Padel is often perceived as an expensive sport. The reality is more nuanced - court costs vary significantly by city, off-peak slots are much more affordable than peak, and once you have your own racket the ongoing costs are lower than most people expect.
Quick answer: a single padel session costs roughly £6-14 per person depending on where you play and when. Equipment costs £90-200 for a beginner racket. Regular players spending on courts and a racket typically pay £40-80 per month all in outside London.
Court Costs by City
Court prices in the UK vary enormously by location. London is significantly more expensive than everywhere else. Prices below are based on 2026 data from analysis of 360 clubs across the UK and show the average hourly court hire rate - remember this is split between four players.
Off-peak slots can drop significantly below these averages. Birmingham off-peak starts from £20/hr at some venues. London off-peak averages around £41/hr but the cheapest options start from £20/hr. Outside major cities, courts regularly come in at £15-20/hr off-peak.
Cost Per Person
Padel is always played doubles, so a court is shared between four players. Divide the hourly rate by four to get your cost per person per session.
Outside London - off-peak
London - peak
The LTA estimates the average off-peak court booking costs around £7 per person per hour nationally. That makes padel significantly cheaper per session than golf and comparable to five-a-side football.
Membership Costs
Most clubs let you play pay-and-play without a membership, but joining often saves money and gives you better booking access for peak slots.
If you play once a week, a club membership paying for itself through discounted court rates is common after just 2-3 months. The bigger benefit is booking priority - members typically get 10-28 days advance booking versus 3-6 days for non-members, which is critical for getting peak slots.
Equipment Costs
Your racket is the main equipment cost. Everything else is minimal.
Racket
Ongoing consumables
Balls typically last 3-5 sessions before they lose pressure. Overgrips should be changed every 5-10 hours of play. Neither is a significant ongoing cost - most regular players spend £10-15 per month on consumables.
Our advice: hire a racket for your first two or three sessions, then buy a beginner racket around the £90-120 mark once you know you enjoy it. See our beginner racket guide for specific recommendations.
Coaching Costs
Coaching is optional but accelerates improvement significantly, especially in the first few months.
Most beginners do not need regular private coaching. A couple of group lessons early on to cover the basics - serve, volley positioning, lob - then practising in regular sessions is the most cost-effective route to improvement.
What Does Padel Cost Per Month in Total?
Based on playing twice a week as a regular club player outside London, with your own racket:
Regular player - outside London (monthly estimate)
Casual player - once a week, outside London
These figures do not include the initial racket purchase, which is a one-off cost. A £100 beginner racket used over two years works out at less than £5 per month - so it barely moves the needle on the overall figure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find a court near you or browse beginner rackets from £90 - free UK delivery on orders over £100.
