How many tennis balls do I need for my classroom chairs?
Count the chair and desk legs you want to cover — each leg takes one tennis ball. Two per chair covers the back legs and handles most of the noise, so a 25-desk room needs about 50 balls. If your floors are hard tile, the room echoes, or chairs get dragged constantly, cover all four legs and double it. Ordering a few spare is smart; balls occasionally split or wander off. Packs come in 50 (about 12–25 chairs) and 100 (about 25–50 chairs), and the calculator on this page does the math for you.
Are the tennis balls new?
No. Bark Balls specializes in giving used tennis balls another useful life. Because they are repurposed, appearance, brand, color, and wear will vary from ball to ball. For classroom chair tennis balls that live under a desk, none of that matters — and the variety is a decent conversation starter about where they came from.
Are they clean? They came from tennis courts.
They are hand-inspected and repackaged, not washed — we are upfront about that. For classroom use, a quick pass with a disinfectant wipe before mounting is all it takes, and it makes an easy job for a student helper. Once they are on the chair legs, they are not handled again.
Can I order pre-cut tennis balls for desks and chairs?
Pre-cut and uncut options are available depending on the size and requirements of your order. Pre-cut balls arrive ready to install, which makes them the right call when staff time is the constraint. Uncut is the standard, lower-cost option for schools with an approved staff member or facilities team who can prepare them. Ask for pre-cut on the school quote form.
Can students cut the tennis balls?
No. Tennis balls should only be cut by an adult using appropriate tools, procedures, and protective equipment — a utility knife or heavy-duty scissors and a fair amount of force. Students can help with everything else: pressing the balls onto the legs, counting, wiping, and tallying the impact.
Do you offer bulk pricing for schools?
Yes. Bulk pricing is available for schools, districts, libraries, daycares, preschools, universities, and other educational organizations. Submit the school quote form with a rough chair count and we will come back with pricing, a W-9, and a ship date.
Do you accept purchase orders or tax-exempt purchasing?
Yes to both. Use the school quote form and we will set it up directly with your school or district — PO, invoice, W-9, tax-exempt documentation, whatever your business office needs. For a single classroom, checking out online is usually faster.
Can my class choose where the donation goes?
Yes — that is the part teachers tell us they like most. Every order requires you to select a cause area at checkout: Animal Shelters, Humane Societies, or Environmental Conservation. You cannot check out without making the choice, which is exactly the point. For larger school initiatives, a Local Community Partner or our current Featured Cause can be arranged on a quote.
Can our school donate used tennis balls?
Please do. Schools can organize a tennis ball collection drive through our Court-to-Canine program — pulling from tennis teams, families, local clubs, and rec centers. Contact us before shipping or delivering donations so we can send current collection instructions.
How fast do classroom orders ship?
Orders go out in two to three business days. If you are aiming for a specific setup day, a back-to-school night, or a district deadline, say so on the form and we will work backward from it.
Why is a dog toy company selling classroom supplies?
Fair question. We are a dog company first. But teachers have been putting tennis balls on chair legs for decades, and the balls we rescue from courts are perfect for it. Same ball, same second life — it just ends up under a fourth-grader's chair instead of in a golden retriever's mouth. Both count.
