7 Best Cheap Tennis Shoes in 2026

How we test cheap tennis shoes

With cheap shoes, it's important to uncover where the costs were cut. Is there anything that the shoes are lacking so much it's a deal breaker? Are the materials cheap? If they are not durable, our Dremel test will tell us, because we intentionally damage the toebox, outsole, heel padding, and toe guard to find out. Is the traction bad? We put the shoe into the traction machine and measure the friction coefficient of its outsole.

We also cut the shoes open, exposing all their parts for analysis and further lab testing. All our data is published on the website, and you can use it to find the best cheap tennis shoe out there.

Where do cheap tennis shoes cut corners?

Brands obviously have to make compromises to keep the shoe price down. You will not find equally premium materials, advanced cushioning technologies, or fancy stability shanks in cheaper models. The latter might as well be heavier and feel far from luxurious on the foot.

Cheaper shoes don’t necessarily make you less effective on the court, but here are some of the areas where a certain downgrade is to be expected:

• No outsole durability warranty: Unlike some premium tennis shoes, budget-friendly models typically don't include a 6-month outsole durability warranty for premature wear.
• More basic materials: A simpler mesh may not feel as soft against the skin, and regular EVA midsoles may not feel as comfortable or responsive as more advanced cushioning foams.

While this can sound discouraging, the good news is that these compromises aren't always noticeable during casual play. Beginners and recreational players can still expect the necessary traction and lateral support without overpaying for premium materials and technologies they don’t really need.

In our lab, we test all shoes under the same conditions, regardless of the price point. This allows us to compare all models across 30+ measured parameters and identify where they perform well. In fact, sometimes, more budget-friendly options surprise us with premium-level results! 

This overview helps us identify which cheap tennis shoes deliver genuine value and which cut corners in the wrong places.

Stability is non-negotiable even in cheap tennis shoes

No matter your playing level and budget, reliable lateral stability should always be a priority in tennis shoes. The sport involves plenty of abrupt stops, aggressive side-to-side movements, and quick changes of direction, all of which put considerable sideways pressure on your feet and footwear.

That's why even the cheapest tennis shoes should provide a stable platform and keep your feet securely contained during lateral movements. Otherwise, you may experience unwanted foot shifting, a wobbly ride, or a lack of confidence when pushing off and landing.

Fortunately, good stability doesn't always require expensive technologies. Even budget-friendly tennis shoes can offer a reassuringly stable ride thanks to a few fundamental design features:

• Wide platform: Provides a broader base of support, particularly in the forefoot.
• Stiff heel counter: Contributes to a more secure lockdown by holding the rearfoot firmly in place.
• High torsional rigidity: Resists twisting forces and excessive sideways tipping.

In our lab, we assess and measure each of these characteristics to determine whether a tennis shoe provides the support needed for confident movement on the court. These test results, combined with our own on-court observations, form the basis of each shoe's stability score.

Reliable outsole traction should be affordable

Much like lateral stability, reliable outsole traction should not be sacrificed when shopping for cheap tennis shoes.

Whether you're chasing a wide shot, braking abruptly, or pushing off for a quick change of direction, your shoes need to grip the court predictably to keep you in control.

Fortunately, good grip isn't exclusive to expensive tennis shoes. Even budget-friendly models can feature grippy rubber compounds and well-designed tread patterns that perform admirably on hard courts. And while premium shoes may boast proprietary rubber technologies, a higher price tag doesn't automatically translate to better grip.

However, more traction isn't always better. An overly aggressive grip can make controlled sliding and pivoting more difficult, so the ideal outsole should strike a balance between secure footing and freedom of movement.

In our lab, we assess each shoe’s outsole traction using a specialised machine that measures the friction coefficient in the forefoot area. These results allow us to compare inexpensive tennis shoes with their premium counterparts and identify affordable models that offer reliable grip without the hefty price tag.

Keep in mind that traction can vary depending on the court surface. If you primarily play on hard courts (most common among entry-level and recreational players), look for shoes with outsoles designed for abrasive acrylic surfaces, aka hard-court or all-court shoes.

Are cheap tennis shoes durable enough?

Saving money on tennis shoes only makes sense if they don't wear out after a handful of matches. After all, you don’t want to replace a cheap pair twice as often and end up spending more than you would by investing in a durable but pricier model.

Fortunately, a lower price tag doesn't automatically mean poor durability. Some budget-friendly tennis shoes can hold up surprisingly well on abrasive hard courts.

We apply controlled abrasion to the following four areas of the shoe:

• Outsole: As the shoe’s most high-wear area, outsole durability is essential to a tennis shoe's lifespan. We apply higher Dremel speed to this area and measure the depth of the dent with a calliper. The shallower the dent, the better the durability.
• Toe drag guard: Whether it’s extended outsole rubber or additional PU overlays, we want to see the shoe’s medial forefoot area protected from sliding and toe dragging.
• Toebox: A strong upper textile will not tear easily during intense play.
• Heel padding: Constant multi-directional movement also places significant pressure on the inner side of the shoe’s collar.

The results of these Dremel tests indicate whether a given shoe offers good long-term durability or has limited wear resistance in certain areas.

Of course, we can’t predict a shoe's lifespan in months, as it also depends on how often you play, your footwork, and the court surface. A recreational player hitting the court once or twice a week may get plenty of use out of an affordable pair, while an aggressive player training daily may need something more hard-wearing.

Affordable shoes with the highest durability results offer the best value for money.

Please note that the result for Outsole durability is reversed (the lower the number, the better).

Shock absorption in cheap tennis shoes

The high-impact nature of tennis, paired with its unforgiving hard courts, can be hard on the feet and joints of a beginner player, even if they don’t play for too long or too often. But at the same time, you don’t want the platform to feel overly soft and tall and risk wobbling.

Having cut and measured dozens of tennis shoes in all price ranges, we found that lower cost doesn’t necessarily mean less impact protection or comfort!

Sure, basic EVA and PU foams can make cheaper tennis shoes feel less premium or less responsive, but our lab test results show that most of these affordable options provide sufficient or even rather good cushioning.

Our SA measurements reflect the level of shock absorption offered by tennis shoes: the higher the SA reading, the better the protection.

Cheap vs. discounted premium tennis shoes

In this guide, we cover budget tennis shoes with an MSRP of £100 or less. However, having a limited budget doesn’t mean you can’t consider more advanced options that have been discounted or discontinued. Just because a new iteration is out doesn’t mean its predecessor performs poorly.

In fact, our lab tests confirm that sometimes a previous-generation shoe yields better, or at least comparable, results than the new version!

We aggregate discounts and offers from 200+ online retailers to let you know where your chosen pair of tennis shoes in your chosen size and colour is currently offered at the lowest price. You can also set up a price alert to receive an email notification about the price drop.