SINGLES PADEL COURT
Where winning depends only on you.
- Singles padel courts have standardized dimensions, specifically tailored for singles play. Their structure covers an area for singles play to ensure precise play over the entire surface.
- The court is precisely marked with lines in different colors, defining the playing areas, such as service boxes, side lines, and double perimeter lines. The lines help to clearly define the rules of the game and scoring.
- Placed in the middle of the court, a net separates the playing areas for both players. It is solidly constructed, allowing precise play while maintaining a dynamic and balanced game.
- Adequate lighting of a singles padel court is crucial, especially if the court is used in the evening. Good lighting eliminates shadows and improves ball visibility, providing perfect playing conditions.
Singles padel courts are arenas where singles players compete in dynamic and strategic clashes. All the elements of the court work together to create optimal conditions for singles play.
Single padel court in the SQUASHTECH offer
Although padel is mainly associated with doubles, there is also a singles format, meaning one-on-one play. It uses a single padel court – a smaller version of the court, designed for two players (one on each side).
We will look at the specifics of a single padel court – its dimensions, rules of play, use cases, and whether it is worth investing in such a facility.
What are the dimensions of a single padel court?
A single padel court is clearly narrower than a doubles court. The dimensions of a singles court are 20 meters long and 6 meters wide. For comparison, a doubles court is 10 meters wide. The length – 20 m – stays the same, which means the service boxes and the distance from the net are identical to those on the larger court. The narrower court means less side-to-side running space, and the side walls are closer to the center. The walls surrounding a singles court are at least 3 m high (glass sections), and above them mesh panels are also installed up to about 4 m, just like on a standard court. This keeps the wall-rebound rules intact – the ball does not fly out on high lobs or powerful shots, because the fencing keeps it within the playing area.
The remaining dimensional elements are similar to a doubles court. The net on a singles court has the same height (88 cm in the middle, 92 cm at the posts), and the service boxes are marked in the same way – the service line is 6.95 m from the net, crossed by the center line (on a singles court the center line divides a narrower area, but the rule is the same).
You can think of a singles court as a “cut-out center” of a full-size court – about 2 m is missing from each side in width. Importantly, the wall structure of a narrow court does not require internal supports in the middle of the side walls, because the glass panels are narrower. As a result, many singles courts have a panoramic look – the side walls are often fully glass, without extra posts splitting them into sections, which improves visibility. A singles court meets FIP standards for dimensions. Shorter distances mean the game is played in a smaller space, but paradoxically a player often runs proportionally more, because there is no partner to help.
How does singles padel work?
Singles padel follows the same rules as doubles, except that there is one player on each half of the court. The goal stays the same: you hit the ball to your opponent’s side so that, after one bounce, they cannot return it (or they make a mistake, for example touch the net or hit the wall without a bounce). Scoring and serving are the same as in doubles and largely resemble tennis.
- Goal of the game – make the ball bounce a second time on the opponent’s side or force an error.
- Serve – performed underhand, from behind the line, diagonally into the opponent’s service box.
- Service box in singles – 6.95 m long and 3 m wide (half the court width), instead of 5 m as in doubles.
- Scoring – 15, 30, 40, game; advantages are possible, or a deciding point at deuce.
- Sets and match – usually to 6 games; at 6:6 a tie-break; most often best of three sets (2:0 or 2:1).
In practice, the differences show up in playing style. In singles, one player must cover their entire half, so strategy, movement, and fitness matter more. You cannot “leave” a corner to your partner or count on cover at the net.
- Higher physical demands – fast sprints between corners and frequent changes of direction.
- Different positioning – constant search for balance between attacking and defending the entire area.
- Tactics based on anticipation – every positioning mistake hurts more, because there is no second person to rescue the point.
- Common shots in singles – more frequent lobs (to regain position), counters after wall rebounds, and playing for consistency.
- Fewer “doubles” patterns – the typical pair-at-the-net play and role splitting disappears.
Even though singles padel is more demanding, it brings a lot of satisfaction and works very well as training. It improves endurance, builds responsibility for every rally, and helps refine the precision of wall rebounds, because contact with the side wall is more frequent and more “readable” in one-on-one play.
