How to Price Your Sports Facility Rentals

How to Price Sports Facility Rentals

Set your base rate from your operating costs, then adjust by time slot based on demand. Flat pricing across all hours is the most common mistake — it underprices peak and overprices off-peak.

Step 1: Calculate Your Cost Per Hour

You can't price without knowing your costs.

Monthly fixed costs (add these up):

• Rent/mortgage
• Insurance
• Utilities (turf facilities: add HVAC)
• Staff (minimum coverage)
• Maintenance and upkeep
• Software/tools

Cost per available hour = monthly fixed costs / monthly available hours

Example: $8,000/month in fixed costs with 160 available hours/month = $50/hour break-even.

Everything above $50/hour is margin. Everything below is a loss (unless you're filling what would otherwise be $0).

Step 2: Research Your Market

Check what comparable facilities charge. Compare:

• Same sport, similar surface quality
• Same geographic area (within 15-20 min drive)
• Similar amenities (lights, indoor/outdoor, restrooms)

You don't have to match the cheapest. You have to match the value — if your surface is better, your price can be higher.

Step 3: Create Time-Based Tiers

Flat pricing leaves money on the table. Your Saturday morning and your Tuesday morning have different demand — they should have different prices.

The off-peak floor: Don't go below your variable cost (the cost of having the facility open for one additional hour — lights, HVAC, staff). But anything above that is incremental profit from an hour that would have earned $0.

For more on filling off-peak hours specifically, read how to increase your sports facility revenue.

Step 4: Decide What's Included

Hidden fees frustrate coaches and kill repeat bookings. Be transparent about what's in the price:

Include in hourly rate (recommended):

• Use of the field/court
• Standard lighting
• Restroom access
• Parking

Charge separately (if applicable):

• Equipment rental (goals, nets, cones)
• Score clock operation
• Extended setup/cleanup time
• Field lining/marking

List everything upfront. Coaches comparing you to a competitor at $70/hour need to know if your $60/hour rate plus $15 in add-ons is actually $75. Marketplaces like FieldPicker show pricing before booking — make sure yours is clear.

Step 5: Set Recurring Discounts

Recurring bookings are worth more than one-time bookings because they guarantee utilization and reduce acquisition costs.

Standard recurring discounts:

• Weekly recurring (8+ weeks): 10-15% off
• Daily recurring (camps, clinics): 15-20% off
• Season commitment (16+ weeks): 15-20% off

The discount pays for itself in guaranteed revenue and zero acquisition cost for those hours.

Common Pricing Mistakes

Pricing too high for off-peak: An empty hour earns $0. A discounted hour earns something. Don't let pride about your "standard rate" leave hours empty.

Pricing too low for peak: If your 6 PM Saturday slot books instantly every week, it's underpriced. Raise it 10-15% and see if demand holds.

Copying competitors blindly: Their cost structure is different from yours. Price based on YOUR costs and YOUR value proposition.

Not reviewing quarterly: Demand shifts seasonally. Review and adjust pricing every 3 months at minimum.

Keep Reading

• Why your facility needs online booking — capture bookings 24/7
• Complete guide to sports facility marketing — fill your calendar
• How FieldPicker helps your facility grow — marketplace discovery

List With Transparent Pricing

List your facility on FieldPicker with clear, upfront pricing. Coaches compare before they book — transparent pricing wins.