Badminton vs Squash — 247SportTools

Quick answerBadminton and squash are both fast indoor racket sports with high fitness demands, but the playing environment differs fundamentally. Badminton is played over a net with a shuttlecock, emphasising overhead shots, jumps and explosive court coverage. Squash is played against a front wall in an enclosed court with a bouncing ball, emphasising continuous movement, wall angles and relentless rallies. Squash is often cited as one of the highest calorie-burning sports; competitive badminton singles is comparably intense. Both build exceptional cardiovascular fitness and agility.

Factor	Badminton	Squash
Court	Net, open court	Enclosed, front wall
Projectile	Shuttlecock	Bouncing ball
Movement	Explosive, jumping	Continuous, lunging
Calorie burn	500-560 kcal/hr (singles)	600-900 kcal/hr
Key shots	Smash, clear, drop	Drive, drop, boast
Social doubles	Common	Less common

Choose Badminton when…

You prefer net play and overhead smashing, enjoy explosive jumping movement, want a sport playable in doubles socially, or like the shuttlecock's unique flight.

Choose Squash when…

You enjoy continuous wall-based rallies, want one of the highest-calorie-burning workouts, prefer the enclosed-court intensity, or like the tactical angles off the walls.

Gear for both

Badminton Racket (Yonex)

Light all-round racket.

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Squash Racket

Control-oriented squash racket.

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FAQ

Which burns more calories, badminton or squash?

Squash typically edges ahead — it's frequently ranked among the very highest calorie-burning sports (600-900 kcal/hr) due to its continuous, enclosed-court intensity. Competitive badminton singles is also extremely demanding (500-560+ kcal/hr). Both are outstanding cardiovascular workouts; squash has a slight edge on sustained calorie burn.

Is badminton or squash harder to learn?

Badminton is generally easier to pick up for complete beginners — the lighter racket, slower initial shuttlecock, and larger court make rallying more accessible. Squash has a steeper learning curve because the ball behaviour off walls is unintuitive and the confined court demands rapid direction changes. Both sports become very technically demanding at club and competitive level.

What equipment do I need to start badminton vs squash?

For badminton: a racket (£15–£60 for beginners), shuttlecocks (feather for competition, plastic for casual play), and non-marking court shoes. For squash: a racket (£20–£80), squash balls (yellow dot for beginners, red/blue dot for cold courts), and non-marking shoes with good lateral support. Both sports require booking court time at a sports centre.