Padel court lighting: how much light, what it costs, where neon fits
In the UK it is dark before five for a good part of the year, so most of a court's peak hours are played under lights. Lighting decides whether those hours can be sold at all, and how the court looks while they are.
How much light a padel court needs
| Use | Average illuminance | Uniformity |
|---|---|---|
| Recreational play and regional competition | 300 lux | 0.5 |
| National and international competition | 500 lux | 0.7 |
LTA guidance also asks for at least 6 m of clear height above the playing area, a calculation grid of 1 m or finer, and fitting tilt angles on the drawings so that glare towards neighbours can be checked. Lights are normally mounted on columns outside the glass, so the ball never hits them.
What floodlights cost to buy and run
UK guides put LED floodlighting for one court at about £6,000 to £12,000 including columns, cabling and commissioning. Running costs are modest: eight 200 W fittings use about 1.6 kWh per hour of play, roughly 43p an hour at 27p per kWh.
Planning conditions
Floodlights are the part of a padel application councils look at most closely. Expect conditions on switch-off times and light spill. The LTA notes that if a home is within 50 m of the court, specialist light and noise surveys are likely to be needed, so plan the fittings and their aim before you apply.
Where neon fits in
Neon perimeter lighting is not play lighting and does not replace floodlights. It runs along the frame and changes how the court looks after dark: a lit outline that is visible from the road and the clubhouse, colours for events, and a court people photograph. Clubs use it to make late slots feel like an occasion rather than a leftover.
REBOUND lighting
- Floodlights on four masts, one or two LED fittings per mast, from £4,900 for four fittings.
- Neon perimeter in one colour or RGB with a rave mode, from £3,900.
- Control from the entrance panel, or from the phone when the court has smart access: lights on for the booking, off when it ends.