Most problems in padel courts don’t come from the surface or the glass — they come from the lighting. Players start losing the ball on high lobs, depth perception feels “off” at night, and matches become uncomfortable even though the court looks bright on paper. This happens because padel court lighting is often designed by targeting lux numbers alone, without considering uniformity, glare control, and fixture positioning. In reality, padel is one of the most lighting-sensitive racket sports due to its vertical ball trajectory and frequent overhead play. A proper padel court lighting system must balance horizontal and vertical illumination, control glare at eye level, and comply with international standards such as EN 12193 and FIP guidelines. This article breaks down the technical decisions that actually affect play quality — so your lighting doesn’t just pass inspection, but feels right from the first rally.
Lighting Standards & Exact Target Levels (What “Good” Really Means)
If lighting problems usually show up after the court is in use, standards are where you prevent them before construction starts. For padel courts, lighting quality is not judged by brightness alone, but by how consistently and comfortably that light performs during real play.
The most widely referenced benchmark is EN 12193, combined in practice with competition guidance from the International Padel Federation (FIP). Together, they define target lux levels and uniformity ratios based on how the court will actually be used.
Below is what those targets look like when translated into real-world padel projects.
Indoor padel courts
Indoor courts demand higher lighting quality because reflections from glass, walls, and ceilings amplify glare and unevenness.
- Recreational & club play
Target illuminance: 300 lux
Minimum uniformity (Emin / Eavg): ≥ 0.50 - National & international competition
Target illuminance: 750 lux
Minimum uniformity: ≥ 0.70
At competition level, anything below these values doesn’t just reduce visibility — it changes how players judge ball speed and height, especially during fast exchanges near the glass.
Outdoor padel courts
Outdoor courts benefit from ambient surroundings, but still require precision to handle night play and high lobs.
- Recreational & training use
Target illuminance: 200 lux
Minimum uniformity: ≥ 0.50 - Competition level
Target illuminance: 500 lux
Minimum uniformity: ≥ 0.70
Outdoor designs that meet lux targets but fail uniformity often feel “patchy” — bright in one half of the rally, uncomfortable in the next.
Why uniformity matters as much as lux
Here’s the part many projects underestimate:
Two courts can both measure 500 lux, yet one feels professional and the other frustrating. The difference is uniformity.
Low uniformity means:
- The ball disappears briefly on high lobs
- Players hesitate because depth perception feels inconsistent
- Visual fatigue increases over longer matches
That’s why modern padel lighting design treats lux as the starting point, not the finish line.
A quick reality check before you design
Ask yourself (or your lighting provider):
- Are these targets based on measured performance, or just fixture output on paper?
- Is the court designed for how it’s used today, or how it might be used for tournaments later?
- Will the lighting still meet these levels after years of operation, not just on day one?
If you can confidently answer those questions, you’re no longer guessing — you’re designing lighting that actually works for padel.
Next, we’ll look at pole placement and mounting height, because even perfect target levels fail if the lights are installed in the wrong position.
Key Performance Metrics Beyond “Lux” (Why Bright Isn’t Always Playable)
By now it should be clear that hitting the right lux number doesn’t automatically produce a good padel court. Lux tells you how much light reaches the surface — but it says nothing about how that light behaves during play. This is where many courts fail quietly: they pass the numbers, but players still complain.
To understand why, we need to look at the performance metrics that actually shape visibility and comfort on a padel court.
1) Uniformity: keeping the game visually consistent
Uniformity (usually expressed as Emin / Eavg) measures how evenly light is distributed across the court. In padel, this matters more than in many other sports because rallies constantly move from the center to the glass and back.
Poor uniformity creates subtle but real problems:
- The ball looks sharp in one area and dull in another
- High lobs momentarily “disappear” against darker zones
- Players subconsciously hesitate because visual feedback feels inconsistent
This is why EN 12193 treats uniformity as a core requirement, not a secondary metric. From a player’s perspective, uniformity is what makes a court feel calm and readable instead of visually tiring.
2) Glare control: the silent match killer
Glare is the most common reason players say a court “feels uncomfortable” at night — even when the lux level is high.
