Pickleball Court Dimensions & Size
Quick answer: An official pickleball court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long, the same for singles and doubles. The non-volley zone (kitchen) is 7 feet from the net on each side. The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center. Plan for at least 30 x 60 feet of total playing surface, and 34 x 64 feet if you can.
Whether you are building a backyard court, striping lines on a tennis court or just curious how big the game is, the pickleball measurements below come from the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook, with rule numbers so you can check them. Tennis measurements are from the ITF Rules of Tennis. For the rules of play, see our kitchen rules guide and basic rules of pickleball.
Pickleball court dimensions at a glance
| Part of the court | Measurement | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Court (singles and doubles) | 20 ft wide x 44 ft long (6.10 m x 13.41 m), including the lines | 3.A.1, 3.A.2 |
| Non-volley zone (kitchen) | 7 ft deep x 20 ft wide, on each side of the net | 3.A.4.c |
| Service courts | About 10 ft wide x 15 ft long (see below) | 3.A.4.f |
| Line width | 2 in, in a color that contrasts with the court | 3.A.4.e |
| Net height at the sidelines | 36 in (± 1/4 in) | 3.B.6 |
| Net height at the center | 34 in (± 1/4 in) | 3.B.7 |
| Distance between net posts | 22 ft (± 1 in), inside post to inside post | 3.B.2 |
| Minimum playing surface (court plus surrounding space) | 30 ft x 60 ft | 3.A.3 |
| Recommended: new construction and tournament play | 34 ft x 64 ft | 3.A.3 |
How big is a pickleball court?
A pickleball court is a rectangle 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, measured to the outside edge of the perimeter and non-volley zone lines (Rules 3.A.1 and 3.A.2). That works out to 880 square feet, the same footprint as a doubles badminton court.
The same dimensions are used for singles and doubles. There are no “alleys” as on a tennis court, so singles players cover the full 20-foot width. The size is also the same indoors and outdoors, and for temporary courts. If you tape or chalk lines on a gym floor or driveway, use the same 20 x 44 foot layout.
How much space do you need for a pickleball court?
The 20 x 44 foot court is only the part with lines. Players also need room to run back for lobs and reach wide shots. USA Pickleball gives these playing surface sizes (Rule 3.A.3):
| Use | Playing surface |
|---|---|
| Minimum | 30 ft x 60 ft |
| Recommended for new construction | 34 ft x 64 ft |
| Recommended for tournament play | 34 ft x 64 ft |
| Stadium court | 50 ft x 80 ft |
At the 30 x 60 foot minimum you get 5 feet outside each sideline and 8 feet behind each baseline. At 34 x 64 feet, that grows to 7 feet on the sides and 10 feet behind the baselines. Earlier editions of the rulebook also described a 40 x 64 foot area, which is a 10-foot margin on every side. The 2026 edition lists 34 x 64 feet as the recommended size.
Perimeter fencing and backyard courts
Fences, walls and net posts are permanent objects, and a ball that hits one before it bounces is a fault against the player who hit it (Rule 10.C.4). If you are building a court at home, measure the open space inside any fence or wall and keep the full playing surface clear. USA Pickleball also recommends orienting outdoor courts north–south, so players are not looking straight into the sun in the morning or late afternoon.
Image source: usapickleball.org
The different areas of a pickleball court
Non-volley zone (the kitchen)
The non-volley zone, known as the kitchen, is the 7-foot by 20-foot area next to the net on each side. A line runs parallel to the net, 7 feet from it, between the two sidelines. All the lines that bound the zone are part of the zone, and the zone is flat: it does not extend into the air above the court (Rule 3.A.4.c).
You can’t volley, meaning hit the ball out of the air, while touching the kitchen or its lines. A serve can’t land in it either. For examples of faults and what you can do in the kitchen, see our pickleball kitchen rules guide.
Service courts
The area between the kitchen line and the baseline on each side of the centerline is a service court. The court is 22 feet from the net to each baseline and the kitchen takes up 7 of those feet, so each service court is about 15 feet long and 10 feet wide (Rule 3.A.4.f). The right and left service courts include their baseline, sideline and centerline. The serve must clear the kitchen and land in the diagonally opposite service court.
Centerline
The centerline runs from the kitchen line to the baseline on each side of the net and separates the right and left service courts (Rule 3.A.4.d). It does not extend into the kitchen.
Baselines and sidelines
The baselines are the lines at each end, parallel to the net. The sidelines run along the length of the court, on either side. Together they mark the outside boundary of the court (Rules 3.A.4.a and 3.A.4.b).
How wide are pickleball court lines?
All pickleball lines should be 2 inches wide and one color that clearly contrasts with the playing surface and court (Rule 3.A.4.e). Court measurements are made to the outside edge of the lines, so the lines are part of the 20 x 44 foot court.
A ball that touches any part of a line is in, just like on a tennis court. The one exception is the serve: a serve that lands on the kitchen line is a fault (Rules 7.E.2 and 8.C).
