Measurements for Pickleball Court: So Your Net Isn’t in the Neighbor’s Yard

So you want to get into pickleball, but suddenly you’re staring at your backyard, wondering: how big should this court actually be? No need to overthink it or grab that absurdly long measuring tape from the garage. A standard pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. That’s the exact size of a doubles badminton court.

It’s big enough for some lively rallies, but not so huge you’ll feel like you’re running a marathon just to chase a ball.

You don’t need to be a math whiz to sort out the rest. Maybe you’re laying out lines in the driveway, or maybe you’re just curious about the official layout. Either way, you’ll want the facts before you start marking up the pavement.

If you crave more technical details about court size, lines, or nets, there’s a solid guide on pickleball court dimensions you can check out.

So, grab a couple of friends, a paddle, and maybe a measuring tape (but please, not the 100-foot one). You’ll be ready to play—or at least ready to argue with that one neighbor who insists the court should be the size of a football field.

Official Pickleball Court Dimensions

Pickleball courts basically look like mini tennis courts. Don’t let their size fool you, though.

If you want to set up your court like you mean business, you’ll need to stick to the numbers and sweat the small stuff.

Standard Court Size

The official pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. That’s including the lines, so make sure you measure to the outside edge. The USA Pickleball rulebook says singles and doubles use the same court size.

You don’t need to panic if someone bails on doubles—no need to shrink the court or redraw lines.

Here’s a quick table for reference:

Feature	Measurement
Court Width	20 feet (6.10 m)
Court Length	44 feet (13.41 m)
Net Height (center)	34 inches (86.4 cm)
Net Height (posts)	36 inches (91.4 cm)

If you want a regulation court, you can’t fudge these numbers. The pickleball court size and layout matches a doubles badminton court, so if you’ve got old badminton tape lying around, now’s the time to use it.

Playing Area Requirements

Before you start whacking balls, check the space around your court. The court itself isn’t huge, but you’ll need some breathing room.

The recommended minimum total playing area is 30 feet wide by 60 feet long. This gives you a buffer between the lines and, say, your neighbor’s precious garden gnome.

Here’s what you should keep in mind:

• Court Surface: Keep it flat and clear. Nobody’s impressed if you trip over a rock—except maybe your dog.
• Clear Area: Leave 10 feet behind each baseline and 5 feet at each sideline. This keeps doubles from turning into a demolition derby.
• Fencing: If your aim is questionable, fencing keeps your balls from becoming neighborhood souvenirs.

If you want to play by the official rulebook, don’t skimp on space. Your knees—and your neighbors—will appreciate it.

Court Lines and Their Placement

If you mess up your pickleball court lines, good luck keeping the peace. Knowing where each line goes lets you serve, score, and bicker with actual evidence.

Baseline and Sideline Placement

The baseline is where the drama starts. It’s 20 feet wide at the back of the court—one on each end. Think of it as the invisible forcefield for those last-second swings.

Stay behind this line when serving or the ref will call you out.

Both baselines and sidelines create the court’s rectangle: 44 feet long, 20 feet wide. Sidelines run the long way and mark out-of-bounds for your wildest shots.

These lines help everyone judge if the ball is in, out, or just barely hanging on.

Painter’s tape works, or you can use chalk if you’re feeling bold. Just make sure they’re visible so nobody “accidentally” steps over during a heated rally.

For more details, check this pickleball court guide.

Centerline and Service Courts

The centerline keeps things honest. It runs from the baseline up to the non-volley zone (the kitchen), splitting each side into two service courts.

Each service area matters because that’s where your serve needs to land if you want to keep the point.

If your serve doesn’t land diagonally across into the right box, your opponent gets a free shot at glory. The centerline makes sure nobody sneaks a serve into the wrong spot.

Each service court is 10 feet wide, stretching from the baseline to the kitchen line. Keep the centerline straight—no wobbly attempts, please.

Bold lines help settle those “close call” debates, especially if your opponent is a little too enthusiastic about being “honest.”

Want more on service court layout? Here’s a handy pickleball court dimensions and layout article.

Non-Volley Zone Measurements

Let’s talk about the part of the court with the best name: the kitchen. This area stops sneaky net attacks and keeps things fair for everyone.

Kitchen Size and Boundaries

The non-volley zone, or “kitchen,” is a 7-foot strip on each side of the net. That gives you a 14-foot wide no-smash zone across the whole court.

