35 Backyard Courts for Different Sports (Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball, etc.)

Welcome to our guide to spectacular backyard sporting features!

If you are the athletic type, there isn’t a more convenient outlet for your athletic needs than your very own home sporting feature. There are many different types of sporting features. Depending on your particular interests and your social circle, your choice in sporting feature will be unique.

If you have a few close friends who like to have a quick pick-up game now and again, a tennis court or half sized basketball court may be the best option for you. If you have a number of friends that are serious about playing a competitive game of sports, a full sized basketball court may be more up your alley.

Bocce ball and horseshoe courts are perfect for a more laid back and party atmosphere. These two sporting features are inviting to all in attendance at a backyard get together.

sporting features add a great utility to your space. You will be able to hone in the athletic skills of your choice and get great exercise without traveling too far from your living room. What could be more convenient than that?

Adding a sporting feature to your space is not a cheap undertaking. It is important that you do thorough research on what goes into the construction of a sporting feature.

Find more backyard ideas in our definitive guide to backyards!

Table of Contents Show

Basketball Courts

Basketball courts can come in a few varieties. Half courts are great for casual play or two on two games. But if you have many friends who love to play, you may be better off with a full court variety.

Basketball courts are typically made from 4” thick concrete slabs. Concrete that fits the proper specifications costs between $4 and $8 per square foot. This makes the cost of your court very dependent on the size you choose to make it. The only other necessary element for a basketball court is the hoop. There are various basketball hoop choices that can range greatly in cost. You can also look into court painting to add a professional touch to your court, at an additional cost. (Source: Versa Court).

Here’s crisp, clean and new full size backyard basketball court surrounded by gardens. This is in the backyard of a beautiful house built in 1906. Source: Redfin.

This full sized basketball court is a great space to shoot hoops. It is a simple space with no paint, but it is surrounded by great landscaping and lighting elements. Source: Zillow Digs™

Traditional Landscape by San Francisco Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Arterra Landscape Architects

Here is a simple painted half court that sits right off of this deck. This is an amazing space to go out and practice basketball skills. Because of the simplicity of this space and the concrete build, this court can be used for multiple purposes other than basketball.

Here is a fabulous basketball court with a painted key. This court was designed with a passion for playing basketball. Source: Zillow Digs™

This is another angle of the previous court. Here we can see it is a half court in a nice large backyard area. This is a great half court for three on three pick up games or practicing your hook shot. Source: Zillow Digs™

This backyard is adorned with a great full sized basketball court. This space can be used to draw a plethora of basketball lovers to your space. You can even host your own b-ball tournament here. Source: Zillow Digs™

Contemporary Landscape by Lake Oswego Home Builders Stone Bridge Homes NW

You may be surprised to learn what kinds of spaces can hold a decent basketball court. This space has enough room for you to practice your hook shots and free throws. Don’t count out having a basketball court if you have limited space. You never know until you try.

This half court is a great space to practice shots. It is particularly useful for anyone learning because there is a hill placed strategically behind the hoop. This will ensure that any missed shots roll right back to the players. Source: Zillow Digs™

Tennis Courts

Tennis courts are a common sporting feature. Tennis is a sport that is easy to pick up, but difficult to primary. Everyone is up for a quick pick-up game of tennis now and again. There are a variety of different styles of tennis courts, each with a different appeal. The amount of detail and features that you can include in your tennis court is very much based on your dedication to the sport.

There are a number of considerations to think about when building a tennis court. Things that contribute to the price of a tennis court include size, composition, and preparation. You can take steps in preparing your space which will reduce the cost of your labor. The smaller your court, the less it will cost as well. Composition also affects your overall cost. Your court can be made from clay, grass, asphalt, concrete, or polypropylene.