Singles court vs doubles court – construction differences and costs
From a construction point of view, a single padel court is the smaller “sibling” of a standard court. It uses the same materials and technologies, but in a different dimensional configuration. A typical doubles court has back walls made of 3 glass panes (about 3 m wide each) and several sections of side fencing; a singles court may have 2 panes on the back wall (about 3 m each) and fewer mesh sections. The steel structure is therefore a bit simpler and lighter, because fewer posts are needed to support the narrower width. The foundation slab is also smaller – a singles court area is 20 x 6 = 120 m², while a doubles court takes 200 m² (excluding safety zones). This translates into lower construction costs: less concrete, less steel, shorter glass lengths (cheaper to buy and transport), and a smaller artificial turf surface to install.
How much does it cost to build and maintain a single padel court?
An investor can expect the construction cost of a singles court to be lower by several dozen percent compared to a full court. The exact difference depends on the specification – for example, if you choose a panoramic singles court with thick glass, the savings on steel decrease somewhat. Still, in general the budget for a 20×6 m court is more accessible. Operating costs are also slightly lower – less area to clean, less sand to top up, and less glass to wash. The surface materials remain the same – high-quality artificial turf provides excellent playing parameters in singles too, and proper lighting (usually 2 or 4 lamps instead of 4–6 as on a large court) enables play after dark.
Singles court vs doubles court – feature comparison
Below we compare the most important features of both types of courts.
| Features | Singles court (20×6 m) | Doubles court (20×10 m) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of players | 2 (one per side, singles play) | 4 (two pairs, doubles play) |
| Court dimensions | 6 m wide, 20 m long | 10 m wide, 20 m long |
| Playing area | Smaller area – less side-to-side running, but one player covers the entire half | Larger area – partners share defense and attack, covering 10 m of width together |
| Surface | Artificial turf with sand (the same as on a larger court) covering ~120 m² | Artificial turf with sand on ~200 m² |
| Walls and fencing | Narrower walls: 2 glass panes at the back, shorter sides; often possible panoramic construction without middle posts | Standard walls: 3 panes at the back, longer sides with divisions; structural posts at the corners of the back wall (in the standard model) |
| Style of play | Very dynamic, requires excellent fitness and reflexes; all shots are made by one player (full responsibility) | Team play, focus on cooperation; players can specialize (e.g. one stronger at the net, the other deeper in the court) |
| Use cases | Individual training, friendly 1×1 games, clubs with limited space; less common in official competition (no large-scale singles tournaments) | The primary padel format – league matches, championship tournaments, recreational 2×2 play; the main offer of most padel clubs |
| Construction cost | Lower – smaller structure, fewer materials; a good option when space is limited (it can fit where a 20×10 court would not) | Higher – larger structure, more components; however it generates higher revenue (four people can play at the same time) |
| Availability | Less common – only selected venues offer singles courts | Common standard – almost every padel club has doubles courts |
As you can see, singles and doubles courts serve different purposes, but both fit into padel infrastructure. The choice depends on the player group you want to serve and on the resources you have (land, budget).
