Why I Dug Into Multi-Sport Court Costs
Kept seeing folks online asking how much it really costs to build one of those all-in-one sport courts in their backyard. Basketball, tennis, maybe even some pickleball lines – seemed like a dream. Decided to track down actual prices myself since the quotes online felt like fairy tales.
Started simple. Went online thinking, “How hard can it be?” Just need some concrete, fencing, and a hoop, right? Big mistake. Those pre-packaged “court kits” from big websites? Pure fantasy land. Saw one advertised for like $15k all-in. Almost clicked “Buy Now,” thank god I didn’t.
Dug deeper. Called up three local contractors near me. Not the national chains, the guys with muddy trucks and local reviews. First guy laughed when I mentioned the online kit price. “Son,” he says (felt patronizing, but probably right), “that kit doesn’t include half the real costs.” Made me list every single thing:
- Site Prep: My yard ain’t flat. Need excavation, grading, hauling dirt away? $2,500 – $5,000 easy, depending on trees or slopes.
- Base Material: Gravel, compacting it properly… surprise! Not just dirt under the concrete. Another $1,500 – $3,000 gone.
- Concrete Pad: This one I kinda expected. 60ft x 30ft court? Quotes came in around $8,000 – $14,000. Thickness matters a ton here.
- Fencing: Thought chain-link was cheap. Wanted 10ft high for balls staying put. Material + labor? $3,500 – $8,000+. Gates cost extra. Those fancy windscreens? Pricier than my sofa.
- Sport Surfacing: Bare concrete? Too slippery, too hard. That acrylic color coating everyone uses? Quotes ranged $2-$4 per square foot. For my size? $3,600 – $7,200 on top. You want post pads? Line painting? Extra.
- Lighting: Wanna play after work? Decent LED court lights installed? $3,000 – $7,000 minimum.
- Equipment: Hoop? Tennis posts? Net? Thought “couple hundred.” Quality stuff adds up fast. $500 – $2,000 easily. Don’t forget those anchors!
Sat down with coffee, calculator smoking. Added up the averages:
- Prep: $3,750
- Base: $2,250
- Concrete: $11,000
- Fencing: $5,750
- Surfacing: $5,400
- Lighting: $5,000
- Equipment: $1,250
Total: Roughly $34,400. My coffee went cold. Almost choked. That fancy online “kit” price? Barely covered the concrete pad!
Learned the hard way: Always break it down. Contractors often give lump sums. Make them list every single piece in writing – demo, dirt, gravel, rebar, concrete finish, coating type, fencing posts, gates, lights per pole, electrical hookup. Permits! Forgot permits? Depending where you live, that’s another $500-$2,000 hiding.
Biggest shock? The stuff you don’t see. That compacted base under the pad? Crucial. Drainage? Miss it, ruin the slab. Quality court surfacing? Prevents cracks and slides. Cheap out there, you rebuild in 5 years.
Final cost after haggling and choosing mid-range options? Ballpark $37k. Yeah, it stung the wallet bad. But kids play daily, friends come over, I actually use it way more than the gym membership. So, worth it? Long-term, yeah. But my pocket definitely caught fire.
Now tell everyone digging into this: Double the first quote you get online. Triple it if lighting or steep slopes are involved. Get those detailed quotes. Your wallet will thank me later. And honestly? Still cheaper than private club fees over 10 years.