On the low end of construction you can potentially build a tennis court for between $25,000 and $50,000. Upscale and high end tennis courts cost upward between $100,000 and $200,000. Accessories and extras further increase the final cost. (source: Cost Owl)

Contemporary Exterior by Southampton General Contractors Perello Building Corporation

This lovely green tennis court matches well with the rest of the landscaping in this yard. The multiple shades of green build depth while staying connected and united.

This tennis court with rustic features is a great place to go and play a one on one game or a quick match of doubles. Not only is this spot a great place to play, but the view is spectacular. Source: Zillow Digs™

Contemporary Exterior by Melbourne Interior Designers & Decorators Jasmine McClelland Design

This well maintained tennis court is an amazing place for a game. Because the court is so close to the house, people in the living room or upstairs areas still have a great view of the match.

Here is a lovely tennis court that almost looks like a professional arena. There is a well lit, cozy viewing area and the whole court is sunken into the ground to help contain the ball after a wild serve. Source: Zillow Digs™

Traditional Landscape by Santa Barbara Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Charles McClure – Professional Site Planning

This tennis court is surrounded by fantastic greenery. Using gardens and hedges to accentuate your tennis court is a great idea for tying the sports area into your landscaping.

If you are looking to play tennis at night, a court like this may be ideal for you. The tall lighting features are perfect for keeping things bright for as long as you still have a desire to play. Source: Zillow Digs™

Traditional Exterior by Louisville Photographers RealTourCast | Tim Furlong Jr.

Placing a tennis court next to your pool can be an amazing plan. In mere moments you can go from playing a game of tennis to cooling off in your shimmering waters.

Placing trees around your tennis court is a great way to divide the space from the rest of your yard, adding an element of separation. This gives your lawn a good sense of delegation. Source: Zillow Digs™

Contemporary Exterior by Southampton General Contractors Perello Building Corporation

Fences are important in tennis courts. A fence can help prevent you from losing balls as well as prevent damage if there are breakable things around your tennis court.

Tennis courts can range in color depending on material. While most courts lean toward green, blue is an interesting choice that not only fits but makes a great impression. Source: Zillow Digs™

Traditional Landscape by New York Architects & Building Designers Harry Elson Architect PC

One great accessory for a tennis court is a pavilion. Pavilions provide seating for onlookers and players when they need a rest. You can also use them to serve food and beverages to anyone interested in the matches.

If your space is big enough, you can even dedicate a building to your tennis court. The more you put into your tennis court the more professional it will feel; and the more tempted people will be to hold a tournament. Source: Zillow Digs™

Volley Ball Court

One sport that is the epitome of summer sports is beach volleyball. There is no better sport to play before jumping into the sparkling water as the summer sun pours down. A volleyball court can make your space the prime spot to be when it gets hot. All will benefit, including those who love the sport and those just looking to have a good time.

Volleyball courts require a great deal of sand. The price of sand largely depends on location. If you are near the coast you may be able to get sand much cheaper than someone who needs to ship it in. Depending on the price of sand and the quality of your masonry and net, you can expect to spend between $6,000 and $10,000. (source: Volleyball Mag)

When you live near the beach, a volleyball court may be the best kind of court for you. It not only fits well with your location but can be quite cheap if you already have the beach sand available.

This lovely volleyball court has pvc lining and beautiful white sand. This is a great place to play a round of volleyball.

Bocce Court

Bocce ball courts are fantastic for parties and backyard gatherings. It is a sport that is inviting for anyone at a gathering – even the less sporty individuals will want to join in. Those who are not experienced bocce ball players can have plenty of fun playing with friends on a backyard court.

Bocce ball surfaces start around $19 per square foot. Installation can be a bit tricky so it is recommended that you seek professional installation for your court. Overall, you can expect the full installation of a bocce ball court to fall between $20,000 and $50,000 depending on court size. (Source:Bocce Builders Of America)

Beach Style Landscape by Santa Barbara Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Margie Grace – Grace Design Associates

A bocce ball court is great for patios and decks. Because it is long and not wide it can fit in spaces where other kinds of courts cannot fit.

