How does padel scoring work?
Padel scores each game love, 15, 30, 40 and game, and the serving pair calls its own score first. A pair wins a set with 6 games and a margin of two games, and a 7-point tie-break settles a set at 6-6. The FIP Rules of Padel state that a match is the best of three sets.
On this page
- What are the points in a padel game?
- What happens at deuce in padel?
- How does a pair win a padel set?
- How does a pair win a padel match?
- What does one padel game look like, point by point?
- When do padel players change ends?
- Which scoring methods does the FIP allow?
- Where do these padel rules come from?
What are the points in a padel game?
A padel game has four named scores. A pair with no point has love. The first point won is 15, the second point is 30 and the third point is 40. The fourth point wins the game, unless both pairs hold three points. The server calls the score of the serving pair first.
| Points won | The call | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Love | The pair has won no point in this game. |
| 1 | 15 | The pair has won one point. |
| 2 | 30 | The pair has won two points. |
| 3 | 40 | The pair has won three points. |
| 4 | Game | The pair wins the game, if the opponents hold two points or fewer. |
The point sequence inside one padel game
The numbers 15, 30 and 40 are names, not a count. They do not add up to anything. A pair needs four points to win a game, and a margin of two points from 40-40.
What happens at deuce in padel?
Deuce is the score when both pairs hold three points. Players call it 40-40. The FIP Rules of Padel give three methods for the points after deuce, and the competition selects one before the match.
- Advantage. The pair that wins the point after deuce holds advantage. That pair wins the game with the next point. If the other pair wins the next point, the score returns to deuce.
- Star Point. The pair play advantage twice. If the score returns to deuce a third time, one deciding point settles the game.
- Golden point. One deciding point settles the game at the first deuce. The receiving pair chooses the side, and the receiving players cannot swap positions.
The golden point guide explains the deciding point in full, including the rule for mixed matches.
How does a pair win a padel set?
The first pair to win 6 games wins the set, with a margin of two games. At 5-5 the pair must win two more games and take the set 7-5. At 6-6 the pair play a tie-break, and the set ends 7-6. The tie-break guide gives the serving order and the change of ends.
| Game score | What happens | Final set score |
|---|---|---|
| 6-0 to 6-4 | The leading pair holds a margin of two games. | The set ends at once. |
| 5-5 | The pair play on until one pair leads by two games. | 7-5 |
| 6-5 | The pair play one more game. | 7-5 or 6-6 |
| 6-6 | The pair play a 7-point tie-break. | 7-6 |
How a padel set ends
How does a pair win a padel match?
The FIP Rules of Padel state that a match is the best of three sets. A pair wins the match with two sets. The rules also allow a third set without a tie-break, if the organiser states this before the match. In that case the pair must win the third set by two games.
The same rules list alternative methods for a shorter match. A mini set goes to four games. A tie-break to 7 points can replace the third set. A super tie-break to 10 points can also replace the third set. A competition must announce the method in advance.
What does one padel game look like, point by point?
The table below follows one game. Team A serves, so the score of Team A is called first.
| Point | Winner | The call | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team A | 15-0 | The serving pair leads. |
| 2 | Team B | 15-15 | The score is level. |
| 3 | Team B | 15-30 | The receiving pair leads. |
| 4 | Team A | 30-30 | The score is level again. |
| 5 | Team A | 40-30 | Team A holds a game point. |
| 6 | Team B | 40-40 | The score is deuce. |
| 7 | Team A | Game, or advantage | With the golden point, Team A wins the game. With advantage scoring, Team A holds advantage. |
A worked example. Team A serves this game.
A live scoreboard holds three numbers for each team. The example below shows sets won, games in the current set, and the points in the current game.
Team A leads by one set. In set 2 Team A leads 4-3 in games and 40-30 in the current game. The gold dot marks the serving team.
When do padel players change ends?
Padel players change ends after the first game, the third game and every later odd game of the set. In a tie-break the pairs change ends after every six points. The rules allow 90 seconds for a change of ends during a set and 120 seconds at the end of a set. After the first game of a set the players do not rest, and they do not rest inside a tie-break.
Which scoring methods does the FIP allow?
The FIP Rules of Padel list three methods for a game and several methods for a set. A club match often uses the golden point to keep courts on time. A professional match on the 2026 Premier Padel tour uses the Star Point.
| Method | What it changes | Maximum deciding points |
|---|---|---|
| Advantage | A pair must win two points in a row after deuce. | No limit |
| Star Point | The pair play advantage twice, then one deciding point. | Two advantages |
| Golden point | One deciding point settles the game at the first deuce. | One point |
The three methods for a game at deuce. The same rules also allow a four-game mini set, a match tie-break to 7 points and a super tie-break to 10 points.
A scorekeeper must set the method before the first serve. A change in the middle of a match makes the record unreliable. PadelArc applies these rules automatically, including the golden point option. See what the app does.
Where do these padel rules come from?
The International Padel Federation (FIP) publishes the Rules of Padel. This page follows the edition marked for application from 1 January 2026. Rule 1 covers the score in a game, the tie-break and the alternative methods. Rule 5 covers the changes of sides. National federations publish shorter summaries for club play.
Sources. FIP Rules of Padel, Rule 1 and Rule 5, edition applied from 1 January 2026. The FIP announced the Star Point for professional competition on 18 December 2025, after the General Assembly approved it on 28 November 2025. One sentence in the golden point section of the FIP document says the winner of the deciding point wins the match. The parallel Star Point section says the winner takes the game, which is how referees apply it.
What else do people ask about padel scoring?
What are the points in padel called?
A padel pair with no point has love. The first point is 15, the second point is 30 and the third point is 40. The fourth point wins the game, unless both pairs hold three points.
How many games do you need to win a padel set?
A pair wins a padel set with 6 games and a margin of two games. At 5-5 the pair must reach 7-5. At 6-6 the pair play a tie-break, and the set ends 7-6.
How many sets are in a padel match?
The FIP Rules of Padel state that a match is the best of three sets. A pair wins the match with two sets. Some competitions replace the third set with a match tie-break.
Whose score is called first in padel?
The serving pair calls its own score first. A call of 40-30 means the serving pair holds three points and the receiving pair holds two points.
What is deuce in padel?
Deuce is the score when both pairs hold three points, which players call 40-40. The competition then applies advantage scoring, the Star Point or the golden point.
When do padel players change ends?
Padel players change ends after the first game, the third game and every later odd game of the set. In a tie-break the pairs change ends after every six points.
Does padel have a 0 point called love?
Yes. The FIP Rules of Padel call a score of no points love. A game therefore starts at love-love, which players often say as love-all.