A padel court has the same dimensions, the same bounce and the same safety standards in every country, thanks to the work of the International Padel Federation (FIP). Its rules are the shared reference for the sport, and knowing them gives you a real advantage when you are planning a facility.
This guide covers what the FIP requires, how a finished court gets certified, and what it means when the FIP selects an official court for its tournaments.
The FIP is the worldwide governing body of padel. It was founded in Madrid in 1991, has 115 national federations as members, and runs the pro calendar, including Premier Padel and the Cupra FIP Tour.
Its role goes well beyond running events. The FIP updates the rules as the game evolves, with seven revisions since 2008. The current edition, effective January 1, 2026, widens the free zone along the sides of the court from 2 to 3 meters (about 10 feet) to give players more protection.
“FIP homologation” (essentially certification or approval) is often used to describe three separate things that work together.
The rules define what a court must be: dimensions, enclosure, mesh, flooring, entrances, free zones and lighting. They are the baseline for every installation.
For tempered glass, synthetic and grass surfaces, and lighting, the rules point to a separate FIP annex that spells out the technical requirements for those materials.
This is the inspection of each court after it is built. In Spain, the Spanish Padel Federation grants it at two levels. The first covers measurements, surface flatness and safety. The second adds functional testing by the Biomechanics Institute of Valencia (IBV). Approval lasts up to 5 years and can be renewed.
Meeting the rules depends on the court itself and also on where it goes. The foundation, the layout and the lighting matter as much as the model you pick, so it pays to plan around the rules from the very first drawing.
At MejorSet, we supply foundation plans for each type of project and can oversee ground preparation.
The FIP does more than write the rules. It also selects the suppliers that build the courts used in its competitions. The process is detailed: when a tournament moves to an alternate venue, the manufacturer, model and condition of the courts must be reported to the FIP at least 30 days ahead, and the courts are inspected before approval.
MejorSet has been an official FIP court supplier since 2020 and has built the official Premier Padel court since 2024. That trust means a lot to us, and we work to earn it with every court that leaves our factory.
A court built to the rules protects your players and keeps the door open for leagues and tournaments. Offering the same model players see on broadcasts also builds credibility from day one. Ultra Padel in Miami was the first club in the United States to install a Premier court.
To compare quotes on equal terms, ask for:
MejorSet has been building padel courts since 2003 in Crevillente (Alicante, Spain), with projects in more than 75 countries. If you are weighing a project, our team can help you plan it around the rules and provide the technical documentation for the model you choose.
Approval is granted by the federation to each installation after an inspection. An official court is the model the FIP or a tour has selected for its competitions. The two work together.
No. CE marking states that a product meets legal requirements, and ISO 9001 certifies a company’s quality management system. Neither is the same as meeting the rules of play, and a good court usually has all three.
Yes. FIP competitions use FIP-approved balls, and rackets must meet its Racket Homologation Annex.
It is recommended. Relocating a portable court, replacing the turf or repairing the structure can change what was originally measured.
Yes, as long as the walls give a regular bounce, have a smooth, hard finish and are a single color that differs from the floor.
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