Started with my own backyard dream
Okay, so I got this itch, right? Always wanted a cool sport court right in my own backyard. Basketball for me, maybe pickleball later. But first, big question: How much cash was this gonna suck outta my wallet? Honestly, had zero clue. Knew it wasn’t pocket change, but needed real numbers.
The hunt for prices began
Jumped online first, obviously. Big mistake. So many sites, so many options, prices jumping around like crazy. Some ads screaming “$5K installed!” but click through and bam, small concrete slab only. Others wanted… wait for it… over $100K for fancy multi-court setups with pro lighting. Made my head spin.
Felt like hitting a wall. Decided to ditch the computer screen and actually call some local contractors. Like, real humans building real courts. Phone time. Called three different places asking for basic quotes.
Here’s what shocked me:
- Concrete ain’t cheap: One guy laid it out simple: even a basic paved rectangle, no fancy lines or nothing? Starts around $12,000-$15,000. Just for the base slab!
- Surface = Super Expensive Upgrade: Wanna actually play basketball, not just slide around on wet concrete? Adding proper acrylic sport court surface? Quotes added another $5,000-$8,000 easy. Tennis court surfacing? Even worse.
- Size matters… a LOT: That tiny little half-court basketball setup I pictured? Yeah, cheaper. Full basketball court? Prices doubled right before my ears. Pickleball? Smaller, but hey, still needing all the same prep work mostly.
Putting it all together
Sat down with my scribbled notes, feeling kinda beat up. The numbers weren’t pretty.
My rough ballpark for a decent half-court basketball setup:
- Grading and Site Prep: $1,500-$3,000
- Concrete Slab (basic): $8,000-$12,000
- Acrylic Surfacing & Lines: $5,000-$7,000
- Simple Post & Hoop: $500-$1,000
Grand Total: Around $15,000-$20,000+ And that’s without fancy fencing or lighting! Tennis or multi-sport? Easily double that or way, way more. Seriously. Felt my dream deflating like a flat basketball.
The real kicker
But here’s the thing nobody really shouts about: It’s crazy variable. Your location? Huge price difference. Who builds it? Massive price difference. The soil? Flat? Sloped? Need rock hauled away? Found one quote for basically the same court was $18,000 from one guy and $30,000 from another! Made me scratch my head so hard.
End result? Saved my quotes. Stared at my backyard space. Realized my “easy backyard court” project got bumped way, way down the priority list. Was it worth it? Knowing my local prices? Hard maybe. That price range is just brutal unless you got serious cash lying around.
