Tennis Court Lighting – LED Tennis Court Lights | UHS

Lighting a tennis court requires properly designed poles, high-efficiency lighting fixtures, as well as professional installation expertise. Because no two tennis courts are exactly alike, tennis court lighting solutions must be tailored to the specific requirements of each facility.

UHS tennis court lighting packages include poles, high-output LED fixtures, and all required mounting hardware for a complete installation. Our lighting systems are designed to meet the appropriate illumination levels for recreational, club, competitive, and NCAA-level tennis courts.

If your project involves a unique court layout or specific lighting requirements, UHS offers a dedicated team of lighting specialists and photometric engineers who can develop a customized solution for any tennis court application—ensuring your court is accurately illuminated with tennis court lights designed to your exact specifications.

What Is Tennis Court Lighting?

Tennis court lighting refers to the illumination system used on a tennis court to allow play during nighttime or low-light conditions. Proper tennis court lighting is essential for ensuring player safety, clear visibility, and optimal performance. It typically involves specialized lighting fixtures, such as LED tennis court lights, designed to deliver uniform, glare-free illumination across the entire playing surface.

Whether for recreational or professional use, well-designed tennis court lighting helps players see the ball clearly, respond quickly, and reduce the risk of injury, while improving the overall playing experience. Tennis court lighting systems can be designed for both indoor and outdoor courts, with different lighting levels and fixture layouts required to meet specific usage requirements and applicable standards.

Designed to Perfection with You in Mind

Each package is equipped with powerful LED sports lights and multiple LED fixture options that deliver high illumination while keeping electricity costs low.

Whether you want a private court for practicing your drop shot or a venue comparable to the US Open, UHS offers a tennis court lighting package to match your needs. Each package includes poles ranging from 20 to 30 feet in height (depending on the selected configuration), high-output LED sports lights, adjustable slip-fitter mounts for easy aiming and tilt adjustment, steel base covers, base plates, mounting templates, and anchor bolts. Packages are designed for specific levels of play: Recreational Level, Club Level, Competition Level, and NCAA-Style / Televised Level. At every level, options are available with four, six, or eight poles, and no package uses more than four fixtures per pole.

Recreational Level

Recreational-level tennis lighting packages are suitable for backyard courts, community parks, HOA tennis courts, and similar facilities. These courts typically do not host high-level competitions or tournaments but require reliable lighting for youth and adult lessons, casual play, and pickup games. Recreational-level packages provide average maintained light levels of 20–30 foot-candles (fc), with a maximum-to-minimum uniformity ratio of 3.0 or less to ensure consistent illumination across the court.

Club Level

Club-level tennis lighting packages are designed for tennis clubs, many of which rely on the input of professional players to determine appropriate lighting levels. Clubs must appeal to players of all skill levels, and the lighting solution needs to support that goal. These packages provide average maintained light levels of 30–50 foot-candles (FC), with all courts maintaining a maximum-to-minimum (uniformity) ratio of 3.0 or less.

Competition Level

Competition-level tennis lighting packages are intended for elite players who demand high-quality illumination. Although matches at this level may not be televised, the lighting system must support fast-paced, high-intensity play. These packages deliver average maintained light levels of 50–70 foot-candles (FC), with all courts maintaining a maximum-to-minimum (uniformity) ratio of 3.0 or less.

NCAA Level

NCAA-style / televised tennis lighting packages represent the highest tier of court lighting, designed to support top-level tennis performance and broadcast-quality requirements. These packages are intended for television-caliber play and deliver average maintained light essional-grade illumination across the entire court.

Tennis Court Lights – Built to Last

With our photometric analysis service, we help design the ideal lighting solution for your tennis court, with no limitations on the level of play required.

All UHS tennis court lighting packages include the fixtures, mounting hardware, and poles needed to properly illuminate your court or courts. Options range from recreational-level systems to competition and televised-level packages, making it easy to choose the solution that fits your needs. For every package, the listed price is the final price—there are no hidden fees or additional costs, and shipping is included. Each system delivers high-quality, high-performance lighting designed for long-term reliability, with most fixtures L70 rated for over 200,000 hours of operation.

Tennis fixtures, poles, and hardware are protected against rust and corrosion through a chromate conversion coating followed by a durable powder-coated finish. This consistent level of protection across all components ensures years of dependable, low-maintenance performance. Poles are also heat treated to enhance strength and weather resistance, making them well suited for outdoor installations. Fixtures feature die-cast aluminum housings, which further protect internal components and extend service life. Passive thermal management allows for reliable operation over many years without the need for fans or additional cooling systems.

Energy-Saving Technology

For many years, pulse-start metal halide (PSMH) fixtures were the standard choice for tennis court lighting. Most facilities relied on 1000W or 1500W sports lights and achieved strong results. Today, however, LED technology has matched—and surpassed—PSMH in efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility. Compared with traditional metal halide systems, LED tennis court lights provide instant-on illumination, reduced maintenance requirements, and improved light quality.

