Lighting The lighting required for tennis courts varies according to the standard of play from recreational to professional levels. Tennis facilities must provide an even distribution of light to provide a well-lit playing field for players and spectators.
Standard of tennis competition
Illuminated-led tennis court lights are determined by different organizations based on the level of play on the court. These levels are often called Classes I, II, III, and IV.
Class I | Class II | Class III | Class IV |
Professional | College | College | High School |
International | Tennis Clubs | High School | Tennis Clubs |
Satellite | Residential | Tennis Clubs | Parks & Recreation |
Challenger | Parks & Recreation | Residential | College |
College |
| Parks & Recreation |
First category: International and domestic
- International/Professional High level — 450 Lux
- To provide top-level competitive competition for large audiences
- Facilities generally include televised tennis matches, such as the US Open, Wimbledon, etc.
Category two: club games and business
- Medium level by club standards — 350 lux
- Intermediate competition, high-level training, average viewing distance
- May include university facilities primarily for intercollegiate or recreational activities
Category 3: Recreation and residential
- Lower-level games or casual games — 250 lux
- Low-level competition, local, general training, school team, or recreational activities
Category four: Entertainment
- The lowest level of the game
- Facilities such as parks are strictly used for recreation
Lighting requirements for professionals in tennis organizations
The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) requires lighting standards for professional tournaments and divides the requirements into the World Tour and the Challenger Tour.
- ATP World Tour: For the World Tour, lighting must be evenly distributed on the court with a minimum intensity of 100 feet of candlelight (approximately 1,076 lux). For televised games, the minimum lighting level should average about 285 feet of candlelight (about 3,067 lux).
- ATP Challenger Tour: For the Challenger Tour, lighting must be evenly distributed on the court, with a minimum light intensity of 70 feet of candlelight (approximately 750 lux).
- Light POLE INSTALLATION: According to the ATP, all light poles should be installed to distribute the light around the court evenly. Installation height shall not be lower than 40′ or any other non-display light in the facility. For example, if other non-performance venues are 60 feet tall, all upgraded light fixtures should also be 60 feet tall.
