Pickleball Court Dimensions + How to Set Up Your Own Court

How big is a pickleball court compared to tennis and badminton courts? And what size is the net? These are the sorts of questions I asked myself when I first discovered the sport of pickleball.

Before you dive in with playing, it’s pretty important to have a good understanding of the rules and court dimensions.

Not only will this mean that you understand the game and adhere to the regulations, but you can also check whether the dimensions of a pickleball court are correct. And armed with the information of pickleball court dimensions, you can even set up your own if you don’t have a court near you.

What Are the Dimensions of a Pickleball Court?

According to the United States of America Pickleball Association (USAPA), pickleball court dimensions in feet measure 20 ft wide by 44 ft long. This is the exact same size as the courts used for badminton!

However, this refers to the markings of the court itself, not the minimum play area. This is instead 30 ft wide by 60 ft long.

And remember, this is the minimum recommended size. For tournament play, the standard pickleball court size is 34 ft wide by 64 ft long, and for wheelchair play, it’s even bigger at 44 ft wide by 74 ft long.

Read More: Table Tennis Table Dimensions

Pickleball Court Playing Lines

While the makings of a pickleball court may seem similar to the likes of a badminton or tennis court, there are some key differences that you need to know. In this section, I cover all court markings and definitions.

1. Baselines: The end lines which are parallel to the net.
2. Sidelines: The lines on the side of the court that meet the net at a 90-degree angle.
3. Non-volley zone: An area measuring 20 ft wide and 7 ft long on either end of the net. They are marked by the sidelines and an additional line to connect the two.
4. Service court: The region behind the non-volley zone where services must bounce. It includes the centerline, baseline, and sidelines.
5. Left court: The service region on the left side of the court (odd side) when you are facing the net.
6. Right court: The service region on the right side of the court (even side) when you are facing the net.

Read More: Pickleball vs Tennis: Which Is Best For You?

Pickleball Net Requirements

While having a regulation pickleball court is of the most importance, it’s also pretty damn crucial that your net is the right size.

The official net specifications are flexible. Despite this, there are lots of pickleball nets out there that do not meet the requirements. So if you’re planning on buying one, ensure you get one that adheres to the rules if possible.

1. Material: Any mesh fabric material is legal, as it prevents the ball from passing through it.
2. Posts: The posts must be 22 feet from one another and no more than 3 inches in diameter.
3. Size: The length of the net must be at least 21 ft 9 inches between the posts. The height must also measure at least 30 inches.
4. Edge: The top edge of the net must have a 2-inch white tape marking over the cord or cable.
5. Height: The center of the net must measure 34 inches in height, and at the sidelines, it must instead measure 36 inches.

Tip: To prevent nets from sagging in the middle, we recommend purchasing a net with a center strap support.

Read more: The Rules of Pickleball

Where to Set Up Your Own Pickleball Court

As pickleball is both an indoor and outdoor sport, you have quite a few options to set up a temporary or permanent pickleball court.

The main conditions are that firstly the ground is hard. Pickleball balls are made of plastic, not rubber. Therefore they won’t bounce on soft ground such as grass.

What’s more, I recommend picking an area that won’t incite arguments and cause unnecessary hassle. Remember, you are essentially repurposing an area to play pickleball. Some people may not take to kindly to that.

With that out of the way, here are my top recommendations:

1. Badminton court: Badminton courts are ideal for indoor play as they share the same outer perimeter and centerline. All you need to do is add markings for both non-volley zones, and you are good to go!
2. Indoor basketball court: Another decent option is to mark out a pickleball court on an indoor basketball court. This, of course, takes a little more effort and is more likely to cause disruption.
3. Outdoor basketball court: I prefer repurposing an outdoor basketball court instead of an indoor one, as they are usually free to use. There’s also no staff who could give you a hard time. As such, you shouldn’t experience many issues playing pickleball here.
4. Cul-de-sac: A cul-de-sac is perhaps an even better option. With very little footfall, it’s perfect for setting up a court. It might even be a good opportunity to lure in some neighbors for a few friendly games.
5. Your Driveway: This is a super option if you have a large driveway. Of course, if you’re a bit short of space, you could always shrink the court size slightly to fit it in.
6. Your garden: Although your garden is likely too small for pickleball, this is the best place to play if you have the room. As it’s a private area, you should have absolutely no issue playing pickleball here. Just don’t play too late, as noise complaints are the only possible issue I can think of.

Read more: How To Play Pickleball

Supplies for Setting Up Your Own Pickleball Court

With pickleball exponentially growing in popularity, there are lots of ways you can set up your own court. Here is what you will need:

• Tape measure
• Outdoor pickleball tape / indoor pickleball tape / court marker kit / chalk
• Pickleball net

Make sure you buy the correct material for marking the court based on where you want to play. Our proposed outdoor pickleball tape is a long-term option, and so is the indoor pickleball tape. However, the indoor tape is easier to remove and leaves no residue, which is an advantage.

The pickleball court marker kit and chalk are our short-term alternatives. Use chalk outdoors — it naturally washes away after spells of rain, and use the court marker kit indoors or outdoors.

The versatility of the court marker kit makes it a super option. However, it only marks the key intersecting line boundaries. They are not joined up, making it difficult to tell if a ball lands in or out.

Read More: Best Pickleball Set

Can You Play Pickleball on a Tennis Court?

The bottom line is that you can use a tennis court for pickleball, but you have to adapt it. You see, tennis courts are much larger than pickleball courts and also have different markings. This means you can’t simply grab your pickleball gear and start playing — you need to make some changes first.

