Pickleball Court Dimensions: Size, Kitchen, Net Height & Layout Guide

Whether you are marking a court on your society’s badminton floor, planning a new venue, or simply trying to understand where the “kitchen” ends, the first question is always the same: what are the official pickleball court dimensions?

The good news is that pickleball keeps things simple. Singles and doubles use the same court, the measurements are easy to remember, and a full court fits into a space smaller than most people expect. This guide to pickleball court dimensions covers every measurement you need, in both feet and metres, along with practical advice on space, surfaces and marking lines for Indian courts. All official figures come from the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (2025 edition), the rulebook most clubs and tournaments in India follow.

If you are completely new to the sport, start with our guide to what pickleball is, then come back here.

Pickleball Court Dimensions at a Glance

Here are the key pickleball court dimensions in one place. Bookmark this table if you are marking a court.

Going by these pickleball court dimensions, the court itself covers 880 square feet (about 81.8 square metres). The space you need to build or book, including run-off around the lines, is roughly double that. More on this below.

Pickleball Court Dimensions: Lines and Areas Explained

A pickleball court is a rectangle divided by the net into two equal halves of 22 feet each. Each half is then split into a kitchen near the net and two service courts behind it.

Baselines and sidelines

The baselines run parallel to the net at each end of the court, 20 feet wide. The sidelines run the full 44-foot length on both sides. Together they form the outer boundary. Pickleball court measurements are taken to the outside edge of these lines, so the 20 x 44 ft figure in the official pickleball court dimensions includes the lines themselves.

Pickleball kitchen dimensions (the non-volley zone)

When it comes to pickleball kitchen dimensions, the non-volley zone, almost always called the kitchen, is the 7-foot-deep area on each side of the net, running the full 20-foot width of the court. The kitchen line sits 7 feet (2.13 m) from the net and is part of the kitchen.

You cannot volley the ball (hit it before it bounces) while standing in the kitchen or touching its line. That single rule shapes most of the strategy in pickleball, from soft dinks to the third-shot drop. For the full set of rules, see pickleball rules explained simply.

Service courts and the centreline

Behind each kitchen, the centreline divides the remaining 15 feet into two service courts, each 10 feet wide and 15 feet deep. Facing the net, the right-hand court is the even (right) court and the left-hand court is the odd (left) court. Serves go diagonally, from one service court into the opposite one across the net.

Which lines count as “in”?

• Baselines, sidelines and the centreline are part of the service court. A ball that lands on them is in.
• The kitchen line is part of the kitchen. A serve that lands on it is short and counts as a fault.
• All lines should be 2 inches wide and the same colour, clearly contrasting with the playing surface.

Singles vs doubles: is the court different?

No. Unlike tennis and badminton, pickleball court dimensions are exactly the same for singles and doubles: one 20 x 44 ft court. There are no extra tramlines to mark or ignore, which makes a single court suitable for every format.

Pickleball Net Height and Net Post Specifications

The net is slightly lower in the middle than at the sides, which is one reason cross-court dinks are so popular.

• Height at the sidelines: 36 inches (91.44 cm), measured where the net crosses the sideline.
• Height at the centre: 34 inches (86.36 cm), measured 10 feet from each sideline. A centre strap is often used to hold it there.
• Net posts: 22 feet (6.71 m) apart, measured inside to inside. That places each post about 12 inches outside the sideline. Post diameter should not exceed 3 inches.
• Net size: at least 21 ft 9 in (6.63 m) long and at least 30 inches deep from top to bottom, with a 2-inch white tape binding along the top.

Check the height before every session, especially with portable nets. A sagging net or one set at badminton height changes the game completely.

Pickleball Court Size: How Much Space Do You Need?

The standard pickleball court dimensions of 20 x 44 ft cover only the area inside the lines. Players regularly step outside it to return deep shots and wide angles, so you need run-off space on every side.

For a housing society, school or club building a new court, 34 x 64 ft is the size to aim for. It gives players comfortable room behind the baseline and beside the sidelines, and it meets tournament recommendations if you ever want to host events.

Indoor courts

Indoors, ceiling height matters as much as the pickleball court dimensions on the floor, because lobs need room. Venue planners commonly recommend at least 18 feet of clear height, and more is better. Keep lights, beams and fans out of the playing area where possible, and avoid strong lights at either end that shine into players’ eyes.

Outdoor courts in Indian conditions

Outdoors, orient the court roughly north-south so the low morning and evening sun does not shine straight down the court. Build in a slight slope for drainage so monsoon rain runs off rather than pooling, and choose a textured acrylic surface over concrete or asphalt for consistent bounce in heat and humidity. Our step-by-step guide on how to build a pickleball court in India covers base preparation, surfacing and costs in detail.

Pickleball Court Dimensions vs Badminton and Tennis Courts

Because so many Indian players start on existing courts, it helps to know how pickleball court dimensions compare with badminton and tennis.

