So last month I decided to finally build that backyard sports court I’d been dreaming about. Pretty exciting, right? But man, figuring out the actual cost per square foot? Total headache. Let me walk you through my mess.

Starting Point: Clueless Googling

I grabbed my laptop, thinking “how hard could this be?” and typed in stuff like “average basketball court cost.” Results were all over the place. Some sites said $8 per sq ft, others shouted $25. Made zero sense. Felt like comparing apples to spaceships. No clear breakdown. Just frustrating.

Taking Action: Calling Actual Contractors

Screw the internet noise. I got serious and called three local court builders. Didn’t ask for fancy quotes yet – just kept it simple: “Roughly, what’s your cost per square foot?”

• Contractor #1: Laughed a little. Said “Lady, that depends.” Pushed him – he mumbled $12-$15 for basic concrete.
• Contractor #2: Sounded exhausted. Blurted out “If you want sport tiles, forget $15. Start at $18 and pray.”
• Contractor #3: Got real specific. Broke it down: “Base prep? Concrete slab? Top coat? Surfacing? You gotta pick your battle.” Felt like info overload.

Realization hit hard: “cost per sq ft” is meaningless without knowing WHAT exactly is costing it. Duh. My mistake.

Digging Deeper: Breaking Down the Beast

Armed with Contractor #3’s wisdom, I forced myself to dissect it:

• Dirt Work & Base: This killed my budget dreams. Uneven yard? Leveling costs extra per sq ft. Drainage? Extra. Compacted gravel base? Add more. This prep alone added $2-$4/sq ft I hadn’t even considered.
• The Slab Itself: Basic concrete pad? Contractors 1 & 2 were kinda right – $3-$5/sq ft. But thicker, reinforced concrete for hoops? $5-$8 easily.
• The Surface Stuff (This Blew My Mind):
  • Basic Asphalt/Concrete: Cheap ($1-$3/sq ft finish), but tough on joints.
  • Acrylic Finish: Looks pro, feels nicer. Adds $2-$4/sq ft.
  • Modular Sports Tiles (My Goal): Contractor #2 wasn’t lying. $8-$12/sq foot JUST for the tiles. Needed a perfect slab underneath too.
• Extras Sneak Attack: Line painting? Nets? Fencing? Lighting? Those shiny posts holding the hoop? Each bit chips away at your wallet per square foot.

My Brutal Reality Check

Started dreaming big: cushy modular tiles all over! Doing the math for my planned 30’x50′ space (1500 sq ft):

• Base Prep & Good Slab: Looking at maybe $5-$7/sq ft = $7,500-$10,500
• Fancy Modular Tiles: Bottom end was $12/sq ft = $18,000
• Hoop & Basic Fencing: Easily another $2000-$3000

Grand total staring at $27,500 to $31,500! Modular surface? Suddenly over $18 per square foot EASY. Felt sick to my stomach.

What I Actually Learned (The Hard Way)

• Forget that “average cost” trap. It’s useless without 50 disclaimers.
• The biggest cost isn’t the surface you see. It’s the crap underneath it. Base prep is silent but deadly (to your budget).
• Material choice is everything. Choosing sport tiles over basic concrete TRIPLED my potential cost per square foot.
• “Per Square Foot” only makes sense when you scream “FOR WHAT!?” afterwards. Are they quoting JUST the concrete? The paint? The whole darn thing turn-key? Made me specify exactly what I wanted quoted each time.

End result? My dream modular court is on hold. Settling for acrylic over concrete this year. Came in around $11.50/sq foot total – prep, slab, surfacing, basic lines. Still stings knowing what I couldn’t get. The “per sq ft” number means nothing without the war story behind it. Hope my pain helps your planning!