Can You Lay Basketball Court Tiles Over Grass?

To create a basketball court in the backyard, laying basketball court tiles over grass isn't the most recommended option. Installing over grass requires an extra layer. It may not perform as well as installing court tiles over concrete or another suitable subsurface.

Recommended surfaces to install court tiles on include:

• Concrete base
• Firm interlocking base tiles
• Packed, level aggregrate base
• Hard-packed dirt in a courtyard
• Blacktop driveway for a half-court setup
• Pavement in a parking lot

How Do I Create a Level Base Layer for an Outdoor Basketball Court?

For an alternative to installing a concrete or asphalt base pad, the VersaCourt Foundation Panel is an ideal alternative. The interlocking panel provides drainage and a stable surface to install court tiles over when installed properly.

Before installing the Court Foundation panel, assess soil drainage and expansive properties to ensure stability. For stable soil, remove organics (sod), compact using a plate compactor (rentable at home improvement stores), and grade to a flat or slightly pitched surface. Unstable soil may require adding compactable stone, which may necessitate further soil removal to achieve the desired grade.

Once the sub-base is prepared, graded and smooth, install a geosynthetic stabilization fabric over the base. A layer of stone dust or compactable fines should be installed over the fabric. Then, a non-woven layer of needle punch fabric is installed. The Court Foundation Panels are installed with interlocking connections. Once all the panels are installed, use a roller or plate compactor to vibrate the panels into the needle punch fabric and stone dust layer. This process provides a more consistent ball bounce.



When a solid subsurface is not available to lay out the basketball court tiles over grass, installers can add some firm tiles over the grass, such as the Matrax Light Duty Pedestrian Composite Mat. Please note: basketball courts are not the intended use case of these tiles. The ball bounce may not be adequate for competitive sports or serious basketball practice.

However, unless laying these firm polyethylene plastic tiles over a concrete slab in a park or over another area that doesn’t have plant life, these Matrax tiles should only be part of a portable or temporary layout. These tiles have water drainage holes and allow limited sunlight to reach the grass underneath.

Outdoor Basketball Court Tiles Options

When installed on a compacted base layer, these are the best tiles for an outdoor basketball court.

The perforated VersaCourt Outdoor Game Court Tile is a popular choice. The polypropylene plastic will give players a slight cushion on the playing surface, which helps keep the lower body joints feeling fresher and gives players’ shoes a sure grip on the floor.

Each tile uses a hidden interlocking system to complete the layout. This is a DIY installation job, as it requires no glue or special tools. Each tile is 10x10 inches in size.

These tiles are designed for use over concrete, asphalt, or a hard, flat surface.



The perforated Outdoor Court Tile XT3 uses interlocking loops and tabs on the underside of the polypropylene plastic, which creates a clean look in the final layout. This tile is available in more than a dozen solid colors, which gives the installer the option of creating a pattern in the floor.

Each tile measures 1/2 inch in thickness and covers 1-by-1 foot. With a 15-year limited warranty, these tiles will last a long time, providing a great value.

These tiles are designed for use over concrete or asphalt.


Remember: All of these basketball court options will yield the most satisfying results if the subsurface is concrete, asphalt, or another hard, flat surface. We do not recommend installing any of these court tiles directly over grass for basketball use. You may also find that a layer of plywood may provide the firm/level surface you need over grass for small, temporary basketball dribbling areas.