The boundaries are clear: two lines run parallel to the net, both exactly 7 feet away. The sidelines mark the kitchen’s edges, so there’s no “almost in” or “sort of out.”

If you stand in the kitchen and hit a volley, that’s a fault. You’ll just have to hand over the serve and maybe take a breath.

The name might make you hungry, but don’t cook up any rule-bending moves here. If your toe sneaks into the kitchen on a volley, someone will call you out. Get used to checking your feet—your pride’s on the line.

Want specifics? Here’s the kitchen’s exact dimensions in black and white.

Net Height and Net Specifications

Building a pickleball court? You can’t just string up any old net and call it good. The net has strict measurements and needs to be built right so the ball can’t sneak through.

Official Net Height Parameters

You might think the net should just hit you at the waist, but there’s an actual rule. The official pickleball net height is 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the center.

Yep, it’s supposed to droop a little in the middle.

That two-inch dip keeps shots interesting and stops balls from rolling along the top. Here’s a quick table:

Net Location	Height
Sideline	36 inches
Center	34 inches

Don’t eyeball the height—use a tape measure. Otherwise, you’ll have endless arguments about “high net shots.”

Net Posts and Materials

Net posts have to be exactly 22 feet apart and no more than an inch outside each sideline. The net should be tight but not trampoline-tight.

People usually use steel, aluminum, or weather-resistant plastic for the posts and the net. You want it to survive wild smashes and maybe a storm or two.

The net mesh should be small enough to stop a pickleball from sneaking through. Nothing ruins a rally like the ball slipping under the net.

Finish off the net with white tape along the top. It makes it easier to see—and honestly, it looks sharp. Don’t go cheap here, or you’ll end up with saggy nets and way too many repairs.

Variations for Different Settings

Not every pickleball court is exactly the same. Sometimes the weather (or a nosy squirrel) can change things up.

Indoor Versus Outdoor Court Dimensions

If you’re playing inside, there are a few things to keep in mind. Indoor courts stick to the standard 20 by 44 feet, so the basics stay the same.

The area around the court might shrink indoors, though. Ceilings can get in the way—especially if you’re a fan of lobbing the ball sky-high. Watch out for light fixtures unless you want an accidental disco show.

Outdoor courts usually have the same main dimensions, but you’ll get more space around the edges for chasing wild balls. Weather can mess with the surface, so you might see special coatings or cracks from freezing and thawing.

If you like conversions, a tennis court is big enough for more than one pickleball court. Tennis courts are about twice as long and nearly as wide, so you can squeeze in a few games at once.

For exact numbers, check SportsWest Construction’s guide.

Adaptations for Backyard and Recreational Play

Let’s be honest—most of us don’t have a full-blown sports complex out back. Sometimes, you just want to smack a pickleball around the driveway, and that’s totally okay.

The official court size is 20 by 44 feet, but honestly, you can shrink it to fit whatever space you have (especially if you’re dodging your mom’s garden gnomes).

If you decide to build a backyard court, try to use a minimum recommended surface of 30 by 60 feet so you can actually move around. Tournaments need more room, but for a family match, just get the lines close enough.

Nobody’s ever started a family feud over a line that’s an inch off… or have they?

Grass, concrete, or your old tennis court can work as surfaces. Just check that the net’s at the right height: 36 inches on the sides, 34 inches in the middle, according to Onix Pickleball.

Your backyard court might look a little odd, but if you’re having fun and not serving into the barbecue, you’re winning.

Court Construction and Surface Materials

Building a pickleball court in your backyard might sound fancy, but you don’t have to be a construction pro.

With some planning and a good surface, you’ll play a smoother, safer game—and probably save your knees, too.

Recommended Surface Types

Your court surface probably matters more than that fancy paddle you just bought—and honestly, your ankles will thank you later. The most common types? Concrete, asphalt, and cushioned acrylic.

Concrete wins the durability contest, but wow, it’s tough on your joints. Asphalt shows up a lot on outdoor courts, though rain can turn it slicker than a greased watermelon.

People add cushion systems to acrylic layers for a smoother, softer feel. That little bit of give really helps keep the aches away.

Here’s a quick table to compare the basics:

Surface Type	Pros	Cons
Concrete	Durable, smooth	Hard, joint stress
Asphalt	Cheaper, familiar	Needs maintenance
Cushioned Acrylic	Best for joints	More expensive

Pick carefully—your knees (and maybe your pride) are on the line! If you want more details, check out this guide on building pickleball courts.