UHS now offers LED tennis court lighting solutions that deliver more usable light than legacy PSMH packages while achieving a faster return on investment than ever before. These packages can reduce energy consumption by up to 60%, and with L70-rated lifespans of 200,000 hours or more, ongoing maintenance is minimal.

If you are considering a transition to LED lighting, contact UHS to speak with a team member who can walk you through the advantages and tradeoffs of both technologies and help determine the best solution for your court.

Designing and Installing Tennis Court Lighting

Designing and installing tennis court lighting requires careful evaluation of several key factors, including court size and layout, target light levels, and the type of lighting fixtures used. A well-planned lighting system should deliver consistent ball visibility across the entire court, minimize glare, and limit light spill onto surrounding areas and neighboring properties.

Tennis court lighting installation typically involves poles, lighting fixtures, and mounting hardware, and should be performed by a licensed professional to ensure compliance with local codes and regulations. When these considerations are properly addressed, the result is a lighting system that improves playability and safety while remaining energy efficient and cost effective.

Benefits of LED Tennis Court Lighting

LED tennis court lighting provides several clear advantages over traditional metal halide systems. First, LED lights are highly energy efficient, using significantly less electricity, which helps lower operating costs and reduce carbon emissions. This makes them a more environmentally responsible lighting choice. In addition, LED fixtures have a much longer service life—often 50,000 hours or more—compared with the typical 10,000–20,000 hours of metal halide lights, resulting in fewer replacements and reduced maintenance expenses.

Another key benefit is instant-on performance. Unlike metal halide fixtures that require warm-up time, LED lights reach full brightness immediately. LEDs are also more resistant to shock, vibration, and extreme temperatures, further minimizing maintenance needs. In terms of performance, LED lighting delivers improved light quality through higher color rendering (CRI) and more uniform light distribution, providing better visibility and a more comfortable playing experience for tennis players.

Designing Tennis Court Lighting

Designing a tennis court lighting system requires careful consideration of multiple factors. Court size and layout are key in determining the number and positioning of lighting fixtures, as larger courts or unique configurations may require additional fixtures to achieve even illumination. Target light levels are equally important, with higher illumination required for competitive and professional-level play. The design should also focus on minimizing glare and shadows to provide a comfortable and safe playing environment.

Energy efficiency is another important aspect of tennis court lighting design. The use of LED fixtures, along with optimized fixture quantity and placement, can significantly reduce energy consumption. This approach not only helps lower operating costs but also supports environmental sustainability. By addressing these considerations, a tennis court lighting system can effectively meet performance requirements while remaining efficient and cost conscious.

LED Fixtures for Tennis Courts

LED fixtures are the preferred solution for tennis court lighting due to their high energy efficiency, long service life, and superior light quality. When choosing LED fixtures for a tennis court, several key factors should be evaluated. Lumen output is critical, as it determines the overall light levels on the court—higher lumen output supports better visibility and a more enjoyable playing experience.

Color temperature is another important consideration. A color temperature of around 5000K is commonly recommended for tennis courts, as it provides a neutral, comfortable light that enhances visibility. Beam angle also plays a vital role, as sufficiently wide beam angles help ensure even light distribution across the playing surface. Mounting options should be selected based on the court’s design and layout, with fixtures suitable for installation on poles, walls, or ceilings. By carefully selecting the appropriate LED fixtures, optimal lighting performance can be achieved for any tennis court.

Lighting Considerations

When designing a tennis court lighting system, several key factors should be considered. Uniformity is essential, as consistent light levels across the court help eliminate hot spots and dark areas, allowing players to track the ball clearly from any position. Glare control is equally important, as excessive glare can affect visibility and comfort, impacting both performance and safety.

Light spill should also be addressed, since uncontrolled lighting can affect nearby properties and the surrounding environment. A well-designed system concentrates light on the playing surface where it is needed most. In addition, maintenance requirements should be taken into account. The use of LED fixtures, along with proper fixture quantity and placement, helps reduce maintenance needs and supports long-term, reliable performance. By carefully managing these considerations, a tennis court lighting system can deliver consistent, efficient, and player-focused illumination.

Complete Lighting Packages

Our LED sports lights deliver improved illumination while using less wattage, and they are built to withstand demanding environments. Each fixture is dustproof, weather resistant, and L70 rated for more than 200,000 hours, requiring little to no ongoing maintenance.

All UHS tennis court lighting packages are carefully designed and photometrically analyzed to provide consistent, high-quality lighting for every level of play. Each package includes all required poles, luminaires, lamps, and mounting hardware. Our lighting specialists work one-on-one with you to ensure the solution fits your specific project. If your court has existing poles or unique site requirements, we can evaluate available products, configurations, and layouts to deliver a lighting solution tailored to your needs.

UHS LED tennis court lighting solutions offer superior performance compared to traditional metal halide and fluorescent systems. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor courts, they combine energy efficiency, improved player visibility, and the long service life of LED technology.