What to Buy for a Padel Tournament

A padel tournament needs more than rackets and balls. You also need a simple way to record scores, keep players supplied between matches and run registration without delays. This shopping list covers court equipment, refreshments, serving items, furniture, lighting and signs for the tournament setup. Use your participant limit and match schedule to adjust quantities, especially for balls, cups, food and seating. Check borrowed equipment at least one week before the event so missing items can still be sourced.

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What to bring

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

Sports equipment

Padel ballsqty 48
Spare padel ballsqty 24
Padel racketsqty 8
Training bibsqty 32
Scoreboardsqty 4
Whistlesqty 4
Conesqty 20
Warm-up matsqty 8
Towelsqty 12

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 36
Standing tablesqty 2
Tableclothqty 6
Clothing rack

Tableware

Reusable cupsqty 50
Platesqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 40
Coffee cupsqty 30
Small bowlsqty 12
Serving plattersqty 8

Equipment

Coolersqty 4
Bluetooth speaker
Extension cordsqty 3
Coffee maker
Kettlesqty 2
Rechargeable lampsqty 4

Decorations

Tournament banner
Team flagsqty 8
Balloonsqty 40
Wayfinding signsqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef's knifeqty 2
Bread knife
Serving tongsqty 4
Ice packsqty 12

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- White mini rolls - 40 pieces
- Multigrain Mini Rolls - 40 pieces
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Cream cheese - 3 tubs
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Aged cheese - 2 kilo
- Turkey breast - 1,5 kilo
- Smoked chicken breast - 1,5 kilo
- Vegetarian falafel - 2 kilo
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Bell peppers - 12
- Arugula - 6 bags
- Olives - 4 jars
- Herb butter - 4 tubs
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Garlic sauce - 2 bottles
- Pasta salad - 5 kilos
- Green salad - 4 kilos
- Fruit salad - 4 kilos
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 32 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Salted nuts - 4 bags
- Muesli bars - 40 pieces
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Brownies - 40 pieces
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Tonic - 6 bottles
- Iced tea - 8 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 8 crates
- Sparkling water - 4 crates
- Sports drink - 48 bottles
- Alcohol-free beer - 48 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Honey - 1 jar
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 10 kilos
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Parchment paper - 1 roll
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Cleaning cloths - 12 pieces
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Paper towels - 8 packs

Tips

Plan at least one playable ball per court plus two spare balls per court for the tournament day. New or undamaged balls reduce interruptions when matches run back to back.
For refreshments, allow two to three drinks per player during the first hour, then about one drink per player per hour. Add extra water for warm weather and keep the coolers filled before the first match.
Buy or prepare food for the confirmed registrations, not the invitation list. Allow two sandwich portions and one piece of fruit per player, with separate options for every dietary requirement collected during registration.
Prepare one scorekeeping set per active court: a scoreboard, whistle and a clearly marked place for spare balls. Pack the equipment in court order so setup does not depend on searching through boxes.
Bring one reusable cup per guest plus at least 10% extra, and provide roughly one chair per two standing guests. Put wayfinding signs at the entrance, reception table and route to the courts before players arrive.

Frequently asked questions

How many padel balls do I need for a tournament?: Plan on at least one playable ball per active court and two spare balls per court. For four courts, that means a minimum of 12 balls, with more if matches are long or the balls are already worn.
How much food and drink should I buy for a padel tournament?: For each confirmed player, plan two sandwich portions, one piece of fruit and two to three drinks for the first hour. Add one drink per player for every additional hour and keep a 10% buffer for last-minute guests or spills.
How many padel rackets should I bring?: Ask every participant to bring a racket, then prepare at least two spare rackets for a tournament of up to 32 players. If many beginners are attending, bring one spare racket for every eight players instead.
When should I buy supplies for a padel tournament?: Buy non-perishable supplies and check borrowed equipment at least one week before the tournament. Purchase fresh food and ice one day before, then fill the coolers on the event morning.

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