Squash - What Recreational Players Really Spend
At the Racquet Sports Institute, we’re continuing our three-part series on what it actually costs to play racquet sports as a recreational adult—padel, pickleball, and squash: now squash with a final comparison of the three sports.
Most budgets cover five buckets: court time, memberships, equipment, coaching, and competition. Below we outline typical monthly and annual spending in Europe and the United States.
Court & Facility Fees
United States (membership heavy)
Squash is mostly played at indoor clubs and University campus that charge memberships or peak priced hourly courts. A recent U.S. scan puts commercial club membership around $139/month on average; some university/community facilities run cheaper (e.g., ~$84/month ). “Pay and play” without joining can be steep in big cities—~ $45–$75 per court/hour at peak . Select community sites advertise ~$85/month unlimited play models.
What a typical month looks like (U.S.):
- Member (2×/week): Membership $139 balls/gear amortization ~$15 Total ≈$154/month.
- Pay as you go city (1×/week), ~$60 court split for singles ≈ $30/player): gear ~$15 → Total ≈$145/month.
- Community unlimited (3×/week) : Membership $85/month gear ~$15 Total ≈$100/month.
Europe (club & gym models; generally lower)
UK/European players often join local clubs or multi sport gyms with squash on the menu. Examples: a UK squash club ~£200/year (≈£17/month) plus ~£3 per 40 min booking; some gyms bundle squash in ~£35–£60/month memberships for unlimited play. Elsewhere in Europe, commercial club memberships frequently land ~€300–€500/year (≈€25–€40/month), and à la carte courts are ~€10–€25 per hour (price split between players). Typical monthly spend for a recreational European player is ~€30–€60 , driven by membership plus modest booking fees.
What a typical month looks like (Europe):
- UK club member (2×/week): Membership £200/year ≈ £17/month + £3 × ~8.66 ≈ £26 booking gear ~£8 Total ≈£51/month.
- Gym bundle (3×/week): Membership £35–£60/month all in access gear ~£8 Total ≈£43–£68/month.
- Pay as you go (1×/week, moderate market ): Fees: €10–€25 court/hour split → ~€5–€12 per player/session gear ~€8 Total ≈€30–€60/month.
Squash Equipment: One Time vs. Ongoing
Racquet: Solid recreational choices run $50–$150 ; advanced frames $150–$250 (top models can exceed $300). Expect occasional restringing ( ~$40 ). Heavy users may buy/replace more often; casuals can keep one frame for years.
Balls: ~$3–$5 each ; frequent players replace regularly as grip fades.
Shoes: Indoor non marking court shoes typically $50–$120 ; replacement every 6–12 months if you play consistently.
Protective eyewear & accessories: Many clubs recommend goggles (~$20–$40) and for junior players obligatory according to federations. Over grips, a basic bag, and standard apparel add modestly.
Starter outlay: ~$150–$300 (racquet + balls + shoes). Ongoing annual equipment: ~$100–$200 for casual players (more with frequent restrings/replacements).
Coaching & Organized Play
Private lessons: U.S. ~$60–$100/hour with certified coaches; UK/Europe ~£10–£30/hour at local clubs (group clinics often £5–£15 per person).
Leagues & tournaments: Local leagues or weekend events typically $20–$50 ; sanctioned U.S. events require US Squash membership ($149/year) and often $50–$150 per tournament; European club events commonly ~€20–€50 . Most recreational players enter sparingly.
Sample Monthly Budgets
(Illustrative, not prescriptions; includes court access plus typical balls/gear amortization.)
United States
- Member – typical (2×/week): Membership $139 balls/gear ~$15 Total ≈$154/month (≈$1,850/year).
- Pay as you go city (1×/week): Court ~$30 per player/session × ~4.33 = ~$130 balls/gear ~$15 Total ≈$145/month.
- Community unlimited (2×/week): Membership $85 balls/gear ~$15 Total ≈$100/month.
Europe
- UK club (membership + bookings, 2×/week):
£17 (annualized membership) + £26 bookings + gear ~£8 → ≈£51/month.
- Gym w/ squash included (3×/week):
£35–£60/month + gear ~£8 → ≈£43–£68/month.
- Pay as you go (1×/week, moderate EU market):
~€5–€12 per player/session × ~4.33 + gear ~€8 → ≈€30–€60/month.
What It Adds Up To
United States: A realistic range for enthusiasts is ~$100–$150/month (≈ $1,200–$1,800/year) once membership and basic gear are included.
Europe: Thanks to lower fees and gym bundles, ~€40–€60/month (≈ €500–€700/year) is common for regulars.
Bottom line: In squash, access drives cost—you pay for indoor, bookable courts. Gear is manageable after the initial investment; choosing the right facility (non profit/community vs. premium club) is the lever that most changes monthly spend.
Quick Comparison (Squash vs. Padel vs. Pickleball)
Typical all in monthly spend for recreational adults (court access + basic gear amortization).
Sport
USA — Monthly
Europe — Monthly
One‑line driver
Squash
~$120–$150
~€40–€60
Indoor courts via clubs; US: membership + bookings (optional). Europe: pay and play
Padel
~$100–$180
~€50–€80
Court scarcity in some cities; cost split in foursomes helps.
Pickleball
$0–$50
€0–€30
Many free public courts; clubs optional.
Pickleball is usually cheapest, padel sits in the middle (wide range by location), and squash skews higher where club membership is the norm—especially in the U.S.