Last updated October 2026
We build new tennis courts for clubs, schools, hotels and private homes across the UK, in porous macadam, acrylic, artificial grass and acrylic clay. On the LTA’s averages, a set of four courts costs £150,000 in porous asphalt and up to £200,000 in acrylic clay, and Sport England puts two fenced, floodlit macadam courts at £260,000 excluding VAT. A garden court is priced on survey. Send a site plan or photos, and we arrange a survey and quote.
Surface sets the price of a set of courts, and floodlights and fencing roughly decide whether a pair costs £75,000 or £260,000.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Courts | Surface and extras | Price | Source | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Set of 4 | Porous asphalt | £150,000 | LTA average | High |
| Set of 4 | Artificial grass | £175,000 | LTA average | High |
| Set of 4 | Impervious acrylic | £175,000 | LTA average | High |
| Set of 4 | Acrylic clay | £200,000 | LTA average | High |
| 2 courts | Macadam, fenced, sports lighting (1,227 m2) | £260,000 excl. VAT | Sport England, Q4 2025 | High |
| 4 courts | Macadam, fenced, sports lighting (2,342 m2) | £460,000 excl. VAT | Sport England, Q4 2025 | High |
| 6 courts | Macadam, fenced, sports lighting (3,456 m2) | £605,000 excl. VAT | Sport England, Q4 2025 | High |
| 1 garden court | Any surface | priced on survey | Your site survey | Firm once surveyed |
The LTA does not say whether its averages include VAT or what extras they cover. Sport England’s figures exclude VAT and include fencing, lighting and 6% fees.
What does a new tennis court cost to build?
On the LTA’s set-of-four averages, one court works out at about £37,500 to £50,000 depending on surface. Sport England’s fenced and floodlit macadam benchmark is £130,000 per court on a pair, falling to about £101,000 per court across six. The gap between the two sources is mostly floodlights, high fencing and fees, so a garden court without lights sits nearer the lower figure. For the full breakdown, see tennis court cost.
What brings a new court to the planners?
Fencing over 2 m (1 m next to a road or footpath), floodlights and the new court itself, which the LTA’s planning note lists as needing permission; listed buildings, conservation areas and Green Belt add scrutiny. Check before you commit. Our guide to planning permission for courts and pitches explains when an application is likely and how long it takes.
How it works
- 01Send a plan and photosThe site, the surface and the date it must reopen.
- 02We check the groundLevels and where the water drains.
- 03Written quoteBuilt around your reopening date.
Acrylic, macadam, artificial grass or clay: which surface?
Choose by how you play and how much upkeep you want. Porous macadam is the cheapest LTA average and drains well. Impervious acrylic gives a true, fast bounce and a coloured finish. Artificial grass plays softer and suits mixed or social use. Acrylic clay gives a clay-style game at the highest LTA average of the four.
Floodlights and fencing: what do they add?
Together they explain most of the difference between a plain court and Sport England’s £130,000-a-court benchmark. Fencing is needed on almost every court to stop balls; lights extend play into winter evenings but are the most likely part to need planning and a new power supply. Ask for both as separate lines.
Garden court or club court: what changes?
Scale, specification and paperwork. A club builds to its league and LTA needs, often with lights and several courts; a homeowner builds one court to their own taste, usually unlit and with a softer look. Garden courts also have tighter access, so the survey checks the route for machinery through gates and over lawns. Homeowners can read our homeowners page for the full picture.
How long does a court build take?
Your quote states the time on site after the survey, because ground, weather and the surface’s curing time set the programme. Planning and lighting lead times come first for most club projects. Tell us when you want to play on it, and the programme works back from that.
Can a club get an LTA loan?
Yes, if it qualifies. The LTA’s facility loans carry 5% fixed interest, with a discretionary 50% cut in interest for venues in the most deprived areas, and they prioritise covered courts. Borrowers must be properly constituted, not for profit, inclusive and accessible; individuals and companies limited by shares cannot apply. See playground grants for other funders.
Could the court be padel instead?
Possibly, if you want more players on less space. A padel court is smaller than a tennis court and is played in an enclosed glass and mesh cage, so it is a different build. Our sister business covers padel court construction in full.
What’s included
- Site survey: levels, ground, drainage and access
- Written specification: surface system, base build-up, fencing and lighting
- Excavation, drainage and base construction
- Surface laid to the quoted system and colours
- Line marking, posts and net
- Fencing, gates and floodlights where listed
- A walk of the finished court with you
What’s not included
- VAT, shown separately
- Planning fees, unless listed
- New electricity supply, unless listed
- Landscaping and paths around the court, unless listed
Illustrative example
From the table only. A club wants four new courts. The LTA averages range from £150,000 for porous asphalt to £200,000 for acrylic clay. If it also wants Sport England’s fenced and floodlit macadam specification, the benchmark rises to £460,000 before VAT, which shows how much the lights, fencing and fees carry.
Who does the work
Play and Sport Surfaces is a WeDo Property Services service. Alex Winser manages your court from survey to the first rally, the surfacing teams build the base and lay the surface, and the specialist teams handle the fencing, lighting and electrics.
Often needed alongside
Existing courts can be brought back with tennis court resurfacing cost work, or kept playing with tennis court cleaning. Courts shared with netball or mini tennis need tennis court marking. Clubs can see how club projects are run on sports clubs.
FAQs
Is porous macadam the budget choice?
Porous asphalt, on the LTA’s set-of-four averages, and leaving out floodlights saves more.
Can you build on a sloping garden?
Usually, with cut and fill or a retaining edge; the survey prices it.
Do you supply fencing and nets?
Yes, as quote lines.
Can a court be used for netball too?
Yes, with a second set of lines, if the court is large enough.
What do you need to quote a new court?
A site plan or aerial photo, the surface you like, and whether you want lights.
Sources
- LTA, How much does it cost to build or renovate a tennis court, read Oct 2026
- Sport England, Facility Cost Guidance Q4 2025, published Feb 2026
- LTA, Quick access loan scheme, read Oct 2026