In padel, glare typically appears:
- When tracking high lobs
- During overhead shots and smashes
- When lights sit in the direct line of sight near the net or glass
Good lighting design reduces glare through optics, shielding, mounting height, and aiming, not by lowering brightness. A well-designed court can feel softer on the eyes while actually delivering better visibility.
If players are squinting, turning their heads, or avoiding certain shots at night, glare — not lux — is usually the culprit.
3) Vertical illumination: seeing the ball in the air
Most people think lighting is measured only on the floor. In padel, that’s a mistake.
Because the ball spends so much time above head height, especially on lobs and defensive shots, vertical illumination becomes critical. Without enough light in the vertical plane:
- The ball loses contrast mid-flight
- Depth perception breaks down near the back glass
- Play feels slower and less confident
This is one reason why padel lighting cannot simply copy tennis or futsal layouts. The game’s vertical dynamics demand a different approach.
4) Color temperature & visual clarity
Modern LED systems typically operate between 4000K and 6500K, but the choice affects how players perceive speed and contrast.
- Lower temperatures feel warmer, but may reduce sharpness
- Higher temperatures improve contrast, but must be controlled to avoid harshness
The goal isn’t to chase a number — it’s to maintain natural ball visibility and player comfort over long sessions.
A simple test to spot bad lighting early
Before approving a design, ask:
- Will the ball look equally clear near the glass and at mid-court?
- Can players track a high lob without instinctively adjusting their head position?
- Does the court feel the same visually from the first point to the last match of the night?
If the answer isn’t a confident yes, the issue is almost never lux alone.
Up next, we’ll look at pole placement and mounting height — because even perfect lighting specs can fail if the fixtures are installed in the wrong position.
Pole Placement & Mounting Height (Where Most Padel Courts Go Wrong)
If lighting quality is decided on paper, pole placement and mounting height decide it on site. This is the stage where many padel courts technically meet the numbers, yet still feel uncomfortable to play on. The reason is simple: in padel, where the light comes from matters just as much as how much light there is.
Unlike some other sports, padel combines vertical ball movement, glass walls, and out-of-court play. That combination makes poor pole placement immediately noticeable once matches start.
Poles must stay outside the court — and there’s a reason
According to competition guidelines from the International Padel Federation, lighting poles must be positioned outside the court enclosure. This isn’t just about safety or aesthetics.
When poles are placed too close or intrude into the playable or safety area:
- Out-of-court play becomes restricted
- Players hesitate on defensive chases
- Shadows and glare angles become unpredictable
A court that looks clean and open around the perimeter almost always plays better — especially at higher levels.
Minimum mounting height: why 6 meters is not optional
The commonly accepted minimum mounting height is 6 meters, measured to the bottom of the luminaires. Go lower than that, and problems show up fast.
At insufficient height:
- Light hits players directly at eye level
- Glare increases dramatically during lobs
- Uniformity drops, even if lux levels look fine on paper
In practice, many well-performing courts sit between 6–8 meters, where light can spread more evenly and arrive at playable angles instead of aggressive ones.
Height vs performance: what actually improves as lights go higher
Raising mounting height (within reason) improves several things at once:
- Better uniformity across the entire court
- Reduced glare during overhead shots
- Cleaner vertical illumination, making the ball easier to track in the air
This is why simply adding more fixtures at a low height rarely fixes lighting complaints — it often makes them worse.
Typical pole layouts that work
While exact layouts depend on fixture output and optics, most padel courts use:
- Lighting points along the two long sides of the court
- Fixtures aimed diagonally inward to balance horizontal and vertical light
What matters most is not symmetry for its own sake, but consistency of light angles from rally to rally.
A quick site-check before installation
Before poles are finalized, ask these questions on site:
- Will players ever look directly into a fixture when tracking a high lob?
- Do the lights illuminate the glass and airspace evenly, not just the floor?
- Is there enough clearance to allow real out-of-court play without obstruction?
If those answers aren’t clear, the layout needs adjustment — not stronger lamps.
Next, we’ll look at fixture selection and optics, because even perfect pole placement can’t compensate for the wrong type of luminaires.
