If you’re investing in creating the perfect home, you’re going to want to include a home bowling alley cost in your budget. Remember all those nostalgic nights bowling with friends or on first dates?
Bowling is a fun and casual activity for any time, and wouldn’t it be so much better if it was right in your own house?
Seriously, imagine the parties you could throw. You’d be the favorite house in the neighborhood.
Or maybe you’re a bowling connoisseur looking to finally get a 300 and in need of a home practice space. Either way, you’re ready to make an in-home bowling alley happen.
Keep reading for all the information you’ll need about a home bowling alley cost.
Building a Bowling Alley
Depending on the budget for your bowling alley, there are various options for all the parts you’ll need to include. Consider your own bowling alley experiences, and decide which factors, designs, and extras were worth having.
Lanes
A traditional bowling lane, including the space for some of the equipment and bowling balls, is about 88 feet. Any room you decide to build your bowling alley in will need at least this much space in length.
However, it’s recommended that you plan for a room with about 100 feet in length, so there is space for a seating area at the top of the lane.
Scoring and Monitors
How high-tech do you want your score-keeping to be on your home bowling alley?
If you’re trying to stay within a tighter budget, pen and paper scorecards can do the job. If you’re going all out, you can install tablets for scoring and monitors above the lanes so everyone can keep track of the scores.
Pins
Simple white pins are a classic look for a bowling alley. There are also lots of design and customization options if you want something a little different.
If you have a family logo or crest, you can get that printed on your pins. Or, your bowling alley pins can represent your favorite football or basketball team.
You can even try to get a custom photo printed on your pins (maybe that hilarious one of your kid making a face after trying a lemon last year). The options are endless.
Ball Return
Another classic feature of bowling alleys is the ball return technologies. It’s not a true bowling alley experience without waiting for your ball to roll on back to you. It is, however, another cost to consider in the design process.
Bumpers
If you have young kids, or if there will be lots of amateur bowlers playing at your home bowling alley, you might want to consider purchasing bumpers in your initial build.
Bumpers help promote learning and enthusiasm for new bowlers because, let’s be honest, rolling into the gutter every time gets boring really quickly. Keep the fun going for the whole family with bumpers.
Shoes
You don’t necessarily have to consider buying traditional bowling shoes for your home alley, but you might want to consider it.
Especially if you have friends coming over to bowl or small children who want to come to play, having bowling shoes available will be beneficial for a number of reasons.
Bowling shoes allow for smoother movement across the slick bowling lane. Bare feet or everyday shoes can get stuck on the lane and can potentially cause injuries from sticking and tripping.
The bowling shoes also help protect the slick lane surface. Dirt, debris, and other outside materials on a bowling lane can compromise and ruin it. A ruined bowling lane also means potentially paying to fix and re-polish it.
Bowling Balls
When you get your bowling alley installed, you may be able to include bowling balls in your purchase.
Or, if you’re not considered about having new bowling balls, you can always surf the internet and keep a lookout for used bowling balls that can do the trick.
Seating
Seating is another aspect that isn’t strictly required when building a bowling alley. Having some classic bowling alley couches and seating really brings the whole atmosphere of your home alley together, though.
If that’s not your style, you can scour local resale pages and yard sales for the perfect, mix-and-match seating for your bowling alley. With the right amount of patience, you can make your dream bowling alley come to life.
Ball Ramp
If part of your inspiration for installing a home bowling alley is to teach your kids how to bowl, a ball ramp might come in handy.
Ball ramps help kids enjoy the game without needing to hold a heavy bowling ball or focus on the correct form right away. This helps keep the fun alive while kids are learning.
If you have the right materials, you can try to build your own ball ramp. Be mindful of what materials you decide to use because bowling balls will break right through certain construction materials like cardboard.
Home Bowling Alley Cost
Another factor to consider is how many lanes you want in your home bowling alley. The more lanes you want, the higher the cost of construction will be.
Other factors to consider are the type and technology of the equipment:
– Do they want something “family fun” or do they want something “boutique chic”
– Do they want Media mask projection video screens or something simple.
– LED touch screen to control the lanes and scoring or do they just want a standard keypad.
– Do they want a $16,500.00 computerized automatic lane conditioning machine or do they plan on conditioning the lanes by hand.
– Custom color or custom theme bowling lanes are optional.
– Logistics: Is the Bowling alley installation going to be in a lower level or an upper level of a residence.
The good news is that there are a lot of options to choose from. Bowling alleys are not a cheap investment, but if you’re committed to elevating your home experience, they are worth it. In total, it may cost around $120,000 – $195,000, depending on customizations, for two bowling lanes after your bowling alley is all finished and ready for use.
Benefits of a Home Bowling Alley
Building a bowling alley in your home is a great addition for the whole family. If you’re still not convinced, here are a few reasons why.
While a home bowling alley cost is definitely an investment, it will be worth it in the end. You’ll have a quality bowling alley to enjoy with all your friends and family.
Check out our past projects and find inspiration for your home bowling alley.
Have a Look at Some of Our Home Bowling Projects
