Paintball costs vary greatly depending on where and when you play.
Even within the same field there are differences between times of day or week due to weather conditions and other factors that affect game time and player turnout.
While some factors remain fairly constant year after year for most fields (like air compressor rental fees), others fluctuate dramatically from season to season.
This article will help you explain the answer to the question how much does it cost to paintball so you know exactly what you could and should be expecting to spend.
Paintball Gun Costs
The average professional grade gun runs $400-$600 but prices can vary wildly based on brand and model number.
For example, while you could spend over $1000 on certain models, cheaper guns start at under $200.
However, keep in mind that pro equipment costs thousands of dollars because top brands produce high quality gear that lasts longer and works properly every single time.
So don’t buy anything less expensive to save money upfront unless you want to risk ruining expensive new purchases later on.
Most beginner players use lower end paintball guns made primarily of plastic parts rather than metal. These guns usually break easier when dropped or hit hard objects, and have a shorter overall lifespan than higher end paintball guns.
Some manufacturers make specialized paintball guns designed specifically for tournament competitions, including the Empire Mini GS ($600) and the even more expensive Dye DAM paintball guns ($1499+).
Standard Paintball Guns
Premium Paintball Guns
Paintball Gun Rental Fees
It’s important to note that paintball gun rentals aren’t included in these estimates. Rentals typically run anywhere from $50 – $100 per session plus tax and sometimes additional insurance coverage may apply.
These will also generally be on the lower-end of the quality spectrum, which is why it’s beneficial to purchase your own paintball gun if you plan to play multiple times.
If it’s your first or second time going paintballing, there’s no shame in going for the rental, just understand that it cuts into your own personal paintball marker investment.
Paintball Apparel Costs
In the beginning of your paintballing career, apparel is not going to need to be as expensive or important as your paintball marker.
Having specific apparel and clothing to wear to paintball is essential.
Besides the paintball gun, paintball gear that are typically needed are protective equipment such as a mask, goggles, and kneepads.
In addition to these items, specialty paintball clothing is also needed to ensure you are able to move, be comfortable, and have the durability necessary to last for many games.
Of course, you wouldn’t want to ruin your regular going out clothing, would you?
Paintball Clothing Costs
Professional grade clothing tends to range between $30 – $150 per person. Prices can increase substantially if you plan to wear lots of accessories like hats, vests, jackets, etc.
Most beginner paintball jerseys retail for about $25 – $35. They often come complete with a logoed name tag, adjustable velcro straps, and mesh back panels for breathability.
More advanced players end up investing in shirts branded with their favorite team logos or names, however.
Higher end apparel includes padded undershirts, specialty hoodies, polos, and long sleeve turtlenecks.
Players who participate in extreme events like glow ball are likely to need protective eyewear.
Shirts and Pants for Paintball
Paintball Mask / Helmet Costs
Paintball masks and helmets are a necessary safety item for paintball players. They protect the face and head from any impacts that may occur during the game.
While paintball guns are obviously the main attraction of paintball, other items like goggles, masks, face shields, helmets, and earplugs are required safety equipment. All of these must meet strict industry standards and specifications.
Because of this, it’s generally not advisable to purchase cheap or substandard versions of vital safety equipment.
Instead, stick with trusted brands that carry manufacturer warranties and have been tested thoroughly.
Inexpensive masks can be purchased for around $30, while more expensive ones can cost upwards of $200.
This is a required purchase for anyone considering playing paintball.
Paintball Masks
Cost of Paintball Pads & Protection
Paintball pads are used to prevent injury to the body by creating a cushion between the skin and the ground and incoming paintball fire.
Protecting the body is the primary benefit of these pads.
These pads can be found in a variety of shapes and sizes, but they all serve the same purpose: to avoid beating yourself up in the field.
They are typically made of a woven material that is then filled with foam or another supportive material. Paintball pads are typically made by one of two companies, Dye or Empire.
Prices for pads and protective equipment are relatively inexpensive at around $10 to $50 per set of pads.
Chest pads are generally the largest and most expensive of the pads.
While protective pads are an optional purchase for paintballing, you will thank yourself later when you aren’t covered in scrapes and bruises from a long game of paintball!
Cost of Paintballs
The cost of paintballs is going to vary drastically depending on the quality of paintball and the amount you purchase.
There are also special paintballs for specific events that glow in the dark, explode in different colors, or made to shoot in freezing weather.