Is it worth building a single padel court? – an investor’s perspective
The decision to build a singles court should come from an analysis of needs and local market potential. Here are a few scenarios where a singles court can be a very good idea:
| Area / scenario | When it makes sense | What do you gain as an investor? | How will you use a singles court in practice? | Risks / limitations | What to plan (checklist) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Limited space | Your location is too narrow for a full court (about 11 m wide with safety zones), but you still want to offer padel | You can offer padel where a 20×10 court will not fit; a smaller court is better than no court | Adapting a sports hall, part of a warehouse, a narrow plot; launching an offer in a “tight” location | Less versatility: no doubles play; some customers will want to play only in groups of four | Measure the actual width plus safety zones; plan circulation and access; set pricing for 2 players; assess whether there is demand for singles locally |
| Complementing a large club’s offer | You already have several doubles courts and want to expand without adding a full court | More service variety, additional bookings; easing the schedule during peak hours | 1:1 lessons with a coach; 1×1 play when only two people show up; mini singles tournaments as an attraction | During peak hours doubles usually wins on occupancy; singles may perform worse if you do not build a booking habit | Introduce packages: individual training, “1×1” memberships; set fixed slots for coaches; run promotions for empty hours; communicate singles as a “quick training session” |
| Training and padel academy | You focus on coaching kids, beginners, and technical training | More efficient coaching, better class organization; a strong argument for an academy | Learning basics without the chaos of 4 players; 1:1 training; refining movement and footwork; intense training for advanced players | If the club runs mainly on recreational 2×2 play, singles may feel “niche” without an academy | Create an academy schedule (kids/beginners/advanced); reserve fixed hours; prepare coaches’ offer and lesson pricing; develop training paths |
| Lower start-up costs | You want to enter padel, but you have a limited budget and plan to build in stages | Lower entry threshold, faster community building; simpler operational start | Start with singles, build a customer base; later expand with more courts (preferably doubles) | If padel is not well known locally, it may be easier to sell “a sport for 4 people” than singles; risk of weaker 1×1 demand | Check interest: surveys, test events; plan educational marketing; map the stages (when and how you add doubles); calculate occupancy scenarios |
| Risks: target group | When recreational players focused on 2×2 social play dominate | — | — | Commercially limited client base; singles is more physically demanding and not for everyone; possible lower occupancy than doubles courts | Build a singles community: a 1×1 league, rankings, brackets; promote singles as training for doubles; offer easy entry (e.g. “first time” in a duo) |
| Risks: no doubles play | When you only have space/funds for one court | — | — | You cannot run a standard doubles tournament; the court plays a supporting role during events; less versatility | If only one court is planned, consider a full 20×10 court; if you choose singles, plan it as an add-on to doubles courts or for an academy |
| Rental economics and pricing | When pricing is “per court hour” as standard | Better control of margin and occupancy with well-set pricing | Flexible rates: lower hourly price than doubles, but attractive per person | If the hourly price matches doubles, two people pay much more per head and may opt out | Set the singles rate lower than doubles; communicate the price “per person”; run off-peak promotions; make sure the singles court does not sit empty |
| Pricing example (from the text) | When you want to show customers a simple price logic | You make the offer easier to understand and reduce price resistance | Doubles: PLN 100/h → PLN 25/person (4 people); Singles: PLN 60/h → PLN 30/person (2 people) | Too high a singles price can kill demand; too low can reduce interest in doubles | Test 2–3 price variants (A/B); watch occupancy and revenue per hour; adjust prices by time and season; add training packages |
To sum it up – From an ROI perspective, the build cost of a singles court is lower, so break-even can be reached with fewer weekly bookings. Put simply – if a singles court costs about 60% of a doubles court and generates about 60% of the revenue (because two people play, but usually pay more per person), it can pay back in a similar time to a full court — as long as there is demand. Profitability therefore depends directly on local interest. In countries where padel is very popular (Spain, Italy), clubs increasingly add singles courts because they see demand; in Poland the trend is only developing, but it may move in a similar direction. It is also worth thinking in marketing terms: the first singles court in a region can be a differentiator, attract new visitors, and strengthen the club’s image as innovative.
Build a single padel court with SQUASHTECH
A single padel court is an interesting option for investors who want to expand their offer or use a small space. It enables padel in a one-on-one format, which is both a sporting challenge and an attractive training tool. Although singles play is not as widespread as doubles, it has a group of enthusiasts and certainly enriches the padel experience. With the right approach, a well-planned singles court can become an asset for a club – attract new players, generate additional revenue, and allow for a varied schedule (individual training, mini-tournaments).
SQUASHTECH is one of the leading manufacturers and distributors of WSF-certified courts for squash, racquetball, ricochet, cubeball, and padel.
We provide comprehensive services for the construction and installation of padel courts, from the design phase, through installation, to delivering the investment with an occupancy permit, as well as servicing and renovating courts built in various systems.
Modern technologies, professional service, experience, timely delivery, and the high quality of the services we provide guarantee customer satisfaction.