Design Priorities Beyond “Lux” (What Separates a Good Court from a Great One)
At this point, one thing should be obvious: meeting the lux target is the minimum, not the goal. The courts that feel professional — the ones players want to book again — are designed around how padel is actually played, not just how it is measured.
Here are the design priorities that consistently make the difference.
1) Design for the ball, not the floor
Padel is a vertical game. Lobs, defensive clears, and rebounds off the glass mean the ball spends a lot of time above eye level. That’s why lighting design must prioritize:
- Clear visibility of the ball in the air
- Stable contrast against the background and glass
- Smooth transitions as the ball moves from high to low zones
This is also why copying lighting layouts from futsal or tennis often fails in padel — the ball behavior is fundamentally different.
2) Control glare before increasing brightness
When players complain about lighting, they rarely say “we need more lux.” They say:
- “I lose the ball on lobs.”
- “It’s uncomfortable on overheads.”
- “My eyes feel tired after one match.”
All of these point to glare, not insufficient brightness. Good padel lighting reduces glare through:
- Proper beam angles and optics
- Adequate mounting height
- Thoughtful aiming that keeps light out of direct sightlines
Increasing brightness without addressing glare usually makes the problem worse, not better.
3) Balance horizontal and vertical illumination
Most lighting specs focus on horizontal illuminance because it’s easier to measure. In padel, that’s only half the picture.
A well-designed court balances:
- Horizontal light for footwork and surface visibility
- Vertical light for ball tracking, depth perception, and glass play
Courts that ignore this balance often feel visually “flat” — the floor is bright, but the rally feels hard to read.
4) Design for consistency, not peak values
A single bright measurement point means very little in real play. What players experience is consistency over time and space.
Good design prioritizes:
- Even light distribution across all playing zones
- Stable visual conditions from the first game to the last match of the night
- Predictable lighting that doesn’t change how players adjust their shots
This is exactly why standards like EN 12193 emphasize uniformity and glare control alongside illuminance.
5) Think long-term, not just opening day
New courts often look perfect on day one. The real test comes months and years later.
Smart lighting design considers:
- Light depreciation over time
- Ease of re-aiming and maintenance
- Whether the system will still meet performance targets after prolonged use
Designing with this mindset avoids costly retrofits — and unhappy players — down the line.
A quick design reality check
Before locking a lighting plan, ask:
- Does this design make the game easier to read, or just brighter?
- Will players feel confident tracking the ball at any height?
- Is the lighting comfortable for long sessions, not just short tests?
If the answers are yes, you’re no longer designing lighting for compliance — you’re designing it for padel.
Next, we’ll move into fixture selection and optics, where these design priorities are translated into actual hardware choices.
Practical Layout: How Many Fixtures & Where to Put Them (Turning Specs into a Playable Court)
Once standards, glare control, and mounting height are clear, the next question always sounds simple — how many lights do we actually need, and where do they go? This is where good lighting design becomes practical engineering. There’s no one-size-fits-all number, but there is a right way to think about the layout.
How many fixtures does a padel court really need?
Most properly designed padel courts land in the range of 4 to 8 LED fixtures per court. The exact number depends on four variables working together:
- Target lighting level (recreational vs competition)
- Mounting height
- Fixture output and optics
- Indoor or outdoor environment
Lower-quality layouts try to compensate by adding more fixtures. Better layouts achieve performance through positioning and beam control, not quantity alone.
The most common (and effective) layout pattern
In practice, the majority of well-performing courts follow the same logic:
- Fixtures placed along the two long sides of the court
- Lights aimed diagonally inward, covering both the playing surface and the vertical ball path
- No fixtures directly behind baselines, where glare would sit in the player’s main line of sight
This layout works because it respects how players move and look during rallies — forward, upward, and toward the glass.
Why symmetry alone is not enough
It’s tempting to place fixtures symmetrically and call it done. But padel lighting isn’t about visual symmetry — it’s about visual balance.
A layout must ensure:
- Even coverage near the glass and in the center court
- No dominant light source when tracking high lobs
- Consistent light angles from both sides of the rally
Two courts can look identical from above, yet feel completely different in play because of aiming precision.
Indoor vs outdoor layout differences
While the core layout logic stays the same, the environment changes the priorities.
