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 straight to 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.