If you are an avid basketball player – whether at a professional level or not – then an indoor basketball court may be a worthwhile investment.
With that said, like any major addition to your property, a basketball court is going to hit your pocket really hard. How hard exactly, though?
Well, it depends. There are actually ways for you to optimize your spendings on an indoor basketball court.
Read on to find out how much does an indoor basketball court cost!
How Much Does It Cost To Build An Indoor Basketball Court?
Now, your costs will vary significantly depending on how the work is done and what kind of materials you choose.
But according to HomeAdvisor, the cost of an indoor basketball court ranges from $16,650 to $70,700. Houzz gives a less pocket-friendly cost estimate – from $150,000 to $250,000– but this includes all indoor features you could think of.
HomeAdvisor gives the following cost breakdown for an indoor basketball court:
Costs | Low end | High end |
Flooring | $3,300 | $29,000 |
Hoop | $300 | $1,600 |
Paint for marking | $50 | $100 |
Labor | $13,000 | $40,000 |
Total costs | $16,650 | $70,700 |
There’s a lot of room for playing around with your budget, as you can see. You may cut your total costs quite significantly by just shopping around for flooring.
The biggest threat to your pocket is labor cost, however. HomeAdvisor estimates that labor for an indoor basketball court ranges from $13,000 to $40,000. There’s quite a considerable difference between the low and high end here.
You can control labor costs to some extent. For example, if you choose to build a court during warmer months, the workers will spend less time trying to break through the cold, hard soil.
Now, let’s have a slightly more in-depth look into some of the cost factors listed earlier.
Basketball court costs based on size
Basketball courts come in various sizes, and you’ll obviously need to pay more for a bigger court. Here are cost estimates for full-size courts:
- A standard NBA/NCAA full-size basketball court (97 x 50 feet) costs $46,000 on average.
- A high school full-size court (84 x 50 feet) costs $41,500 on average.
- A junior high full-size basketball court (74 x 42 feet) costs $31,000 on average.
If you are willing to cut costs by building a half-size court, then here are some cost estimates:
- A standard NBA/NCAA half-size court (47 x 50 feet) costs $23,000 on average.
- A high school half-size basketball court (42 x 50 feet) costs $21,000 on average.
- A junior high half-size court (37 x 42 feet) costs $15,500 on average.
- FInally, a 3-on-3 court (30 x 30 feet) costs $9,000 on average.
Aside from costs, you shouldn’t neglect the amount of free space you have for a basketball court building. Your budget may be half a million bucks, but if you don’t have enough space for a 97 by 50 court, you’ll be stuck with whatever your property allows.
Basketball floor costs
When it comes to basketball flooring, the main options are hardwood and laminate.
Hardwood flooring offers a more premium feel and often better longevity. The costs are accordingly high – $3.5 to $6 per square foot for the material, HomeAdvisor says. Aside from the wood itself, you’ll also need to pay for installation, which will add another $3 to $8 per square foot.
With a full-size basketball court, expect to pay $29,000 for hardwood flooring. The cost would go down to $5,500 for a 3-on-3 court.
If you want to save money, then going for laminate flooring is a good option. Laminate flooring tends to cost $0.70 to $2 per square foot for the material and an additional $2 to $8 per square foot for installation.
In total, laminate flooring for a full-size basketball court will cost $13,000 on the low end and $47,000 on the high end. For a 3-on-3 court, the costs go down to $2,500-$9,000.
Houzz also gives cost estimates for vinyl flooring – from $3 to $7 per square foot, which is relatively cheap. But you pay for that cheapness with increased slipperiness compared with hardwood floors.
In-home cement or concrete slabs
If you have existing cement slabs, you could use them as a base for your court. However, you’ll need to coat the surface with epoxy to protect it.
According to HomeAdvisor, cement slabs typically cost between $1 to $5 per square foot, whereas concrete slabs are usually from $4 to $8 per square foot. This estimate assumes a 6 inches thick cement slab.
And for a 40 x 80 feet area, you would need to spend approximately $19,200 to have a concrete base installed. So it goes without saying that if you already have a base, you’ll be able to save a considerable amount of money.
Basketball hoop costs
Compared to flooring, a basketball hoop isn’t going to affect your wallet considerably. However, you can still shop around to find a good deal.
If you are ready to spend the money on hardwood flooring, then you should probably get yourself a high-quality basketball hoop too. Higher-end hoops cost from $1,200 to $2,000, and they can often be adjusted in height. Adjustable height is a good thing to have for families since the 10 feet regulation height will likely be too much for children.
Other costs
There are some other things that you may need to spend money on as well:
- Remodeling basement. To install walls, electrical, plumbing, and lighting, expect to pay about $19,000.
- Extending square footage. If you need to extend square footage to accommodate an indoor basketball court, you’ll have to add around $40,000 to your budget on average.
- Ventilation and ductwork. Expect to pay about $1,100 per project.
- Lighting, excluding electrical. This will probably end up between $450 and $550 per light fixture on average.
- Windows. Depending on the type, windows could cost you from $150 to $1,000 and even more. Houzz recommends using tempered glass, which may add costs. But you could save money by installing non-opening windows.
Is An Indoor Basketball Court More Expensive Than An Outdoor Court?
The cost estimates given by HomeAdvisor for outdoor and indoor basketball courts are pretty close. An outdoor basketball court-sized at 94 x 50 feet would cost you $17,200 to $76,000, while indoor court estimates range from $16,650 to $70,700.
So which kind of court will cost higher depends more on the materials and contractors you choose. But an outdoor court will probably take less time to build.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does indoor basketball courts add value to your home?
I’ve looked around, and apparently, backyard basketball courts add $10 to $20 thousand value to homes. If I had to guess, an indoor basketball court would add around as much.
How much does an NBA court cost?
A full-size NBA court costs $46,000 on average, while a half-size NBA court is $23,000 on average. However, your court’s actual construction costs would depend on many variables, like size, materials, what kind of air conditioner you purchase, or whatnot.
How thick should a concrete slab be for a basketball court?
You should use at least 4 inches thick concrete slabs with a psi of at least 3,000 to 3,500. You also need 1/2-inch thick rebar to support the concrete.
What is the best kind of flooring for a basketball court?
Hardwood is generally considered the best for basketball courts. Hardwood flooring is standard in many professional courts, and it’s way more durable than laminate. But it’s pretty expensive.
For a home basketball court, though, laminate could be more than enough, especially if you are on a budget. Home indoor basketball courts probably aren’t going to be used as heavily as professional courts.
But if your wallet allows, do choose hardwood for flooring – it’s going to serve you longer and will most likely turn out to be less costly in the long run.
Conclusion
Indoor basketball court cost can vary quite a lot, mainly depending on the flooring material you choose. Aside from that, you may be able to cut labor costs significantly by incorporating more DIY, but not everybody has the tools or skills for that.
In the end, you should shop around to find a contractor that is going to deliver the best value for the buck. Don’t chase after cheap dirt contractors – they won’t bring you any good.