How Much Does It Cost to Start Tennis (2026): About $87, or $37

You can start tennis for $0, about $37, or about $87. The $0 version is a borrowed racket, a free public court, and a friend learning with you. The $37 version is a two-racket set that includes balls, a carry bag, and grip tape. The $87 version adds court shoes. Many public courts in the US are free, so tennis is one of the cheaper racquet sports to try.

The honest answer

The checked setup costs $86.98, or about $87 at buy-box prices checked October 4, 2026. For one trial session, the $36.99 racket set already includes two rackets, tennis balls, a carry bag, and grip tape:

• Two-racket beginner set: $36.99
• Court shoes: $0 to $49.99
• Replacement overgrip 3-pack: $0 to $7.99

$36.99 + $0 to $49.99 + $0 to $7.99 = $36.99 to $94.97. The tennis starter pack lists all three items with current prices. The low end is real: already own stable court shoes? You skip the shoe line and pay $36.99.

The free path ($0)

1. Find a public court, or ask your rec center which parks have lines.
2. Borrow rackets from a friend, a club, or a beginner clinic; some lend them for the session.
3. Wear flat, firm shoes you already own, not soft running shoes.
4. Play a drop-in night or clinic.

Two or three sessions will tell you whether the sport is for you, the point of the $0 start.

The budget tier (~$37)

The best tennis gear for beginners is the simplest version. The two-racket set is enough for a first session:

• The two-racket set ($36.99): Two 27-inch pre-strung adult rackets, tennis balls, a carry bag, and grip tape in one box, linked from the tennis starter pack. Two rackets make sense: most games are doubles, and a friend can learn with you.
• Tennis balls (included): The set includes balls, so you can hit as soon as you find a court. Replace them when they stop bouncing normally.
• Carry bag (included): Keeps rackets and small accessories together. Use the bag you have before buying a larger racket backpack.
• Grip tape (included): Replace it when the handle feels slick. The $7.99 overgrip three-pack is a later purchase, not part of the first-day total.

That is $36.99 for a full first month with shoes you own.

The full tier (~$87, recommended)

The three-item kit in the tennis starter pack suits weekly players:

1. Two-racket set ($36.99): The starter rackets above, with balls, bag, and first grip tape included.
2. Court shoes ($49.99): A low, firm, non-marking shoe holds up in lateral lunges. Stable cross-trainers are enough for the first session; buy court shoes once you are playing weekly.
3. Replacement overgrip pack ($7.99): Buy this only after the included tape wears out.

The full total is $86.98, including the later replacement grips. Most beginners start at the budget tier and add shoes and replacement grips as the habit sticks, as the starter pack orders it.

What to skip at the start

• A $200-plus racket. You will learn more from a comfortable pre-strung racket and one lesson than from a price tag.
• A second bag. The included carry bag is enough until you regularly bring extra clothes and several cans of balls.
• A ball machine. Borrow one or take a lesson when you can keep a rally going and know what practice problem you want it to solve.
• A full set of replacement grip, vibration dampeners, wristbands, and matching clothes. Replace the included tape only when it wears out.
• Running shoes for regular hard-court play. They may be fine for a gentle first hit if the court allows them, but they are not a good answer to repeated lateral movement.

The math, again

Tier	What you get	Cost
Free	Borrowed rackets + free public court	$0
Budget	Two-racket set with balls, bag, grip	$36.99
Full	Set + court shoes + replacement grips	$86.98
Skip	Premium racket + ball machine + extras	$300+

For most beginners the budget tier is the smartest month-one spend. Once you play weekly, the full tier is the right call. Tennis is one of the few sports where the starter gear costs less than a season of league fees, and many public courts remain free.

For the strength work that keeps you stable on the court, the home gym starter kit covers the bands-and-mat version. For the catalog of similar beginner kits, see the starter packs hub.