Pickleball Court Dimensions: How Big Is a Pickleball Court?

Quick Answer: Official pickleball court dimensions are 20 feet wide by 44 feet long for both singles and doubles. The net hangs 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center, and the non-volley zone extends 7 feet from the net on each side. USA Pickleball recommends a total playing area of at least 30 by 60 feet.

A pickleball court is the lined 20-by-44-foot playing area plus the open space around it that players need to move safely. Those numbers come straight from the USA Pickleball rulebook, and they never change based on skill level, age division, or whether you’re playing singles or doubles. Once you know the footprint, you can spot a regulation court anywhere, or lay one out yourself with a tape measure and some chalk.

What Are the Official Pickleball Court Dimensions?

The playing area measures 20 feet wide by 44 feet long, measured to the outside edge of the lines. In metric, that’s 6.10 meters by 13.41 meters. Every line on the court is 2 inches wide and should contrast with the playing surface, which is why you’ll usually see white lines.

Here’s what each line does:

• Baselines: the lines at each end of the court, 22 feet from the net. You serve from behind these.
• Sidelines: the long lines running down each side, 20 feet apart.
• Non-volley line: runs parallel to the net, 7 feet away on each side. This marks the front edge of the kitchen.
• Centerline: splits the area between the non-volley line and the baseline into a left and right service court, each 10 feet wide by 15 feet deep.

That’s the whole court. Four line types, one rectangle, and the same layout on both sides of the net.

Are Singles and Doubles Courts the Same Size?

Yes, and this surprises people coming over from tennis. Tennis uses narrower sidelines for singles. Pickleball uses one court size for everything: 20 by 44 feet whether two people or four people are playing. Tournament courts, park courts, and backyard courts all follow the same spec. The only thing that changes in singles is strategy, since you suddenly have the whole 20 feet to cover by yourself.

How Big Is the Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)?

The kitchen is a 7-foot by 20-foot box on each side of the net, running the full width of the court. Its real name in the rulebook is the non-volley zone, and it exists to stop players from standing at the net and smashing everything out of the air. You can step into the kitchen any time you want. You just can’t hit a volley while any part of you is touching it, and momentum from a volley can’t carry you into it either.

Measured from the net, the kitchen line sits 7 feet back on both sides, so 14 feet of the court’s 44-foot length is non-volley territory. If you’re learning the kitchen faults, the line placement is half the battle.

How High Is a Pickleball Net?

A regulation pickleball net is 36 inches tall at the sidelines and 34 inches tall at the center. The 2-inch sag in the middle is intentional and written into the rules, which is one reason smart players aim their drives and dinks through the middle of the court. The net stretches at least 21 feet 9 inches across, with posts placed 22 feet apart, just outside the sidelines.

Compare that to tennis, where the net is 42 inches at the posts and 36 inches at center. A pickleball net is lower across the board, which changes everything about how the game plays near the net.

How Much Total Space Do You Need for a Pickleball Court?

The lines take up 20 by 44 feet, but nobody can play inside a box that tight. USA Pickleball calls for a minimum total playing surface of 30 feet by 60 feet, and it recommends 34 feet by 64 feet where space allows. Tournament venues often go bigger. That extra room gives players space to chase lobs behind the baseline and track down angled dinks outside the sidelines without hitting a fence.

If you’re planning a build, orient the court north to south whenever possible so nobody serves directly into a rising or setting sun. Court builders and resurfacing contractors deal with these site questions every day, and it’s worth talking to one before you pour anything.

Can You Fit a Pickleball Court on a Tennis Court?

Easily. A standard tennis court’s playing area is 36 feet by 78 feet, sitting on a pad around 60 by 120 feet. That pad can hold up to four pickleball courts, which is exactly how thousands of parks and clubs have added pickleball without pouring new concrete. One tennis court converts to one pickleball court with nothing but tape or paint and a portable net, and the full four-court conversion is a common club project.

The math is the reason pickleball spread so fast. The court is less than a third of a tennis court’s total footprint, so the supply of convertible surfaces was already sitting in every park in America.

Can You Build a Pickleball Court in Your Driveway?

If you have a flat, hard surface at least 30 by 60 feet, yes. Plenty of players start with chalk, painter’s tape, or a $25 line kit and a portable net. I’ve chalked a full court onto a driveway in under 20 minutes, and the only mistake I made was not leaving enough room behind the baselines, so measure your total space before you measure your lines.

For a permanent build, a new concrete or asphalt court with fencing and lighting is a real construction project, and quotes vary a lot by region and site prep. Get numbers from contractors who have built pickleball courts specifically, because the surfacing and slope tolerances matter more than they do for a patio.

FAQ

What are the dimensions of a pickleball court in feet?

A pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, measured to the outside of the lines. The recommended total playing area, including run-off space, is at least 30 by 60 feet.

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

Yes. Pickleball borrowed the 20-by-44-foot footprint of a doubles badminton court. The net height and line functions are different, but the rectangle is identical.

How far is the kitchen line from the net?

The non-volley line sits 7 feet from the net on each side. The kitchen runs the full 20-foot width of the court.

How high is a pickleball net in the middle?

34 inches at the center and 36 inches at the sidelines. The sag is part of the official spec, so don’t crank a portable net drum-tight.

How many pickleball courts fit on a tennis court?

Up to four fit on a standard tennis court pad. A quick one-court conversion needs only tape lines and a portable net.

How much space do you need for a backyard pickleball court?

Plan for a minimum of 30 by 60 feet of flat surface. If you can manage 34 by 64 feet, play is noticeably more comfortable.

Are the lines in or out in pickleball?

Lines are in, with one exception. On the serve, a ball landing on the non-volley line is a fault. Every other line, including the baseline and sidelines, counts as in.

What surface is best for a pickleball court?

An acrylic-coated concrete or asphalt surface is the standard for permanent courts. Smooth, uncracked driveways work fine for casual play with taped lines.

Once you know the dimensions, the next step is finding somewhere to use them. Search the public courts near you, or if you’re ready to stop borrowing tennis courts, talk to a court builder about what your space can hold.

Written by the Pickler Junction Team.