Free pickleball event calculator
Plan the
whole event
in one screen.
Courts, run time, and bottom line — recalculated live as you move a single slider.
Control deck
Courts, run time and profit for any pickleball event
Pick a format, set the field and the match length, and the calculator answers the three questions to settle before you book a venue: how many courts to reserve, how long the event will run, and whether the entry fee covers the costs.
Courts needed
Doubles needs one court for every four players on court at once. The calculator splits the field the way your format does — groups, pools, blocks or brackets — and counts the courts each stage needs, including a playoff that needs a different number. Switch courts to Manual to see how long the event runs on the courts you actually have.
Run time
Each stage is its rounds times the match length, and a playoff adds its bracket on top. A group of four plays three rounds, so with 20-minute matches it's done in an hour. On half the courts it takes twice as long.
Profit and loss
Revenue is the entry fee times the players, plus any revenue lines you add. Costs are court hire — per court, per hour, rounded up to the hour — staff time, your own cost lines, and PB360's 5% service fee if you run the event on PB360. You get net profit, margin, profit per player and the break-even entry fee.
Every pickleball format in the picker
Team challenge
Teams of four meet in pools, and every team match is four games. 4, 8, 12 or 16 teams, an optional playoff, and the option to play two group matches at once to halve the clock.
Compass draw
A 32-player draw on 8 courts over four rounds. Winners and losers split into new brackets after every round, so everyone plays all four — and each round can have its own length.
Round robin
Players split into groups and everyone plays everyone else in their group. One court per four players in a group, for 4 to 64 players. Groups that aren't a multiple of four play an extra round, because someone sits out each round.
Round robin with playoffs
Doubles teams play pools of 4 to 8, then the top teams from each pool go into a single-elimination playoff. From 2 to 16 teams, with the playoff's courts and run time counted separately.
Crazy 8's
Blocks of eight players share two courts and rotate partners every round. From 8 to 64 players, for 2 to 12 rounds.
Ladder
Players move up or down after every stage. Groups of 4, 8 or 12 play on 1, 2 or 3 courts, and the calculator gives you each stage and the total.
Inter-clubs
Club against club: every team plays every other team, once or home and away. Each tie is one doubles game for every pair on the roster, with an optional playoff.
King and queen
Everyone is on court every round and winners move up toward the top court: one court per four players. Plan a single session or a season of them.
Questions organisers ask
How many courts do I need for a pickleball tournament?
Plan one court for every four players on court at the same time. A 16-player round robin in groups of four needs 4 courts. With only 2, the same event takes twice as long — 2 hours instead of 1 at 20-minute matches. Pick your format above and the calculator works it out, playoff included.
How long does a pickleball round robin take?
Rounds times match length. A group of four plays three rounds, so 20-minute matches finish in an hour. A group of five plays five rounds, because someone sits out each round: 1 hour 40 minutes at the same match length.
How much should I charge per player?
At least the break-even fee — the entry fee at which revenue exactly covers court hire, staff and your other costs. The P&L card shows it for the event on screen; everything above it is profit.
Does it include court rental and staff costs?
Yes. Court hire is billed per court per hour, with the event rounded up to the next full hour, the way most venues charge. Staff are costed for the actual run time. Add anything else — balls, prizes, food — as its own line.
Is it free? Do I need an account?
Free, with no account and no sign-up. The PB360 service fee only applies if you choose to run the event on PB360 — switch it off and the line disappears.
Can I share an estimate with my club or venue?
Yes. Share copies a link that opens the calculator on exactly the numbers you set.
How accurate is it?
It's a planning estimate. Late arrivals, long games and slow court changeovers add time, so leave a buffer when you book the venue.
