How Much Does it Cost to Build a Ten-Pin Bowling Alley?

Having your own ten-pin bowling alley, whether it’s in your home or a commercial establishment, can seem quite the challenge. Not only does it look like a luxury, but building it also seems complicated. I’m here to debunk such a notion.

You might wonder, “how much does it cost to build a ten-pin bowling alley?”. According to estimates by Home Advisor, the cost for building a bowling alley starts at $45,000 and will increase depending on the equipment and customization you want added. You also need to allocate space for the alley, which can incur additional costs in most case.

Making the right decisions for each step of the way can make the venture worthwhile. That said, I’ll give you an overview of the typical cost involved when building a ten-pin bowling alley. This way, you can be well aware of the basics and find the right resources for it.

How Much Does a Ten-Pin Bowling Alley Roughly Cost?

When estimating the costs of a bowling alley, you should consider certain site-specific factors as well as your preferences. While you’d want to go for something grand and functional, it’s important to stick to the budget. So, here is a straightforward overview of the cost:

Plain and Simple

If your main objective is to build a ten-pin bowling alley that is simple, practical, and functional, then you can set a budget of a little over $80,000 per bowling lane. This setup includes the standard butcher block patterned lane and off-the-shelf white pins. Standard graphics are also applied to the lanes and the masking while the bowling balls have a single rack for standard colors.

If you are planning to increase the number of lanes for your alley, the cost for a plain bowling alley of 2 lanes is roughly $100,000 to $120,000. Meanwhile, a plain bowling alley of 4 lanes may cost you a little over $200,000. Basically, it includes all the essentials, with little to no accessorizing.

Upgraded and Customized

If you have the money, this is easily the most recommended setup to go for. That said, this setup roughly costs about $90,000 to $95,000 per bowling lane. The package includes upgraded versions of every essential bowling lane component, including the bumpers, a bowling shoes collection, standard ball collection, and maintenance kit. The cost also factors in the lighting costs and the integration of a standard metal ball ramp.

If you are planning to increase the number of lanes for your alley, the cost for an upgraded bowling alley of 2 lanes may cost you around $140,000 to $160,000. On the other hand, an upgraded bowling alley of 4 lanes may roughly cost you over $230,000 to $250,000.

Premium and Elite

This is essentially the setup we all want for the project. However, the struggle begins with the estimated cost of almost $100,000 to $150,000 per lane. Then again, it is the ultimate wow-factor showcase that includes better customization and luxury options. Generally, this is a bowling alley that can adequately accommodate the needs of elite bowling players.

That said, a premium bowling alley has glow-capable lanes that can be customized with logos or murals. In fact, every component included in this setup can be delivered with the logo of your establishment. In this setup, you can expect a wider range of color choices for the pins, capping, and masking.

In this budget, you are also given custom-designed standard bowling balls, a decent collection of customized bowling shoes, as well as glow-capable ramps and a maintenance supply kit. In addition to all this, the budget also covers the costs of the capping and pin lightworks for your bowling lane.

Package Inclusions

If you choose to hire a contractor to build your ten-pin bowling alley, then you can expect the costs to vary. That said, always do research on the reputation of these companies and also do comparisons on the quotations that each company provides.

While each construction package may differ in its inclusions, a few of the things that should be included, no matter what, are the following:

Daily or Regular Site Visits

You must require your contractor to visit the site or send an authorized representative to oversee the progress and workmanship of their workers.

Design Consultations

See to it that all design decisions applied to the project have gone through your approval. Any changes applied that you were not informed of should be reevaluated, with the additional costs to be paid by the contractor.

Installation Supervision and Safety Systems

In the event that you do visit the site, make sure that all installations and assembly work is supervised by a representative of the contractor or of the supplier company. There should also be safety systems that protect the workers from any mechanisms. If possible, the project ought to be set with an insurance policy.

Other Factors to Consider

Given the rough costing of these projects, there are also other factors that will come into play. This includes potential discounts, and unfortunately, additional fees depending on the contractor in charge.

Discounts

For the discounts, your location can determine how much you can cut from the cost. For example, bowling lane projects situated in states like South Caroline, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida tend to have cheaper fees that can save you up to a thousand dollars.

Another way you can cut costs is to check if a 3-phase electrical power source is available in the location. Lastly, your contractor may give you a discount if you had commissioned them for other projects in the past.

Additional Fees

One thing that may add to the overall cost of the project would be the complexity of the labor required to assemble and build the bowling alley. This is especially applicable to premium and elite projects. Installation labor may require specialized allied professionals and workers, so this could easily mean additional commissioning.

Your location is also an important factor to consider because logistics can affect the cost. If you are located too far from your suppliers, then the shipping and handling may cost you more. Hand-carried packages that are transported using the stairs may warrant additional labor costs. Also, some developments like commercial buildings may impose a fee for the working hours of construction.