Pickleball Court Dimensions: Size, Lines and Net Height

A pickleball court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long, the same size for singles and doubles, measured to the outside of the lines. The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the centre. The non-volley zone, or kitchen, extends 7 feet from the net on each side, leaving two service boxes of 10 by 15 feet on each half. Those are the official rulebook figures; the rulebook also recommends a larger total playing area around the lines for safe movement. This guide lays out each measurement, the recommended surround, how a court compares with tennis and badminton, and what to check when marking or converting a court.

Official court dimensions

Per the official rulebook:

Element	Measurement
Court width	20 ft (6.10 m)
Court length	44 ft (13.41 m)
Net height at sidelines	36 in (0.914 m)
Net height at centre	34 in (0.864 m)
Non-volley zone depth (each side)	7 ft (2.13 m) from the net
Service box	10 ft wide x 15 ft deep (each of two per side)
Line width	2 in (5.08 cm)

All lines are 2 inches wide and are part of the court they bound. Measurements are to the outside edge of the lines.

Confirm the current rulebook if you are building a court for sanctioned play; the figures above are long-standing but the rulebook is the authority.

The lines

• Baselines. The lines at each end, parallel to the net.
• Sidelines. The lines along each side.
• Non-volley lines (kitchen lines). Parallel to the net, 7 feet from it on each side.
• Centrelines. Run from the kitchen line to the baseline on each side, dividing the area behind the kitchen into right and left service boxes.

The kitchen itself has no centreline.

Net specifications

The net spans the full width of the court plus a little beyond, held on posts outside the sidelines. The rulebook specifies net height at the sidelines and centre, post placement, and the net's construction (mesh small enough that the ball cannot pass through, with a cord or cable along the top and a strip covering it). Portable nets for recreational use follow the same heights; see portable nets.

Recommended playing area

The court lines are not the whole story. Players run beyond the baselines and outside the sidelines, so the rulebook recommends a minimum total playing area larger than the court itself, and a larger preferred area for tournament play. The commonly cited minimum is 30 feet by 60 feet, with a larger area preferred. If you are converting a space, use the rulebook's current recommendation rather than the bare court size; a court with no run-off behind the baseline is unpleasant and unsafe.

Comparison with other courts

Tennis. A doubles tennis court is 36 feet by 78 feet. Four pickleball courts can fit within one tennis court's fenced area with careful layout, and two fit comfortably. A tennis net is 42 inches at the posts and 36 inches at the centre, so a tennis net is too high for pickleball; converted courts need the net lowered or a separate pickleball net.

Badminton. A badminton doubles court is 20 feet by 44 feet, the same footprint as pickleball, which is why pickleball courts were originally laid out on badminton courts. The net heights differ: badminton nets are higher.

Padel. A padel court is enclosed, 10 metres by 20 metres, with glass and mesh walls that are in play. Different sport, different dimensions. See padel vs pickleball.

Indoor versus outdoor courts

Dimensions are identical. Differences are in surface, ball and lighting; see indoor vs outdoor pickleball. Indoor courts need enough ceiling height for lobs; the rulebook gives a recommended minimum.

Marking a temporary court

For a driveway, gym floor or tennis court:

1. Measure a 20 by 44 foot rectangle. Check it is square by measuring the diagonals; they should be equal.
2. Mark the baselines and sidelines.
3. Mark the net position at the centre of the long dimension (22 feet from each baseline).
4. Mark the kitchen lines 7 feet from the net on each side.
5. Mark the centrelines from each kitchen line to the baseline, at 10 feet from each sideline.
6. Set the net to 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 at the centre.

Use removable court tape or chalk on surfaces you do not own. Many parks and clubs have permanent lines; the court directory notes line type and surface.

Converting a tennis court

Common layouts put one pickleball court across the centre of a tennis court using the existing net (lowered to 34 inches at the centre if possible) or two courts side by side using portable nets. Four-court layouts need a dedicated line scheme and separate nets. Blended lines (pickleball lines painted in a different colour on a tennis court) are common at shared facilities.

Orientation and surroundings

For outdoor courts, a north-south orientation reduces sun in players' eyes. Fencing or barriers between adjacent courts stop balls rolling across. Surfaces are typically acrylic-coated asphalt or concrete outdoors and wood or sport flooring indoors.

FAQ

What size is a pickleball court?

20 feet wide by 44 feet long, measured to the outside of the lines, for both singles and doubles.

How high is a pickleball net?

36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches at the centre.

How big is the kitchen in pickleball?

7 feet deep from the net on each side, spanning the full 20-foot width of the court.

How many pickleball courts fit on a tennis court?

Two comfortably with portable nets, and four with a dedicated layout and careful use of the fenced area.

Is a pickleball court the same size as a badminton court?

Yes, the same 20 by 44 foot footprint. The net heights differ.