- Indoor courts
Reflections from walls and ceilings amplify mistakes. Fixtures often need more careful aiming and sometimes fewer, better-controlled luminaires to avoid glare buildup. - Outdoor courts
Ambient darkness increases contrast, so layouts must prevent “hot zones” while maintaining sufficient vertical light for night play.
In both cases, layout decisions should be validated by on-court measurements, not just lighting simulations.
A simple layout sanity check
Before finalizing a layout, walk the court mentally and ask:
- From the baseline, will players ever look directly into a fixture?
- Near the glass, does the ball stay readable during high defensive lobs?
- Does the lighting feel the same on both sides of the court?
If any answer feels uncertain, the layout needs refinement — not stronger lamps.
This is why fixture count is never the starting point. The layout comes first, the optics come second, and the numbers follow.
Next, we’ll look at installation, commissioning, and testing — because even the best layout only works if it’s correctly aimed and verified on site.
Commissioning & Acceptance Testing (Proving the Court Actually Works)
This is the step most projects rush — and later regret. Commissioning and acceptance testing is where lighting design stops being a promise on paper and becomes a verified, playable reality. Without it, even a well-designed padel court is still a guess.
If your goal is a court that feels professional from day one and stays that way, this phase is non-negotiable.
Why commissioning matters more than installation
Installing fixtures correctly doesn’t mean the lighting performs correctly. Small aiming errors, height tolerances, or beam overlaps can quietly undo everything you planned.
Commissioning is the process of:
- Fine-tuning fixture aiming
- Validating actual light levels on court
- Confirming the system meets performance targets, not just design intent
This is also where many lighting complaints are prevented — before the first match is even played.
What gets tested on a padel court
A proper acceptance test focuses on measured performance, not fixture specs.
Key checks include:
- Horizontal illuminance (lux) across a measurement grid
- Uniformity (Emin / Eavg) to confirm even distribution
- Visual comfort during real play movements, especially high lobs
Standards such as EN 12193 emphasize that lighting quality must be measured in situ, not assumed from simulations.
When and how measurements should be done
Testing should be carried out:
- At night, under real operating conditions
- After final aiming adjustments, not before
- With a calibrated lux meter, using a consistent grid pattern
Numbers matter — but context matters more. A court that technically passes lux targets but feels uncomfortable still needs adjustment.
The most common issues found during testing
Acceptance testing often reveals problems that weren’t obvious during installation:
- Hot spots near mid-court with darker zones near the glass
- Glare appearing only during overhead shots
- One side of the court feeling visually “heavier” than the other
The good news? Most of these issues are fixed by re-aiming, not replacing fixtures — if they’re caught early.
Think beyond day-one performance
Smart commissioning also looks ahead:
- Are light levels expected to drop over time due to depreciation?
- Is there enough adjustment range for future re-aiming?
- Can the court still meet its intended use if it hosts higher-level play later?
Courts designed with this mindset age better — visually and commercially.
A final acceptance reality check
Before signing off, ask yourself:
- Does the court feel equally comfortable from every position?
- Can players track the ball confidently at any height?
- Would you be happy hosting competitive matches under this lighting?
If the answer is yes, the lighting isn’t just compliant — it’s complete.
Next, we’ll cover common lighting mistakes in padel courts, because knowing what to avoid is often as valuable as knowing what to do right.
Great padel court lighting is never accidental. It’s the result of clear standards, smart layout decisions, controlled glare, proper mounting height, and—most importantly—real testing on court. When all of these elements work together, the difference is immediate: players track the ball naturally, rallies feel fluid, and the court stays comfortable from the first match to the last game of the night. That’s when lighting stops being a technical requirement and starts becoming part of the playing experience.
If you’re planning a new padel court or upgrading an existing one, don’t settle for “bright enough.” Design for consistency, comfort, and future use—because once the poles are installed and the fixtures are up, fixing lighting mistakes is far more expensive than getting it right from the start.
Planning a padel court project? Talk to RagaSport about designing and delivering a lighting system that meets international standards and feels right in real play. Whether it’s a single court or a full padel facility, we help you turn technical specs into courts players actually enjoy playing on.