If you’ve fallen in love with pickleball like my family has, you’ve probably had the same thought we did: “Wouldn’t it be amazing to have a court in our own backyard?”

Spoiler: It is amazing. We use ours constantly for family matches, friendly tournaments, and even nighttime games under the lights. But I’ll be honest, building a pickleball court at home takes planning, work, and a little bit of investment.

The good news? If you go the partly DIY route, you can save thousands while getting exactly the court you want.

If you’re ready to start building your dream court, keep reading, and grab the pickleball gear we recommend.

Why Build a Backyard Pickleball Court?

Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America for a reason; it’s fun, social, and easy for all ages to pick up. But public courts can get crowded, and scheduling around the weather and other players isn’t always ideal.

Having your own pickleball court at home means:

• Unlimited playtime – no waiting for a court
• Built-in family fun – get kids (and adults) off screens
• Hosting opportunities – invite friends and neighbourhood kids for tournaments and BBQs
• Daily practice – improve your game on your own schedule

If you have the space, it’s one of the best backyard upgrades you can make for both lifestyle and property value.

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Step 1: Choose Your Location and Size

A standard pickleball court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long for doubles play, with recommended clear space of 30 feet by 60 feet for safety.

You’ll need:

• A flat area with good drainage
• Enough surrounding space for fencing or nets
• Consider sun direction. Ideally, the court should run north–south to avoid sun glare during play

If you don’t have room for a full-size court, you can still create a practice court or half court for drills.

Step 2: Decide on Your Base – Concrete vs. Asphalt

We went with a concrete base for durability and low maintenance. Asphalt is another option, but concrete tends to last longer and feels more solid underfoot.

Pro bids for a concrete base: $25,000 – $35,000
Our price with a small local business: $20,000 (including rebar reinforcement). Thanks Sport Master Utah!

Tip: Rebar reinforcement is non-negotiable, it prevents cracks and keeps your court safe and stable over time.

Step 3: Paint Your Pickleball Court

Once the base is fully cured (about 28 days for concrete), you can paint your pickleball court. This is where you can either:

• Hire a pro for $8,000 – $15,000
• DIY for around $4,000 in materials

We chose to DIY with help from Ace Coatings, and yes, it took days of work, but it saved us thousands and gave us a sense of ownership over the project.

DIY Painting Steps:

1. Power wash the surface
2. Apply a concrete primer
3. Mask the area with Frog Tape
4. Roll on your base color (we chose blue for the court surface)
5. Paint the non-volley zone (“kitchen”) a contrasting color
6. Tape and paint your lines for singles and doubles play
7. Finish with a protective topcoat

Court colors: The official USA Pickleball recommendations are a darker color for the main court and a lighter contrasting color for the kitchen.

Step 4: Install Your Net System

Your net should be 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle. You can choose from:

• Permanent net posts set into the concrete
• Portable pickleball nets (great if you want flexibility or need to store the net)

Our pick: Shop the net we use here.

Step 5: Add Court Lighting for Night Play

We initially installed permanent LED fixtures, but found they didn’t fully light the court. That’s when we discovered portable 13-foot lights from Alta Lighting, game changer!

• 6,300 lumens each
• Easy to set up and charge
• Lightweight (only 10 lbs) with a carrying bag
• Perfect for beach, park, or backyard

Once we switched them on, our whole family said, “Whoa!” It completely transformed our night games.

Shop Alta Lighting at www.alta-light.com and use code CITYGIRL for a discount.

Step 6: Gear Up with Quality Pickleball Equipment

Once the court is ready, you’ll want quality pickleball gear to get the most out of your games. Here are our favourites:

• Pickleball paddles – We love the ones from PCKLBall for their lightweight feel and great control.
• Outdoor pickleballs – Look for balls designed for outdoor surfaces to withstand the wind and sun.
• Court shoes – Tennis or court shoes with non-marking soles are best for grip and comfort.
• Scoreboard – A small scoreboard makes games more fun and competitive.

Shop all our recommended pickleball gear here

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Our Pickleball Court Cost Breakdown

Here’s exactly what we spent compared to hiring out the whole job:

Item	Company Bid	Our Cost
Concrete Base	$25,000 – $35,000	$20,000
Court Painting	$8,000 – $15,000	$4,000
Lighting (per pole)	$2,500	$200
Total	$38,000 – $55,000	$24,400

By doing some of the work ourselves, we saved between $13,600 and $30,600.

Tips for Saving Money on Your Pickleball Court

1. Get multiple bids – We saved $5,000 on concrete by using a small local company.
2. DIY where you can – Painting the court yourself is messy but doable with patience.
3. Buy gear online – Affiliate links (like ours) often have the best prices and bundles.
4. Start simple – You can add permanent fencing, benches, and extra lighting later.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Our Backyard Pickleball Court Was Worth Every Penny

For our family, 100% yes. We play pickleball several times a week, sometimes just us, sometimes with friends, and often with the neighbourhood kids joining in.

We also love that our court has become a gathering spot. Whether it’s a Saturday afternoon match or a night game under the portable lights, it’s more than a sport, it’s memories in the making.

If you’ve been thinking about building your own pickleball court at home, I say go for it. Start planning, save where you can, and get ready for endless hours of fun.

Ready to play? Shop our favourite pickleball gear and accessories. And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram for more court updates, DIY tips, and pickleball fun!