Tennis Court Calculator
— How Much Do You Need?

A standard tennis court has a playing surface that measures 78 feet long by 36 feet wide for doubles play, or 78 feet long by 27 feet wide for singles. However, the run-off space around the perimeter matters for safety, so the recommended footprint for a recreational hard court is at least 120 feet by 60 feet, or 7,200 square feet. That footprint is what you must excavate, grade, and base with stone. When calculating how much gravel, crushed stone, or crusher run to order, use the full 120 by 60 area. If your court is a different size, plug your exact dimensions into the Hello Gravel calculator for a precise estimate.

The four main types of tennis courts are hard courts, clay courts, grass courts, and indoor carpet courts. Each type uses a different finished surface, but all need a solid aggregate base underneath. Hard courts are usually finished with asphalt or concrete on top of a compacted crushed stone base. Clay courts also require a compacted stone base before the clay. Grass courts rely on stable, well-draining soil and a proper grade, while indoor carpet courts involve base work mainly for floor prep. Hello Gravel can supply the base materials in bulk by the truckload for these projects.

The best aggregate depends on the court type, but most residential courts use one or more layers of compacted crushed stone. For a hard court, a base layer of crusher run or processed gravel that compacts tightly is common, often followed by a thinner clean crushed stone layer before the surface goes down. For a clay court, the stone base provides drainage and structure, with coarser stone at the bottom and finer materials above before the clay goes on. Drainage is essential to prevent water from pooling and causing issues.

For most hard court or clay court builds, the base should be at least 4 to 6 inches of compacted crushed stone. Some facilities use up to 8 inches in heavy-use areas or where ground conditions require it. Depth depends on soil, drainage, climate, and use. If your subgrade drains well, 4 inches may be enough; if not, you may want more. A typical 7,200 square foot court at 4 inches of depth needs about 133 tons; at 6 inches, about 200 tons. Use the Hello Gravel calculator for a precise figure based on your dimensions and depth.

For a standard 120 by 60 foot court, about 133 tons of crushed stone or crusher run are needed at 4 inches of compacted depth, and about 200 tons at 6 inches. If you are building multiple layers for a clay court, count each layer separately. These numbers assume typical compaction and material types; your exact tonnage can vary with material gradation and installation methods. Hello Gravel is built for bulk truckload deliveries, and the calculator will give you an exact quantity for your dimensions and depth.