The best kids’ padel racket for most children aged about 8 to 12 is the Babolat Alioth Pro Junior, a light racket with a carbon face made for 8 to 12 year olds, which costs £84.96 (about $112 or €100). The Head Speed Junior is the best value at £43.99, and it suits children from about 10. Junior rackets are lighter than adult ones, usually 260 to 345g against 345 to 375g, and most teenagers can move to a light adult racket once they are strong enough. Last updated: October 2026.
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What size padel racket does a child need
Junior rackets are made for smaller arms. They are lighter than adult rackets, and the lightest ones are built for children aged five to eight. Give a child an adult racket and they will swing late, hit everything off the frame and get tired quickly, which is the fastest way to put them off the game.
Here is a rough guide, based on what the brands recommend for their own rackets.
- Around 5 to 8 years old. The lightest junior rackets, around 260 to 300g. At this age a racket that is easy to lift matters far more than anything else.
- Around 8 to 12 years old. A junior racket of about 300 to 325g, ideally round or teardrop shaped. This is where most of the picks below sit.
- 12 and over. Stronger juniors can move up to the heavier junior rackets of 335 to 345g, and many teenagers go straight to a light adult racket. Our guide to light and women’s rackets has good options at 345 to 360g.
Strength and how often they play matter more than age, so if your child plays tennis already, they may be ready to move up sooner.
Best junior padel rackets 2026 at a glance
| Racket | Shape | Weight | UK price, October 2026 | About, in USD and EUR | Best for | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Babolat Alioth Pro Junior | Not listed | Light | £84.96 | $112 / €100 | Best overall | Check price |
| Head Speed Junior 2023 | Teardrop | About 320g | £43.99 | $58 / €51 | Best value | Check price |
| Head Coello Junior 2025 | Teardrop | 310g | £59.46 | $78 / €70 | Young Coello fans | Check price |
| Bullpadel Indiga Boy 27 Junior | Teardrop | About 280g | £59.46 | $78 / €70 | Youngest players | Check price |
| Dunlop FX Junior | Hybrid | 335g | £42.46 | $56 / €50 | Older juniors on a budget | Check price |
| Bullpadel Vertex Junior 2026 | Diamond | 335 to 345g | £52.66 | $70 / €62 | Competitive teenagers | Check price |
1. Babolat Alioth Pro Junior, best overall
Babolat made the Alioth Pro Junior for 8 to 12 year olds who already play regularly. It is light with a medium balance, so a child can keep it up in front of them at the net, and the large head with its spread of holes forgives shots that come off the edge.
The frame mixes carbon and fibreglass, which keeps it light but solid enough for the knocks against the glass that junior rackets take. The face is carbon, so it feels livelier than the fibreglass rackets further down this list, which suits a child who is starting to hit the ball properly.
What you get: Light, medium balance, carbon face, carbon and fibreglass frame, grip sized for children’s hands.
Price and where to buy: In October 2026, Padel Nuestro had it for £84.96, so about $112 or €100.
Who it is for: Children of about 8 to 12 who play every week and want a proper racket.
- Light
- medium balance
- carbon face
Best for: Children of about 8 to 12 who play every week and want a proper racket
Check today’s price at Padel Nuestro
Check price at Padel Nuestro2. Head Speed Junior 2023, best value
Head built the Speed Junior for children from about 10, and at £43.99 it is the cheapest racket here from a big brand. It is a teardrop of about 320g with a low balance, so the weight sits near the hand and it feels lighter than it is.
It is last season’s model, which is why it has halved in price. The 2025 version is £60.99 at Padel Market if you would rather have the newer paint job.
What you get: Teardrop shape, about 320g, low balance, fibreglass face, Power Foam core.
Price and where to buy: £43.99 at Padel Market, down from £87.99, so about $58 or €51.
Who it is for: Children from about 10, and parents who want a good racket without spending much.
- Teardrop shape
- about 320g
- low balance
Best for: Children from about 10, and parents who want a good racket without spending much
£43.99 at Padel Market, October 2026
Check price at Padel Market3. Head Coello Junior 2025, for young Coello fans
Arturo Coello and his partner Agustín Tapia sit at the top of the world rankings, and this is the junior version of Coello’s racket. If your child watches Premier Padel, this is probably the one they will ask for.
Happily it is a sensible racket too. At 310g with a low balance it is one of the lighter options here, and the fibreglass face is soft and forgiving. It is a teardrop, so it has a little more punch than a round racket.
What you get: Teardrop shape, 310g, low balance, fibreglass face, Power Foam core.
Price and where to buy: £59.46 at Padel Nuestro, down from £93.46, so about $78 or €70.
Who it is for: Children of about 8 to 12 who follow the pros.
