What you need for a badminton tournament

A badminton tournament needs more than rackets and shuttlecocks. You also need reliable court equipment, scorekeeping supplies, registration materials, refreshments and enough power for the laptop, printer and sound system. Plan quantities around the number of courts and players, not just the total guest list. This shopping list covers the items that are often forgotten until setup starts, including spare shuttlecocks, extension cords, serving equipment and cups.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Sports equipment

Badminton netsqty 8
Net polesqty 8
Badminton racketsqty 40
Shuttlecocksqty 12
Field marking tapeqty 8
Scoreboardsqty 8
Stopwatchesqty 8
Whistlesqty 6
Scorecardsqty 120
Medalsqty 12
Cupsqty 3

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 90
Benchesqty 8
Clothes racksqty 2

Equipment

Laptop
Printer
Power stripsqty 4
Extension cordsqty 6
Speakersqty 2
Wireless microphone

Catering

Reusable cupsqty 120
Platesqty 100
Cutlery setsqty 100
Serving traysqty 8
Coffee thermosesqty 4
Coolersqty 4
Water jugsqty 8
Serving tongsqty 8
Tableclothsqty 8

Decorations

Directional signsqty 10
Participant badgesqty 100
Badge holdersqty 100

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 8
Broomsqty 2
Mopsqty 3
Bucketsqty 3
First aid kit

Groceries

Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Milk - 6 liters
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Sparkling water - 6 bottles
- Still water - 12 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Wholegrain rolls - 100 pieces
- Young matured cheese - 3 kilos
- Ham - 2 kilos
- Hummus - 1 kilo
- Butter - 1 kilo
- Cucumbers - 2 kilos
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Iceberg lettuce - 4 heads
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 1 bottle
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Snacks - 4 bags
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Muesli bars - 100 pieces
- Bananas - 3 kilos
- Apples - 5 kilo
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Ice cubes - 10 kilos
- Napkins - 300 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs
- Hand soap - 4 bottles

Tips

Allow at least two shuttlecocks per match, plus a reserve of 10–20% for damaged or lost ones. Keep the spare tubes at the registration or officials’ table rather than in a locked storage area.
Prepare one scorecard and one pen or pencil for every scheduled match, then add at least 10 spare scorecards. Bring one scoreboard per court so players and spectators can see the current score.
Set aside one racket per expected player only if participants are not bringing their own; otherwise bring at least four spare rackets for breakages and beginners. Check nets, poles and field marking tape before shopping for replacements.
Plan two reusable cups per person if drinks will be served throughout the tournament, or provide a clearly labelled cup for each participant. Bring at least one extra water jug and cooler so the drinks table can be refilled without stopping play.
Pack one power strip and a suitable extension cord for each equipment station using electricity, such as the laptop and printer or speakers and microphone. Test the full setup at the venue at least one hour before registration opens.

Frequently asked questions

How many shuttlecocks do I need for a badminton tournament?: Use at least two shuttlecocks per planned match, then add 10–20% extra. A tournament with 40 matches therefore needs a minimum of 80 shuttlecocks, plus 8 to 16 spares.
How many badminton rackets should I bring?: Ask registered players to bring their own rackets and provide at least four spares for a typical tournament. If rackets are supplied for everyone, prepare one per player plus 10% extra, rounded up.
How many cups and drinks do I need for a badminton tournament?: Budget two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one to two per person for every additional hour. Provide two reusable cups per person when cups are not individually labelled, and keep at least one spare water jug available.
When should I buy medals, scorecards and tournament supplies?: Order medals and other prizes at least three weeks before the tournament so there is time to correct names or quantities. Buy drinks, snacks and ice one to two days beforehand, while printing scorecards and forms can wait until the schedule is confirmed.

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