Family playing Basketball

Understanding the Cost of Building a Backyard Basketball Court

February 1, 2023

WHAT DOES IT COST TO BUILD A BACKYARD BASKETBALL COURT?

One of the most frequent questions we receive during a first time call in to our office is “What is the cost to build a backyard basketball or tennis court in my backyard?”

As with any major construction project at your home, the cost to build a backyard Sport Court will vary and depends on many different factors.

COST-DEPENDING FACTORS OF YOUR BACKYARD BASKETBALL COURT

One of the most obvious factors is size. The general rule of thumb when building backyard courts the larger the size of the court, the more expensive the project can be. Assessing what you want to get out of your backyard court can help you pin down exactly what size you need.

Beyond size, there are many factors involved in determining the cost of building a backyard multi-sport court, with the actual “court” being just one of them. To better understand what you are purchasing when installing a home court, let’s break the project into 5 elements:

  • Site Work
  • Base Material
  • Surface
  • Components
  • Installation

 

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1. THE COST OF COURT SITE WORK THAT'S NECESSARY

Building any athletic court requires a hard, flat surface. Site work can be defined as all of the work that is needed to prepare your property before the installation of the sport court can begin – i.e. making the court area in your yard hard and flat. This includes any tree removal, excavating, leveling, grading, moving sprinklers and any other work that is necessary to prepare your property for the base material. Here are some things to consider when assessing the site you plan to build your backyard court on.

ALL PROPERTIES ARE UNIQUE.

Site work can be one of the largest costs associated with the court building project. The more work that is required to prepare your space, the larger the cost will be. Each site is unique. This is why two seemingly identical 30’ x 60’ sport courts may vary in price as the site work expense depends on the property on which the court is built.

ACCESSIBILITY TO YOUR PROPERTY

Accessibility to your property is an important consideration for the site work part of your project. Inadequate or challenging access to your yard will limit the equipment that can be used, sometimes resulting in higher costs as the work may take longer to complete and specialty equipment may be needed. If necessary, fencing can be taken down (and reinstalled) to allow access for equipment.

2. BASE MATERIALS COST ASSOCIATED WITH YOUR SPORT COURT

Weston-28x45Base Material is exactly that – the material that lies underneath your court. The base material option that we use most often is concrete because it provides the most stable surface in all types of changing weather – this is very important, especially here in New England.

Concrete is considered an ideal base for sport courts. As a permanent structure, using concrete as the base will not require maintenance as would stone dust or asphalt.  When using concrete as the base for a sport court, a 4” thick concrete pad is poured using 4000 psi concrete. Rebar can be installed in the concrete during the pour to reinforce its strength further. Stone dust can also be used as a base and will require yearly maintenance to level and maintain.

 

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BASE MATERIAL OPTIONS

A less permanent option for a base material is Sport Court’s environmentally friendly Sport Base.  If your property has lot coverage restrictions, wetland restrictions or zoning challenges, this modular base may be the perfect solution. Sport Base is a popular product used throughout the US and provides various advantages for homeowners. As an eco-friendly alternative to concrete, Sport Base reduces the need for heavy equipment and may help to avoid wetland and easement limitations. Sport Base is also safer than concrete, has 2-3 times the amount of shock absorption and has the highest head-impact rating to help protect against injuries and falls.  Another bonus to using Sport Base as a base material for your sport court is the fact that you can pack up your backyard court and move it with you when you relocate!

BASE MATERIAL & BACKYARD COURT ESTIMATES

Regardless of which base material you choose, Sport Court of MA can provide general specifications and estimates for your sport court. The cost of the base will vary depending on the material you choose, among other factors. Local and state building codes, accessibility, drainage and environmental codes should all be considered when determining the cost of your court base.

3. CHOOSING YOUR SPORT COURT SURFACE

The surface is the product that lies on top of the base material. Sport Court of MA installs Sport Court modular products that are designed and manufactured in the United States with the highest standards of quality, safety and performance in mind. Sport Court products are rigorously tested- both internally and by third-party testing labs – to ensure their products meet and exceed specifications. We offer three types of court tile to use as the surface on backyard game courts.

THE SPORT COURT POWERGAME

Sport Court PowerGame+ is the premier modular sport surface that provides the highest levels of performance and safety available on the backyard basketball court market today.  PowerGame+ is safer than ever with improved shock absorption, reduced risk of impact injury and the best combination of abrasion protection and dry traction. The patented Double-Tier shock absorbing grid and Lateral Forgiveness on this tile reduce joint strain and fatigue to ensure that your family can safely play for hour after hour.

CALCULATING THE COST OF YOUR DESIRED COURT TILE

Calculating the cost of the surface of your court is relatively easy.  Once you’ve decided on the court surface you want for your home sport court, Sport Court of MA can provide pricing for the surface you choose.  Need some help deciding?  Our experienced team can help – we will review the best options for your family’s needs and answer all of your questions to help design the court of your dreams.

4. COST OF CUSTOM COURT COMPONENTS

Adding components to your backyard court construction project is how you can truly customize the court for your family’s sports interests and enjoyment – let the fun begin!  Components include items such as basketball hoops, net systems, containment netting, rebounders, lighting, hockey boards, batting cages, and so much more! Choosing the right components is crucial in getting the most out of your backyard court.

MULTI-SPORT GAME COURTS ARE AN OPTION TOO!

The type and amount of components you decide to add to your backyard court depends on your specific interests – each project we build is unique.  A family who is interested in only playing tennis will not need basketball hoops and those who play volleyball don’t necessarily need a pitching machine. The more accessories and components you’d like to incorporate into your court, the higher the cost will be.

In turn, the more accessories and components you incorporate into the court design, the more your court will be used and enjoyed which will result in a greater return on your investment.  A basketball court can be turned into a multi-sport game court by adding painted lines and a net system.

ADDING CUSTOM LIGHTS & ACCESSORIES CAN INCREASE COST

Custom lighting can increase your playing time and containment netting can reduce the runaway balls – the choice is yours! Although you might already know which accessories and components you’ll want to incorporate in your home backyard sport court, Sport Court of MA can provide guidance and suggestions based on your family’s interests and budget.  Check out a few of our residential projects for ideas and inspiration!

5. FINAL COST OF INSTALLATION OF YOUR SPORT COURT

After your property has been prepared and the Site Work is complete, the final phase of the court building process will be the installation of the court tile and components.  The installation and line painting usually takes approximately 1-2 days.

BENEFITS & RETURN ON INVESTMENT OF A SPORT COURT

Building a backyard sport court is a unique construction project for your home.  At this point in the project you’ve invested a lot of time, money and energy so choosing the right contractor is crucial! It’s important to consider the support and experience the installer provides as well as the quality of the installation being completed. You cannot afford to hire anyone who is unlicensed, uninsured or unfamiliar with the court building process. A contractor who is not experienced with building backyard courts will lead you to invest more in the future if not done properly.

If you are looking to build a backyard basketball court, backyard multi-sport court or anything in between, choose an experienced court builders to complete the task and evaluate the potential cost. Sport Court of MA has been building backyard basketball courts for more than 20 years. When we assess your site and your project, we provide you with honest feedback and advice so you’re completely satisfied with your completed project. Our team will walk you through the court building process to ensure that the court we build for your family not only looks great, but also performs to your expectations, and lasts for years to come.

Contact Us for a custom evaluation and a free estimate.  Our Customers are our best marketing tool – check out what they have to say!