- Teardrop shape
- 310g
- low balance
Best for: young Coello fans
£59.46 at Padel Nuestro, October 2026
Check price at Padel Nuestro4. Bullpadel Indiga Boy 27 Junior, for the youngest players
Bullpadel built the Indiga Boy Junior for children who are just starting out. At about 280g it is the lightest racket here with a published weight, with a medium balance and a slim 26mm profile, so a small child can hold it up through a whole lesson.
A marked zone on the frame shows where the second hand goes on a two-handed shot, which helps children learn the grip, and it is the one we would choose for a six or seven year old.
What you get: Teardrop shape, about 280g, 26mm profile, glass-fibre faces, soft rubber core, carbon tube frame.
Price and where to buy: In October 2026, Padel Nuestro had it for £59.46, so about $78 or €70.
Who it is for: Children of about 5 to 8 having their first lessons.
- Teardrop shape
- about 280g
- 26mm profile
Best for: Children of about 5 to 8 having their first lessons
£59.46 at Padel Nuestro, October 2026
Check price at Padel Nuestro5. Dunlop FX Junior, for older juniors on a budget
At £42.46 the Dunlop FX Junior is the cheapest racket on this list. It is heavier than the others at 335g, which makes it better for an older or stronger child than for a beginner of seven.
The frame is a little thinner than an adult racket, at 36mm, which keeps the weight down, and the soft EVA core takes the sting out of off-centre hits. The hybrid shape sits between round and teardrop.
What you get: Hybrid shape, 335g, 36mm profile, graphite construction, soft EVA core.
Price and where to buy: £42.46 at Padel Nuestro, down from £63.71, so about $56 or €50.
Who it is for: Children of about 11 and over who want a budget racket.
- Hybrid shape
- 335g
- 36mm profile
Best for: older juniors on a budget
£42.46 at Padel Nuestro, October 2026
Check price at Padel Nuestro6. Bullpadel Vertex Junior 2026, for competitive teenagers
This is the junior version of Bullpadel‘s Vertex, the brand’s best-known attacking racket. It is a diamond shape, so the sweet spot sits high on the face and the racket rewards a strong, clean swing.
At 335 to 345g it is at the heavy end for a junior racket, with a carbon frame and fibreglass faces. That makes it a good bridge to an adult racket, but it is too much for a child who is still learning.
What you get: Diamond shape, 335 to 345g, carbon frame, fibreglass faces, Evalastic core.
Price and where to buy: The boys’ version is £52.66 at Padel Nuestro, down from £76.46. The girls’ version is £69.99 at Padel Market, and the Bullpadel Hack Junior Girl is a similar diamond racket at £59.99.
Who it is for: Teenagers who already train regularly and play matches.
What to look for in a kids’ padel racket
Weight first
The single most important thing is that your child can swing the racket comfortably for a whole session. If they are dropping their arm or holding the racket halfway up the handle by the end, it is too heavy.
A round or teardrop shape
Round and teardrop rackets have a big, forgiving sweet spot. Diamond rackets are for older juniors with good technique, so leave those until your child is competing.
Do not buy too big to grow into
It is tempting to buy a bigger racket so it lasts longer, but a racket that is too heavy will hold their game back. Junior rackets are cheap enough that buying the right one now and another in a couple of years is the better plan.
Cheaper options
If your child is only trying the sport, most clubs lend rackets for junior lessons, and our guide to junior padel in the UK covers clubs and coaching. Decathlon also sells a kids’ Kuikma racket for ages 5 to 8 at £24.99, and our cheap padel rackets guide covers the budget end in more detail. For more choice, Padel Nuestro has a full junior racket section.
A junior racket also makes a good Christmas or birthday present, and our padel gift guide has ideas to go with it.
Kids’ padel racket FAQ
What is the best padel racket for kids?
For most children of about 8 to 12, the Babolat Alioth Pro Junior at £84.96. It is light, with a carbon face and a frame of carbon and fibreglass that stands up to knocks. The Head Speed Junior at £43.99 is the best value.
What size padel racket should a child use?
Children of about 5 to 8 need the lightest rackets, around 260 to 300g. From about 8 to 12, a junior racket of 300 to 325g suits most, and stronger teenagers can move to 335 to 345g or a light adult racket.
At what age can a child use an adult padel racket?
Usually from about 12 to 14, once they are strong enough to swing a 345 to 360g racket comfortably for a whole session. Strength and how often they play matter more than age.
How much does a junior padel racket cost?
Good junior rackets from the big brands cost about £40 to £85. Decathlon’s Kuikma kids’ racket is £24.99 for children aged 5 to 8.
Do kids need their own padel racket?
Not straight away. Most clubs lend rackets for junior lessons, so it is worth waiting until your child is playing every week before you buy one.