How high is a pickleball net?
The top of the net must be 36 inches above the court where it crosses the outer edge of the sidelines, and 34 inches at the center point, each ± 1/4 inch (Rules 3.B.6 and 3.B.7). If the net has a center strap, the center measurement includes the strap, and the strap is centered 10 feet from the outside edge of the sidelines (Rule 3.B.5).
The net posts should be 22 feet apart, inside edge to inside edge, and no more than 3 inches in diameter. The net should be at least 21 feet 9 inches long and at least 30 inches tall, with a 2-inch white tape binding along the top (Rules 3.B.2 through 3.B.4).
A standard tennis net is higher than a pickleball net (36 inches at the center, versus 34), so to use one for pickleball, lower it with a center strap or a net-lowering system. Wondering what to buy? We carry pickleball nets, including portable ones.
Pickleball court vs. tennis court
A pickleball court is much smaller than a tennis court. Tennis dimensions below are from the ITF Rules of Tennis (Rule 1).
| Pickleball | Tennis | |
|---|---|---|
| Court size | 20 ft x 44 ft, singles and doubles | Doubles: 36 ft x 78 ft. Singles: 27 ft x 78 ft |
| Playing area | 880 sq ft | Doubles: 2,808 sq ft |
| Net height at the center | 34 in | 36 in (3 ft) |
| Net height at the sides | 36 in at the sidelines | 42 in (3 ft 6 in) at the posts |
| Area near the net | 7-ft non-volley zone (kitchen) | No kitchen. The service line is 21 ft from the net |
| Doubles alleys | None | 4 1/2 ft on each side |
| Typical space with run-off | 30 x 60 ft minimum; 34 x 64 ft recommended | 60 x 120 ft |
How many pickleball courts fit on a tennis court?
A standard tennis court area is 60 x 120 feet, including the space outside the lines. Four pickleball courts at the 30 x 60 foot minimum fit exactly in that space, two on each side of the tennis net. That layout leaves little run-off. One-court and two-court layouts are also possible and leave more room around each court.
The simplest way to add pickleball to a tennis court is to add pickleball lines in a contrasting color, and use portable nets or lower the tennis net to the pickleball height.
What about temporary court dimensions?
The dimensions don’t change for a temporary court. A portable net with taped or chalked lines still needs 20 x 44 feet of court, a 7-foot kitchen and 2-inch lines, plus as much run-off as you can give it. If you have less than 30 x 60 feet you can still play, but there will be less room to retreat for lobs.
Shopping for pickleball equipment
TennisRacquets.com carries pickleball nets, paddles and balls. Not sure what to pick? Start with our pickleball paddle buyers guide, then see 14mm vs. 16mm paddles and indoor vs. outdoor pickleballs. Questions? Call our local experts.
Pickleball court dimensions FAQ
How big is a pickleball court?
A pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, measured to the outside edge of the lines. That is 880 square feet. Add run-off space around it: USA Pickleball sets the minimum playing surface at 30 x 60 feet and recommends 34 x 64 feet for new construction and tournament play.
Is a pickleball court the same size for singles and doubles?
Yes. The court is 20 x 44 feet for both singles and doubles (Rule 3.A.1). There are no doubles alleys as on a tennis court, so singles players cover the full width.
How does a pickleball court compare with a tennis court?
A doubles tennis court is 36 x 78 feet (2,808 square feet), so a pickleball court has less than a third of the playing area. A standard tennis court area of 60 x 120 feet, including space outside the lines, can fit four pickleball courts at the 30 x 60 foot minimum. See the pickleball vs. tennis court comparison in this guide.
How high is a pickleball net?
The top of the net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches high at the center, each with a tolerance of plus or minus 1/4 inch (Rules 3.B.6 and 3.B.7). If the net has a center strap, the 34-inch measurement includes the strap. See our pickleball nets.
How big is the kitchen in pickleball?
The kitchen, or non-volley zone, is 7 feet deep and 20 feet wide on each side of the net. Its line is 7 feet from the net, and the lines around it are part of the zone. You can’t volley while touching it. See the pickleball kitchen rules for faults and exceptions.
How much space do I need for a backyard pickleball court?
Plan on at least 30 x 60 feet, which is USA Pickleball’s minimum playing surface. The court itself is 20 x 44 feet, so that leaves 5 feet on each side and 8 feet behind each baseline. For more room to retrieve lobs and wide shots, build to 34 x 64 feet, the recommended size for new construction.
Related guides and shop links
- Pickleball kitchen rules: the non-volley zone explained
- How to keep score in pickleball
- Basic rules of pickleball
- Getting started with pickleball
- Pickleball paddle buyers guide
- Pickleball equipment gear guide
- Pickleball shoes vs. tennis shoes
- Pickleball FAQs
- Shop pickleball paddles
- Shop pickleball nets
- Shop pickleballs