Differences Between Tennis Courts and Pickleball Courts

The most obvious difference between tennis courts and pickleball courts is the size difference. Tennis courts measure 78 ft x 27 ft, whereas pickleball courts measure 44 ft x 20 ft. As a result, the markings for each court are different too. This means you’ll have to mark most of the court lines when you convert a tennis court into a pickleball court.

The tennis net is also 6 inches higher in the middle and 2 inches higher at the sides. This may not seem like a big difference, but we can guarantee you that it is. You don’t want to be playing pickleball on such a high net.

Ultimately though, tennis courts are close enough to pickleball courts that they are well worth adapting. With some fairly minor changes, you can enjoy this wonderful game conveniently.

Read More: Pickleball vs. Tennis: Which Is Best for You?

Playing Pickleball on a Tennis Court

To adapt a tennis court into a pickleball court, you first need to know the various dimensions of the game. As you already know, pickleball courts are smaller at 44 ft x 20 ft. They also have two service boxes on each side which measure 15 ft x 10 ft, and a non-volley zone which measures 7 ft x 20 ft.

Option 1: One Pickleball Court From One Tennis Court

The simplest way to play pickleball on a tennis court is to perform a one-for-one switch. This lets you take advantage of the already present tennis court net so you don’t have to use your own. Of course, the caveat here is that the net needs to be adjustable. You need to lower it from 42 inches to 36 inches at the side and 36 inches to 34 inches in the middle.

Some tennis nets are adjustable, so the job can be easy. However, many are not, so adapting a tennis court in this way is not always the best option. Fortunately, there is a way to modify non-adjustable tennis nets for pickleball. Pick up a purpose-built pickleball net adapter. They allow you to convert the net for pickleball in just a few minutes.

Option 2: Two Pickleball Courts From One Tennis Court

Adapting one tennis court into two pickleball courts is the most common route pickleball players make. Not only is it a more efficient use of the space, but also, the tennis net acts as a boundary that minimizes runaway balls. On the flip side, it does mean neighboring games will occasionally interrupt your own.

Due to the position change of the courts, you also have to use your own pickleball net, which bumps up the cost. However, we don’t see this as too big of an issue. It also means you can be sure that your net is regulation size.

Option 3: Four Pickleball Courts From One Tennis Court

The final method is to transform one tennis court into four pickleball courts. As you can see, it’s ultra-efficient and a bit of a squeeze. We prefer using two pickleball courts, but if there are many players, four can certainly work.

The middle horizontal tennis court line no longer serves as a means to split the pickleball courts into left and right. Instead, the tennis courts’ singles lines fulfill this purpose. As a result, you have the same number of lines to mark yourself compared with if you were using two pickleball courts or just one.

The disadvantage of opting for four pickleball courts is that your games will be interrupted far more often. In particular, the court beside your own will be a bit of a nuisance. With nothing to act as a boundary, the ball from this game will make its way onto your court regularly.

Also, the tennis court net does not extend to the width of each court. This, again, means more ball chasing.

Read More: Pickleball Net Height & How It Compares With Tennis

Conclusion

So that wraps up just about everything you need to know about pickleball court dimensions. Now you can check courts near you to make sure they are legal and you can even mark out your own.

Remember, badminton courts are almost identical and made of hardwood, perfect for indoor pickleball. With just a tiny bit of adjustment to mark the non-volley zone, you are ready to play!

FAQs

How Much Space Is Needed Around a Pickleball Court?

How much space is needed around a pickleball court is a question we often get. At minimum, you need at least 5 ft of additional space on either side of the court and 8 ft of space on either end.

This means the pickleball court size in feet you require is at least 30 ft x 60 ft.

What Is the Best Court Surface For Pickleball?

Any hard surface is perfect for pickleball. If you are playing indoors, a sports hall featuring hardwood is perfect. If on the other hand, you are applying outdoors, both asphalt and concrete are ideal.

How Small Can You Make a Pickleball Court?

The official pickleball court dimensions measure 20 ft wide by 44 ft long. However, you could create a smaller court if you are short of space. This could be a good option say for your driveway or garden.

To ensure you don’t change the game’s dynamics too much, I wouldn’t reduce it by any more than 25%. To create a ¾ size court, mark the outer perimeter as 15 ft x 33 ft.

Just remember to keep the scale of the non-volley zone the same. If you don’t, it will end up too large and you will find yourself entering the non-volley zone more than you usually would.

What Is the Actual Size of a Pickleball Court for Both Doubles and Singles?

The dimensions of a pickleball court for singles and doubles court are the same, as are all the markings.

A pickleball court’s measurements are 20 ft wide by 44 ft long.

Is a Pickleball Court the Same Size as a Badminton Court?

Pickleball courts are the same size as badminton courts at 20 ft x 44 ft. However, a key difference you need to be away of is the short service line. It’s different for the two sports, and given it serves as a boundary for the non-volley zone, it’s very important that it is the right size.

Therefore if you are going to use a badminton court for pickleball you will have to map out a new line for the non-volley zone.

What Are the Pickleball Court Dimensions in Meters?

Pickleball courts measure 6.1 m wide by 13.41 m long.

How High Is a Pickleball Net?

A pickleball net must be at least 30 inches tall and held at a height of 34 inches in the middle, and 36 inches at the sides.

How Wide Is a Pickleball Court?

A pickleball court is 20 ft wide (6.1 m).

Alex Horscroft

Freelance writer. Table tennis enthusiast. Lover of all things online. When I’m not working on my loop game I’m probably binge-watching some fantasy show.

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