We will mostly discuss .68 caliber paintball costs since that is the most common caliber of paintball, especially for beginners.
A simple guideline to how much paintball costs is as follows:
- Standard .68 caliber paintballs are around $40 – $50 for a 2,000 round package
- Mid-tier .68 caliber paintballs are around $60 – $70 for a 2,000 round package
- High-end .68 caliber paintballs are around $80 – $100 for a 2,000 round package
- Specialty .68 caliber paintballs are around $70 – $100 for a 2,000 round package
Prices will depend heavily on what vendor you choose to purchase from, as well as the bulk amount that you buy them in.
Buying your paintballs online is generally cheaper than buying from a local paintball dealership.
There are many different types of paintballs you can continue to read about here.
Obviously, you will need to purchase paintballs to play paintball.
Standard Paintballs
Premium Paintballs
Specialty Paintballs
Compressed Air (HPA) Tank / CO2 Tank Pricing
Costs associated with compressed air and CO2 vary widely according to market fluctuations, age of tank, and the company you are using to refill your tank.
Compressed air refers to the gas mixture used to power paintball markers. Typically, air pressure ranges between 3,000-4,500 pounds per square inch (PSI).
In general, the CO2 tank for your paintball gun will last around 1,100 shots on a 20oz tank.
A compressed air / HPA tank will cost around $50 to up to $200.
CO2 tanks are getting phased out and are less common now, starting at $20 and usually up to around $50.
The larger tanks with more cubic inches (ci) will be more expensive, however they will last longer before needing to be refilled.
The higher PSI capacity that a tank has will also influence the price, this will allow you to shoot faster and further which is always a highly sought after feature.
HPA tanks and / or CO2 tanks are a required purchase.
Compressed Air / HPA Tanks
Local Field Paintballing Costs
Paintball costs vary city by city, based on local regulations and cost of living, as well as general population density and recreational activity levels.
In general, you can expect to pay between $30 to $100 per person for standard open play.
This is for any field fees, or required rental fees for the equipment or for certain days or scenarios. Each paintball venue will be different.
The best way to determine your own personal price range is to visit multiple sites around town and ask questions about their rates and policies.
If possible try playing during off peak hours like late afternoon or early evening when fewer people have signed up.
In addition, many fields offer discounts if you sign up with them for more than one event per month, which gives you an opportunity to see whether they work better for you financially.
There are also many different local paintballing events that will also vary in cost, based on the type of scenarios played.
Finally, consider paying extra for things like a private party area, VIP entry, or bringing a cooler full of food instead of just stopping for hot dogs and sodas along the way.
While it is not required to pay to play in an official paintball field, make sure that your local laws and regulations allow for paintball games in public spaces. Otherwise, with a large enough space, you can play on private property for free.
Cost of Travel
If you don’t live near a professional paintball field, you will need to travel to one.
In this case, we should consider calculating for our travel costs.
Simply driving to another city you can just expect to pay around $20 or so for gas costs.
However, many professionals will opt to fly to the most popular and pristine paintball locations available.
It’s common for experienced players to opt to book flights directly through airlines rather than booking separate hotel rooms.
An alternative would involve using travel services like Travelocity or Orbitz to book hotels and arrange transportation separately.
This option allows players to shop around for better deals and offers greater flexibility when planning group arrivals.
Lodging and Hotel Costs
Finally, lodging is another aspect of traveling that affects paintball cost considerably. Factors affecting cost include distance from airport, nearby attractions, and proximity to competition venues.
Depending on your preferences, hostels, motels, camping grounds, and self-hosted accommodations are available options.
To simplify calculations, assume an average rate of $120/night for a shared room with two beds.
Of course, rates change widely depending on location and type of accommodation.
Conclusion: How Much Does it Cost to Paintball?
The overall cost to start paintballing today, if you were to buy your own equipment is around $400 to $600 for a decent paintball gun, HPA tank, mask, and protective gear.
If you were to just trying paintball out for the first time or two, you can rent to save some initial money. This will probably run you around $100 to $150 per time you go out.
Now hopefully you have a better answer to your question “How much does it cost to paintball?”.
While overall costs can vary greatly, as a beginner you can keep it simple and avoid expensive pitfalls.
Buy what you are able to comfortably afford, but definitely spend a majority of your budget in your paintball gun and paintball equipment.
You can always get by with lower end apparel, padding, and masks until you are ready to invest more.
Now quit reading and get started paintballing!