Farmhouse Landscape by Napa Landscape Contractors Lou Penning Landscapes Inc.

Because bocce ball is such a great sport to play with casual friends you can create a relaxing hang out spot near your bocce ball court. This way your casual games can be accommodated anytime.

Contemporary Landscape by San Francisco Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Arterra Landscape Architects

This lovely bocce ball court sits right off of the deck. It is a perfect place for the court as the deck is a marvelous area to hang out. This gives you a great opportunity to start a casual round of bocce ball anytime you and your friends are relaxing on the deck.

Mediterranean Landscape by Santa Barbara Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers Charles McClure – Professional Site Planning

You can put a number of different landscaping features around a bocce ball court. Use landscaping features and gardens to tie the court in well with the rest of your space.

Mediterranean Landscape by Laguna Beach Photographers Jeri Koegel Photography

Here is a space that exemplifies a casual evening. The relaxing and cozy outdoor chairs sit around a fire at the end of a nice bocce ball court. This is a great space to relax, play some games, and socialize.

Horseshoe

Horseshoe courts can be very simple or very involved. A very simple horseshoe court only needs to include two stakes sticking out of the ground at the correct distance apart. If you want a more involved court you can opt to include many features. Paving the pitching area and walkway and filling the pit areas with special materials are both viable options. Some courts use clay or rubber while others use dirt or sand. This is really all about personal preference.

Because they are not overly complicated, horseshoe courts are great for DIY projects. Much of the labor can be done yourself, saving on cost. Horseshoe courts cost approximately $115. (Source: Mother Earth News)

Rustic Exterior by Seattle Architects & Building Designers Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

This wonderful horseshoe space has backdrops to keep the shoes from flying too far. This is great for keeping the shoes in the pit and away from passersby. It is a great space to play this sport.

Contemporary Landscape by Akron Real Estate Agents Arizona Dream Vacation

This horseshoe court is ideal for serious horseshoe players. The brick lining to the pit will make sure that this horseshoe court will last a long time and withstand a great deal of use.

Mixed Use Courts

Sometimes it’s difficult to make a choice between different sporting features. You may like more than one sport or, at very least, enjoy varying your exercise opportunities.

For a court that has multiple uses you are likely going to want to use concrete or sports surface. Concrete courts cost between $2 and $8 per square foot, while sports surface runs around $4 to $6 per square foot. Depending on which sports you want your space to accomodate, you can expect to spend additional money on hoops, nets, and fencing. Labor will be a component you will need to get particular estimates on based on your desired court. (Source: DIY Backyard Sports)

Craftsman Exterior by Palo Alto Architects & Building Designers Young and Borlik Architects, inc.

Here is a mixed use sporting feature that can be used for tennis and basketball. A tennis and basketball court combination is a common choice as they both use similar surfaces. Many choose to have the basketball hoop placed at the center of the tennis court, allowing for a half court basketball space.

Here is a court with basketball hoops on the long ends of the tennis court. This creates a full basketball court as well as a full tennis court. The tennis court has a bit of an over sized edge but that shouldn’t be too much of an issue to most players. Source: Zillow Digs™

Contemporary Exterior by San Francisco Interior Designers & Decorators TRG Architects

Here is a nice mixed sporting feature. Again, it is a basketball and tennis court. The hoop placed at half court is a great way to make the most of a small space.

Here is another small space with a mixed sporting feature. By designing the area to accommodate two different sports, you are effectively making the most of the space. There is also a tall lamp to make this multiple use space great for both day and night sports. Source: Zillow Digs™

Eclectic Landscape by Atlanta General Contractors Vesta Homes, Inc.

When you have a mixed use sporting feature it can be tricky to decide which paint scheme you want to go with. Different sports may have conflicting court lines. Basketball and tennis courts have a slight conflict of lines but not enough to be completely confusing.