Why the enclosure matters
Padel is played inside a closed court, and the walls are part of the game. Players play the ball off the glass and the mesh, so the enclosure has to behave in a predictable way. That is why the International Padel Federation (FIP) sets out its sizes, heights and mesh in the Rules of Padel.
As padel spreads in India, clubs, schools and residential developers are planning new courts. Getting the enclosure right at design stage avoids changes on site.
The court and the back walls
The playing area is 20 m × 10 m. At each end, the back enclosure is 4 m high in total: a 3 m wall of glass or another smooth material, with 1 m of metal mesh on top. The wall is usually tempered glass, 10 to 12 mm thick.
Glass and mesh meet at 3 m. That junction needs a clean, rigid detail, agreed early between the glass supplier, the court builder and the fencing team, so the mesh frame sits true on top of the wall.
The side enclosures
The rules allow two layouts for the sides.
- Stepped: at each end of the side, a wall 3 m high and 2 m long, then a wall 2 m high and 2 m long. Metal mesh completes the enclosure to 4 m at the ends and 3 m along the centre.
- Crystal or panoramic: 3 m high walls over 4 m at each end of the side, with metal mesh above them to 4 m.
Mesh opening and wire size
The mesh deserves a close check, because a panel that looks right on paper can measure differently on site. Ask for a physical sample and measure the diagonal opening yourself before you approve it.
Tension is not a detail to leave to the end either. A slack panel gives a dead bounce, so the posts and fixings must be designed to hold the mesh tight. The rules set these limits:
- Openings measured on the diagonal: not less than 50 mm and not more than 70.8 mm.
- Wire: 2 to 3 mm recommended, 4 mm maximum.
- Tension: the mesh must be tensioned so the ball bounces off it.
Access and clear height
For a single access opening, the rules give a minimum of 1.05 m wide × 2.0 m high and a maximum of 2.20 m × 2.20 m.
The whole court needs a minimum clear height of 6 m, with no beams, lights or roof members below it. For new facilities, 8 m is recommended. This matters most for covered courts and for courts under a rooftop canopy, where the roof is often designed before the court.
Choose the side layout and the roof early. Together they fix the glass quantity, the mesh panel sizes and the post positions.
Quick reference
Rules change from time to time. Always check the current FIP rules, and any local requirements, before you build.
| Item | FIP Rules of Padel |
|---|---|
| Court | 20 m × 10 m |
| Back enclosure | 4 m: 3 m wall, 1 m mesh |
| Mesh opening, diagonal | 50 mm to 70.8 mm |
| Wire | 2 to 3 mm recommended, 4 mm maximum |
| Single access opening | 1.05 × 2.0 m minimum, 2.20 × 2.20 m maximum |
| Clear height | 6 m minimum, 8 m recommended for new facilities |
How Acier can help
Acier builds complete padel courts across India: structure, glass, mesh, turf, net and lighting, detailed so the enclosure meets the FIP limits and plays the way it should.
