Padel court types explained.

Type 1

Full panoramic.

The full panoramic court has all-glass walls with no vertical pillars between panels. Glass is bonded or held by minimal top-and-bottom channel profiles, creating an uninterrupted view from every angle. This is the configuration used in Premier Padel and World Padel Tour events.

The absence of posts means the glass panels must be thicker (12mm minimum) and the engineering tolerances are tighter. Each glass panel is independently tempered and meets ANSI Z97.1 safety standards. If a panel breaks, it crumbles into small granules rather than sharp shards. Replacement panels can be swapped individually without disassembling the court.

Full panoramic courts cost 20-40% more than standard classic. The premium is justified for facilities that host tournaments, stream matches, or position themselves as premium destinations. For a commercial club focused on daily bookings and memberships, the visibility difference between full panoramic and semi-panoramic is marginal from a player experience standpoint.

Type 2

Semi-panoramic.

The semi-panoramic retains corner posts and sometimes center-back posts, but removes the posts from the glass back walls. The result is wide, uninterrupted glass panels at the back of the court (where most spectator viewing happens) with structural reinforcement at the corners.

This is the most popular configuration for commercial clubs worldwide. The corner posts add structural rigidity, which means the glass can be slightly thinner in some designs (though most quality manufacturers still use 12mm). The posts also provide anchor points for accessories like camera mounts, scoreboards, and advertising frames.

Semi-panoramic offers the best cost-to-aesthetics ratio for commercial clubs. Players inside the court experience virtually the same playing surface as a full panoramic. Spectators get clear sight lines through the back walls. The corner posts are a minor visual element that most players and spectators do not notice during play. For clubs building 4+ courts, the savings of $7,000-$15,000 per court vs full panoramic adds up to $28,000-$60,000 on a 4-court project.

Type 3

Standard classic.

The standard classic has vertical metal posts between every glass panel. The upper walls are typically mesh or metallic fencing. This is the original padel court design and remains the most common configuration globally, particularly in Spain, Argentina, and Mexico.

The posts provide maximum structural integrity. Each glass panel is independently framed, which means a broken panel can be replaced without affecting adjacent panels. The post-and-panel system also handles wind loads better than post-less designs, making it the preferred choice for outdoor installations in exposed locations.

Standard classic courts deliver the same FIP-compliant playing surface as panoramic or semi-panoramic. The dimensions, net height, turf, and sand infill are identical. The difference is purely aesthetic and structural. For a club where the primary revenue comes from hourly bookings and memberships (not tournaments or streaming), standard classic courts are the most cost-effective option. At $30-50K per court, a 4-court standard classic facility costs $120-200K in court hardware alone, vs $180-320K for full panoramic.

Type 4

Indoor enclosed.

Indoor enclosed refers to a padel court installed within a permanent building (pre-engineered steel, converted warehouse, or purpose-built facility) or under a temporary structure (air dome, tensioned fabric). The court itself can be any of the three configurations above. The "indoor" designation refers to the building, not the court design.

The building shell adds significant cost. A pre-engineered steel building runs $80-150 per square foot. An air dome runs $40-80 per square foot. For a 4-court facility requiring approximately 14,500 sq ft, the building adds $580,000 to $2.2 million on top of the court hardware. However, indoor facilities in cold climates (Michigan, Ontario, the Northeast) operate 12 months per year vs 7-8 months for outdoor, recovering approximately $280,000 per year in additional revenue for a 4-court club.

Minimum clear height is 8m (26 ft) for commercial play, 6m (20 ft) absolute minimum for recreational. Lighting requirements increase indoors because you cannot supplement with natural light. HVAC is a meaningful ongoing cost: $2,000-$5,000/month for heating in winter, $1,500-$3,000/month for cooling in summer. Noise management is important: padel is loud (ball strikes against glass), and indoor acoustics amplify this. Acoustic panels cost $3-8 per square foot installed.

Type 5

Mini / junior courts.

Half-size courts designed for children, beginners, and schools. The playing surface is exactly half of a standard court. The glass heights are reduced (2.5m vs 3m back wall, 3m vs 4m side wall at the back). These courts are not FIP-compliant for competition but are excellent for programming: junior academies, school partnerships, beginner clinics, and birthday parties.

Decision framework

How to choose.

The right court type depends on four variables: budget, climate, primary use case, and investor expectations. Use this decision matrix to narrow down your choice.