Budget
How much padel costs: court, coach, racket and gear
Padel has a reputation as an expensive sport — mostly undeserved. Split between four players, an hour on court costs about as much as a trip to the cinema. Here is the full cost breakdown.
Contents
Find a court →In short
- The main cost is court rental, split between four players.
- A coach is optional but 1–2 starter sessions speed up progress a lot.
- Rent a racket at first — often free for beginners.
- The biggest savings: group sessions and not buying gear before you play.
We break the budget into parts: what you must pay for, what is optional and where beginners waste money for no reason.
01What makes up the cost
The full list of possible expenses: court rental, a coach or instructor, racket rental, balls, sports shoes and clothes, getting to the club, and participation in group games or tournaments. The good news — most of these are optional at the start.
02Court rental
You book a court for a fixed time, and if four people play, the fee is split between everyone. The price varies by city, club, time of day and indoor/outdoor format — evenings and weekends cost more, mornings less.
Rule of thumb: an hour of padel per person ≈ a cinema ticket. Off-peak slots make it even cheaper.
03Coach
A coach is very useful for your first game, though not mandatory. Formats: an individual session, training in a pair, a group class or an intro lesson for beginners — group formats are the most affordable and usually include a racket and balls.
1–2 starter sessions with a coach save months of self-taught mistakes. It is the best-value investment in your padel.
04Racket
Beginners do not need to buy a racket right away. Clubs offer rentals — often free for first-timers — which lets you try the game without a big purchase and test different shapes before choosing your own.
05Shoes and clothes
Regular sports clothes are perfectly fine. Shoes deserve more attention: padel is full of lateral movement, so trainers must hold the foot firmly and grip well. If you already own stable court or tennis shoes — you are set.
06How to save at the start
- Start with a group session — coach, racket and balls included.
- Rent a racket instead of buying one.
- Skip accessories until after your first games.
- Play off-peak hours — mornings and daytime slots cost less.
- Split the court between four — always.
The beginner’s budget formula: group session + rented racket + your own trainers. Everything else can wait.
FAQ: common questions
Is padel expensive compared to tennis?
Comparable or cheaper: the court is split between four players, and beginner gear costs nothing because you rent a racket.
How much does a racket cost when I do buy one?
Decent starter rackets from known brands are moderately priced; there is no reason to pay for a top model before your technique is in place.
Do I need to pay for balls?
Often the club provides them for group sessions. For your own games a can of three balls lasts 2–4 sessions.
What is the cheapest way to try padel?
A beginners’ group session: fixed price with coach, racket and balls included — and partners provided.
Ready to get on court?
Find clubs, courts and coaches near you and book your first game.