Ask five companies what a backyard batting cage costs and you'll get five sales pitches. Here's the honest version: a serviceable DIY cage starts around $1,500–$3,000, a quality mid-range build lands between $5,000 and $15,000, and premium turnkey installations run $15,000–$40,000+. What moves the number is almost entirely four components — netting, frame, surface, and machine — so let's price each one.
The Four Big Line Items
Netting: $200–$1,200
A 55-foot #36-gauge nylon or poly net runs roughly $300–$600; a 70-foot #42 or #60 heavy-duty net can push past $1,000. Twine gauge is the durability lever — thin #21 netting is fine for tee-ball and soft toss but wears fast against real exit velocity. UV-treated netting matters outdoors; untreated net in Sun Belt exposure can lose half its life.
Frame: $400–$4,000
Options range from fiberglass-pole kits with tension cables ($400–$1,200) through galvanized steel pipe frames ($1,500–$4,000 installed). Steel wins on lifespan and net tension; fiberglass wins on price and forgiving ball contact. Wood posts are the budget play but need serious footings and still sag over time.
Surface: $0–$8,000
Hitting off existing grass costs nothing but turns to mud in a wet spring. Decomposed granite or crushed stone with a batter's-box mat runs $500–$1,500. The premium answer — compacted base or concrete with artificial turf — costs $3,000–$8,000 for a full cage footprint but transforms drainage, footing, and year-round usability. We compare the options head-to-head in our turf vs. concrete guide.
Pitching machine: $300–$3,500
A basic single-wheel machine starts around $300–$700; two- and three-wheel machines that throw breaking balls run $1,500–$3,500. Plenty of families skip the machine at first and add it season two — the cage is useful from day one with a tee and front toss.
The Costs Nobody Quotes You
Budget a cushion for the unglamorous items: site leveling and drainage ($300–$2,000 depending on your yard), concrete footings for steel frames ($150–$300 per post installed), an L-screen ($150–$400), balls and a tee ($150+), and lighting if you want evening sessions ($300–$2,000). Some municipalities require a permit for permanent structures over a certain height — a $50 phone call to your city beats a $500 surprise. Our guide to how much space a cage actually needs covers the layout questions that drive site-prep cost.
Three Realistic Budgets
Starter ($1,500–$3,000): 35–55 ft fiberglass kit, #36 net, grass or gravel surface, tee and L-screen. Perfectly good for youth players and soft toss.
Serious ($5,000–$15,000): 55–70 ft steel frame, #42 UV-treated net, turf over compacted base, single- or two-wheel machine, basic lighting. This is the setup that lasts a decade and handles high-school exit velocity.
Premium ($15,000–$40,000+): 70 ft engineered structure, #60 netting, professional turf install, three-wheel programmable machine, full lighting — commercial quality at home.
The Offset Most Builders Miss
A well-built backyard cage is rentable inventory. Hosts on CageList list their cages by the hour and let local players book the time their own family doesn't use — many mid-range builds cover their cost within a couple of seasons. See how the marketplace works, and browse cages near you to see what setups in your area charge before you finalize your build spec — it's free market research. And for the step-by-step build path itself — planning, materials, assembly — start with our DIY build guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the cheapest way to get a real batting cage?
A 35–55 ft fiberglass-and-cable kit with #36 netting over your existing lawn: roughly $1,500–$2,500 with a tee and L-screen included.
What adds the most value per dollar?
The surface. Turf over a compacted base turns a fair-weather cage into an all-year cage — it typically outranks a machine upgrade in real usage gained.
Do I need a permit?
Sometimes, especially for permanent frames with footings or structures above fence height. Call your city's permitting office before you order steel.
Can the cage pay for itself?
Many do. Hourly rentals in active baseball markets run $25–$55, and hosting on CageList during idle hours is how a growing number of owners fund the build.
