How to price a pickleball tournament

Pricing an event is about covering your costs, staying competitive, and being transparent. Here's how to think it through and set a fee players will happily pay.

Start from your costs

List everything the event needs: court or facility rental, balls, prizes or medals, referees, and any staff time. Divide by your expected number of entries to get a break-even fee, then add a margin if the event is meant to raise funds.

Per-event vs. per-division pricing

A single flat entry fee is simplest for players. If many enter multiple divisions, consider a per-division fee with a small multi-division discount — it rewards the players who play the most while keeping single-division entry affordable.

Account for payment processing

Online payments carry a processing fee. You can absorb it (bake it into the entry price) or pass it through as a line item at checkout — your call. Being clear about it up front avoids surprises, and collecting fees at registration means no chasing payments on match day.

Typical ranges

Recreational leagues often land around $20–$60 per player for a season; one-day tournaments commonly run $30–$75 per event or per division, higher for sanctioned or prize-money events. Check what comparable local events charge — players compare.

Collect it cleanly

BP-Pickleball.com lets you set entry fees per event or per division, add a multi-division discount, choose whether to absorb or pass through fees, and take payment at registration (the platform collects it and pays you out, or you can use your own Stripe account) — with clear reporting so you always know where you stand.

Frequently asked questions

Should I include the payment processing fee in the price?

Either works. Absorbing it gives a clean round number; passing it through keeps your entry price lower and is transparent as a checkout line item. BP-Pickleball.com supports both per fee.