a clean view. The Standard court keeps costs lower per court. We compare them side by side on the specifications page.
Whatever you choose, ask for glass certification and written confirmation that the court meets U.S. glass standards. It is a normal request and a good supplier will not hesitate.
Step 4: Approvals and engineering
Rules differ by state, county and city. Expect to deal with commercial use approval, electrical permits for lighting, and structural review for outdoor courts and covers. Wind loads drive the design in coastal Florida, snow loads in the Northeast and Colorado, and seismic loads in California. Start this early. Permits are usually the slowest part of the whole schedule.
Step 5: Plan how the courts will earn money
Most clubs combine several income sources: court bookings, memberships, lessons and clinics, leagues and events, a small pro shop, and food and drinks. Peak and off-peak pricing is common. The number to watch is how many hours per day your courts are actually booked, not how many you could sell on paper.
Booking software such as Playtomic or CourtReserve handles reservations, payments and player matching. Pick one before you open, because your first players will want to book from their phones.
Beginners are your growth. Clubs that run regular intro sessions and coaching fill slow hours faster than clubs that only rent courts.
Step 6: Build the budget
Put these lines in your plan: courts and turf, lighting, the base or floor work, any building work such as restrooms and reception, permits and engineering, signage, booking technology and insurance. We explain what pushes the court portion up or down in our cost guide. Ask every supplier for a complete installed total, and have them state what is excluded.
Mistakes worth avoiding
- Counting only the court footprint and forgetting clearances and fencing.
- Choosing an indoor building without checking ceiling height.
- Skimping on lighting. Players notice it immediately.
- Picking the lowest headline price instead of the lowest complete cost.
- Opening without a plan for beginners.
Where we fit
We supply and install padel courts and covers, and we coordinate the technical side with you. We do not run clubs, so talk to a few club owners about operations too. Together, those two conversations cover most of what you need to decide.
Frequently asked questions
How much space does a padel club need?
About 3,200 sq ft per court including clearances, plus space for entry, restrooms and parking. Indoor sites also need at least 19.7 ft (6 m) of clear height, with 26 ft (8 m) or more preferred.
Should I build indoor or outdoor courts?
It depends on climate and budget. Outdoor courts with shade or a cover work well in Florida, Texas and Arizona. In colder states, indoor space or a snow-rated cover keeps courts earning through winter.
Do I need permits to build padel courts?
Yes, in almost every case. Expect commercial use approval, electrical permits for lighting and structural review for outdoor courts and covers. Requirements vary by state, county and city.
What booking software do padel clubs use?
Many clubs use platforms such as Playtomic or CourtReserve to handle bookings, payments and player matching.
Keep reading
- Compare our padel court types
- What affects the cost of a padel court
- Fixed and retractable court covers
- Padel court dimensions and U.S. regulations
Planning a padel club?
Tell us your location and how many courts you have in mind. We reply by email.