Starting volleyball doesn't require much gear, but the gear you do need is specific. Running shoes on a volleyball court is the same problem as hiking boots on a basketball court — they look similar but they're wrong for the surface and the movements. This guide covers everything a beginner needs, in the order to buy it, with honest budget estimates at each level.
Budget: ~$90–110 · Mid-range: ~$160–180 · All-in: ~$220+
The minimum viable setup is shoes + knee pads + ankle brace. Everything else can come later.
The most important gear purchase you'll make. Gum rubber soles grip indoor court surfaces the way running shoes cannot, and the low profile keeps you close to the ground for lateral cuts. Your first session in volleyball shoes will feel immediately different — more planted, more controlled, less slipping on direction changes. Buy these before anything else.
Budget: $60–70 · Mid-range: $100–120
Full guide: Best Volleyball Shoes for Beginners →Hardwood floors are harder than they look from the stands. Every dig that takes you to the floor, every emergency slide, every ball you scramble for — without pads, your knees take the full impact of sport court. Knee pads are cheap relative to the protection they provide. The Mizuno LR6 covers beginners through competitive club play without needing an upgrade.
Budget: $20–25 · Mid-range: $35–45
Full guide: Best Volleyball Knee Pads →Ankle sprains are the most common volleyball injury, and they happen unpredictably — you land from a block, your foot comes down slightly off, and you're done for weeks. A $20 lace-up brace is the most cost-effective injury prevention in volleyball. Wear it from your very first session. The McDavid 195 is low-profile enough to fit inside any volleyball shoe without sizing up.
$20–25 per ankle
Full guide: Best Volleyball Ankle Braces →If you're joining a team or club, the team provides balls — you don't need one immediately. If you want to practice outside of structured sessions (serving in the backyard, passing with a friend), a composite ball makes a noticeable difference over a rubber one. The Tachikara SV-5WSC is the standard American gym ball and the right starting point for indoor practice.
Indoor: $35–45 · Beach: $28–35
Full guide: Best Volleyballs for Beginners →Compression shorts: Useful for liberos and players who dive regularly, but not necessary at the start. Your knee pads do more protective work early on.
Elbow pads: Only needed if you're diving on a particularly rough surface. Most indoor courts don't require them.
Training aids (serving machines, solo ball trainers): Get comfortable with the sport first. These are useful after you've identified specific technical gaps — buying them before you know what you're working on wastes money.
Performance jerseys: Any athletic shirt that wicks moisture works. A volleyball-specific jersey adds nothing to performance for a beginner.
This setup covers everything you need to play seriously without overspending on gear before you know whether you'll stick with the sport. When you upgrade, shoes and knee pads are the first things to revisit — quality there directly affects performance and injury prevention.
No — any breathable athletic shorts and a moisture-wicking shirt work. Volleyball-specific clothing (compression shorts with built-in hip padding, performance jerseys) exists and is used at competitive levels, but a beginner gets zero advantage from it. Spend that money on shoes and braces instead.
Most programs provide balls, nets, and access to the court. They rarely provide shoes, knee pads, or personal protective gear — these are personal equipment that you provide for yourself. Some school programs lend knee pads in a pinch, but the hygiene situation is not ideal. Buy your own.
No — volleyball is one of the cheaper team sports to equip. The full beginner setup at $130–165 is significantly less than basketball (shoes alone cost more) or hockey (the protective gear list is extensive). The ongoing cost is also low: shoes and knee pads last 12–18 months with regular play, and the ball lasts several years if stored properly.