When it comes to Tennis court lighting, several requirements need to be considered. These are dependent on the level of competition that will take place on the court and the related standards for lighting levels and lighting uniformity.
Key Australian standards which apply to sports lighting include:
The following table provides an overview of the tennis court lighting requirements.
Tennis Court Lighting Standards – AS 2560.2.1
| Category | Grid | Average horizontal maintained illuminance | Minimum horizontal uniformity | Maximum glare rating | |
| Eh lux | U1Min/Avg | U2Min/Max | GR | ||
| Recreational and residential | PPA | 250 | 0.6 | 0.3 | N/A |
| TPA | 150 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 50 | |
| Club competition and commercial | PPA | 350 | 0.6 | 0.4 | N/A |
| TPA | 250 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 50 | |
| National and international | PPA | 750 | 0.7 | 0.5 | N/A |
| TPA | 500 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 50 | |
New Floodlight Installation for Tennis Courts
When installing a new floodlighting system for Tennis courts, there are further standards and guidelines to be considered. With regards to pole locations suitable for tennis court lighting please refer to AS2560.2 figure 2.11.3 which advises possible locations depending on your pole requirements.
For the different pole locations, there are perceived advantages and disadvantages to each of the three configurations: side lighting, corner lighting, and hybrid lighting. These are detailed in the table below:
| Type of lighting system | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Side lighting: Luminaires are located adjacent to the sides of the court(s) |
Less glare Lower poles |
Considerations of pole location where more than one court is illuminated, unless room is available to safely install poles between courts |
| Corner lighting: Luminaires are located at the corners (i.e. level with or behind the baseline) of the court(s) |
High level of illuminance on the surface of the ball approaching the player More suitable for two or more courts where limited room is available between the courts |
Potential for more glare from luminaires Higher poles |
| Hybrid lighting: Used for a multi-court installation where some luminaires are located at the sides of the court, and some at the corners |
Less glare Lower poles |
More poles required Not suited to the use of types A or B fittings as per AS 2560.1:2018 table B.1. |
The height of the pole will depend on the size of your court(s) with clause 1.6 in AS2560.2 being used to ensure glare to players and spectators will be reduced by adopting mounting heights above the minimum values recommended.
What do these terms mean?
As well as the information provided by the national standards, our team of lighting experts are available to answer any queries you may have about tennis court lighting and to support you through the planning and design stages of your sports lighting project. If you would like to discuss the floodlight requirements for your Tennis Courts with one of our experienced team members, please contact us by clicking here.
Useful Links:
Tennis Australia – Facility Project Planning Guide
NSW Office of Sport – Outdoor Design
Queensland Government Get in the Game – Sports Field Lighting
Disclaimer:
The information provided on this page has been collated from various sources, including those provided above in Useful Links. This information may be subject to change at any time by sports governing bodies and standards agencies.
