How many rounds should an Americano have, and how long will it take?
Plan about 16 minutes a round at 24 points, including the change of courts, so two hours fits 7 or 8 rounds. For the fairest table, stop at a number of rounds where everyone has played the same number of games. The table below gives that number for 5 to 16 players.
What is the simple answer?
Divide your court time by about 16 minutes, one round at 24 points with the change of courts. This is the schedule each group size gets on this site, on the most courts it fills; each number opens every round.
| Players | Courts | Rounds shown | Minutes at 16 | At 24 | At 32 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | 5 | 56 | 80 | 104 |
| 6 | 1 | 6 | 67 | 95 | 124 |
| 7 | 1 | 7 | 78 | 111 | 145 |
| 8 | 2 | 7 | 78 | 111 | 145 |
| 9 | 2 | 9 | 100 | 143 | 186 |
| 10 | 2 | 8 | 89 | 127 | 166 |
| 11 | 2 | 8 | 89 | 127 | 166 |
| 12 | 3 | 8 | 89 | 127 | 166 |
| 13 | 3 | 8 | 89 | 127 | 166 |
| 14 | 3 | 7 | 78 | 111 | 145 |
| 15 | 3 | 8 | 89 | 127 | 166 |
| 16 | 4 | 8 | 89 | 127 | 166 |
How long is one round?
| Points per match | Playing time | With the change of courts |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | about 10 minutes | about 11 minutes |
| 24 | about 14 minutes | about 16 minutes |
| 32 | about 19 minutes | about 21 minutes |
These use the Padelato app's estimate: about 0.6 minutes a point plus 1.5 minutes to change courts. Organisers on r/padel report 10 to 15 minutes for a 24-point match (r/padel, July 2024), so fast groups finish a little sooner.
Why do odd groups need more rounds?
When some players sit out, games only even up after a certain number of rounds.
The sit-out guide has the rhythm for every group size, and the 6-player page explains why generators disagree.
What if we run out of time?
Stop after a complete round. Stop halfway and the courts that finished have one more game than the rest. A fair schedule keeps games within one of each other all evening, and a sit-out credit stops anyone a game short from falling behind.
What if we have time left?
Add a round at the end. A printed schedule usually has the next round of the cycle on the page, and an app draws the extra round so it still avoids repeated partners.
Next: who sits out, and how to keep it fair.
Questions people ask
How long is one round of padel Americano?
About 16 minutes at 24 points, including the walk to the next court. At 16 points a round takes about 11 minutes, at 32 points about 21.
How many rounds fit in two hours?
Seven or eight rounds at 24 points, or ten to eleven rounds at 16 points. Leave five minutes at the start for warming up.
Why do some group sizes need a specific number of rounds?
When players sit out, games only even up after a certain number of rounds. With 6 players on one court that happens every 3 rounds, so 6 rounds is fairer than 5.
What if we run out of time before the last round?
Stop after any complete round. The table stays fair as long as everyone has the same number of games or one fewer, and the sit-out credit covers the difference.
Can I add a round if we have time left?
Yes, add it at the end. An app draws the extra round so it still avoids repeated partners where possible.