Two quotations for the same court can differ by two or three times, and most of the gap sits outside the court itself. This guide explains what each Incoterm covers, how many courts fit in a container, which items a factory quotation leaves out, and which clauses to read line by line before you sign.
The same court carries three different prices depending on where the supplier’s responsibility ends. Read the term before you read the number:
| Term | What the price includes | What you still pay |
|---|---|---|
| EXW | Handover at the factory gate: the kit is crated and ready to collect | Inland freight, export clearance, loading, ocean freight, insurance, duties |
| FOB | EXW plus inland haulage to the port, export declaration and container loading — the container is on board in Tianjin | Ocean freight, insurance, import duties and taxes |
| CIF | FOB plus ocean freight and insurance to your destination port | Import duties, local taxes, unloading, inland delivery |
For a first order, FOB is the cleanest way to compare suppliers: freight varies by season and route, so a CIF price bundles a moving cost into the number you are trying to compare. Always ask every supplier for the same Incoterm and the same named port.
The kit is rarely the largest line in the project. Four numbers decide the budget, and only the first one is on the factory quotation:
In the United States, freight, foundation and installation together often match or exceed the kit price. Our cost guide breaks a US project down stage by stage, so you can see where the money goes before you commit.
Container density is the single most useful number when you compare quotations, because it converts a per-court price into real freight. These are the figures we quote against:
| Model | Courts per 40HQ | Courts per 20GP | Weight & volume per court | Production lead time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panoramic, frameless (economy) | 4 | 2 | ~9,000 kg · 22.5 CBM | 10–15 days |
| Panoramic, competition spec | 4 | 2 | ~9,000 kg · 22.5 CBM | 10–15 days |
| Integrated roof / canopy | 2 | — | ~12,000 kg · ~30 CBM | 20–30 days |
The roof structure halves the packing density, which is why a canopy model looks expensive per container but is usually the only way to play all year. Spare parts and customisation take up space too — confirm the loading plan with the order, not after it.
A factory quotation covers what leaves the factory. These items normally sit outside it, and each one has to be budgeted locally:
Ask the supplier to mark every line as included, excluded or optional. That one column prevents most budget surprises, and it makes two quotations directly comparable.
Additions are priced on actual material and labour, so they belong on the quotation as separate lines rather than folded into the court price. The ones that change a budget most often:
Our product page lists typical add-on costs and the standard colours that are free of charge, so you can estimate the delta before requesting a formal quotation.
Steel prices and exchange rates move, so a factory quotation carries a validity window. Two clauses matter more than the dates themselves:
Payment terms in this trade are normally 50% deposit on order and 50% before shipment by T/T in USD, with staged payments for multi-court orders. If your board needs four to eight weeks to approve, say so at the quotation stage — a shorter validity with a reservation is cheaper than a re-quote at a weaker rate.
A single warranty number for the whole court hides the differences that matter. Ask for a per-component table instead:
| Component | Warranty we issue in writing |
|---|---|
| Steel structure, fencing and frame | 5 years |
| PVDF roofing membrane | 10 years |
| Powder-coating colour fastness | 5 years |
| SS304 bolts, nuts and washers | rust-free for life |
A headline such as “15-year warranty” usually describes service life under normal conditions rather than a written warranty on every part — those are different promises. If the site is within a few kilometres of the sea, ask about the hot-dip galvanising upgrade and get its life expectancy in writing as well.
Usually because the two quotations cover different scopes. A kit-only EXW price excludes freight, foundation and installation, while an installed price includes them. Compare glass thickness (12 mm versus thinner), steel weight, container density and the per-component warranty before you compare the totals.
FOB is easier to verify: you keep control of the freight quote and can compare forwarders. CIF is simpler to administer, but the ocean freight is bundled into the supplier’s price and its margin becomes invisible.
Four panoramic courts per 40HQ (economy or competition specification), or two per 20GP. A model with an integrated roof takes two per 40HQ because the roof structure reduces packing density.
Quartz sand, turf adhesive, foundation and ground works, installation labour and crane hire, import duties and taxes, and optional on-site supervision by a factory technician.
Typically from a week to a month, because steel prices and exchange rates move. Ask which exchange rate the quotation uses and whether the validity also reserves a production slot.
Send us the court count, the country and the Incoterm you want to compare on — we reply within 12 hours with a quotation itemised line by line, including what is excluded.
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