Badminton court

A badminton doubles court is also 20 x 44 ft, exactly the same outer size as the pickleball court dimensions. That is why so many societies and sports complexes convert badminton halls. Two things change:

• The kitchen line. Badminton’s short service line sits about 6.5 feet from the net, while pickleball’s kitchen line is 7 feet. Mark a new line at 7 feet rather than reusing the badminton one.
• The net. A badminton net is about 5 feet high, far too high for pickleball. Use a portable pickleball net set to 36 inches at the sides and 34 inches in the centre.

Use a different tape colour for the pickleball lines so players can tell them apart from the badminton markings.

Tennis court

A tennis court is much larger than the pickleball court dimensions, at 36 x 78 ft for doubles. The full fenced area around a standard tennis court is commonly converted into as many as four pickleball courts, which is why many clubs are repurposing underused tennis courts. You can also play a single pickleball court across a tennis court using temporary lines and a portable net, but the tennis net is too high to use as it is.

How to Mark a Pickleball Court: Step by Step

Once you know the pickleball court dimensions and measurements, you can mark a temporary court in under an hour with a measuring tape, chalk or masking tape, and a helper.

1. Mark the first baseline. Measure a straight 20-foot line. This is one end of the court.
2. Square the corners. Use the 3-4-5 method: from a corner, measure 3 ft along the baseline and 4 ft along the planned sideline. When the diagonal between those points is exactly 5 ft, the corner is a right angle. Larger multiples such as 12-16-20 ft are more accurate.
3. Mark the sidelines. Run both sidelines 44 feet from the first baseline and join them with the second baseline.
4. Check the diagonals. Measure corner to corner both ways. Each diagonal should be about 48 ft 4 in (14.73 m). If the two are equal, your rectangle is square.
5. Mark the net line and kitchens. Find the halfway point, 22 feet from each baseline. Then mark the kitchen lines 7 feet from the net on both sides.
6. Mark the centrelines. On each side, run a line from the middle of the kitchen line to the middle of the baseline, 10 feet from each sideline.
7. Apply 2-inch lines. Place the tape or paint so that the outer edge of each line sits on your measurement mark, because pickleball court dimensions are measured to the outside of the lines.
8. Set up and check the net. Place the posts 22 feet apart and check the height at both sidelines and in the centre.

Equipping Your New Court

Once your court is marked to the correct pickleball court dimensions, you need paddles and balls that suit the surface. Outdoor courts on concrete or acrylic need a harder ball with smaller holes, such as a 40-hole outdoor ball, while indoor wooden floors suit a softer indoor ball. Our guide to indoor vs outdoor pickleball balls explains the difference.

GLIDERZ makes tournament-grade pickleball paddles and the Y40 40-hole outdoor ball at its own factory near Pune. If you are setting up a court for a society, club, school or academy, explore GLIDERZ pickleball balls and browse GLIDERZ paddles. For bulk orders, read our guide on buying pickleball equipment in bulk or contact the GLIDERZ team for factory-direct pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pickleball Court Dimensions

1. What are the official pickleball court dimensions?
An official pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long (6.10 m x 13.41 m), measured to the outside of the lines. The same court is used for singles and doubles.

2. How big is the kitchen on a pickleball court?
The kitchen, or non-volley zone, is 7 feet deep and 20 feet wide on each side of the net. The kitchen line is part of the kitchen.

3. What is the pickleball net height?
Under the official pickleball court dimensions, the net is 36 inches (91.44 cm) high at the sidelines and 34 inches (86.36 cm) high at the centre.

4. What pickleball court size do I need for one court?
Beyond the 20 x 44 ft pickleball court dimensions, you need run-off space. The minimum playing surface is 30 x 60 ft (about 1,800 sq ft). For new courts and tournament play, 34 x 64 ft (about 2,176 sq ft) is recommended.

5. Can I play pickleball on a badminton court?
Yes. A badminton doubles court is the same 20 x 44 ft size. You need to mark a kitchen line at 7 feet from the net and use a lower pickleball net set to 36 inches at the sides and 34 inches in the centre.

6. Is a singles pickleball court smaller than a doubles court?
No. Singles and doubles are both played on the full 20 x 44 ft court.

7. How many pickleball courts fit on a tennis court?
The fenced area of a standard tennis court is commonly converted into up to four pickleball courts, depending on the exact space and the run-off you want around each court.

8. How wide are pickleball court lines?
All lines are 2 inches (5.08 cm) wide and should be the same colour, contrasting clearly with the court surface.

Conclusion

Pickleball court dimensions are refreshingly simple: a 20 x 44 ft court for every format, a 7 ft kitchen on each side, four 10 x 15 ft service courts, and a net at 36 inches on the sides and 34 inches in the middle. Add enough run-off, ideally a 34 x 64 ft playing area, and you have a court that plays well for beginners and tournament players alike.

Whether you are taping lines on a society badminton court or building a dedicated venue, getting the pickleball court dimensions right from the start saves arguments on court and money on corrections later. For official wording on every specification, see the USA Pickleball website.

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