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Contents
A pickleball court is small and easy to set up almost anywhere: it's the same size as a doubles badminton court, and the same court is used for singles and doubles. This guide gives you every official dimension from the USA Pickleball rulebook, how much space you need around the court, and how to lay one out on a tennis court, a padel court, in a gym or on your driveway.
The three key numbers: a 20 × 44 ft court (6.10 × 13.41 m), a 7 ft kitchen (2.13 m) on each side of the net, and a net that's 36 in (91.4 cm) at the sidelines and 34 in (86.4 cm) in the center.
Full chart of official dimensions
| Element | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Full court (singles and doubles) | 20 × 44 ft | 6.10 × 13.41 m |
| Each half of the court | 20 × 22 ft | 6.10 × 6.71 m |
| Non-volley zone (kitchen), each side | 7 ft deep × 20 ft wide | 2.13 × 6.10 m |
| Service area (four in total) | 15 ft deep × 10 ft wide | 4.57 × 3.05 m |
| Line width | 2 in | 5 cm |
| Net height at the sidelines | 36 in | 91.4 cm |
| Net height at center | 34 in | 86.4 cm |
| Minimum net width | 21 ft 9 in | 6.63 m |
| Court diagonal (for squaring) | about 48 ft 4 in | about 14.73 m |
| Recommended total playing area | 30 × 60 ft | 9.14 × 18.29 m |
A few details worth knowing:
- Lines are part of the court: a ball that lands on a sideline or baseline is in. The exception is the serve: a serve that lands on the kitchen line is a fault, because that line belongs to the kitchen.
- Measure to the outside edge of the lines. The 7 ft kitchen includes its line.
- Net posts sit outside the court. Because the net is at least 21 ft 9 in wide, each post ends up roughly 10-12 in outside the sideline.
- Safety space: the recommended 30 × 60 ft area leaves 5 ft on each side and 8 ft behind each baseline. More is recommended for tournament play.
The parts of the court, one by one
The baseline closes off the back of the court and is where you serve from. The sidelines mark the width. The centerline runs from the kitchen line to the baseline and splits each half into a right and left service court; it doesn't extend through the kitchen.
The kitchen, or non-volley zone, is the 7 ft strip next to the net. While standing in it (or on its line) you can't hit the ball out of the air. It's the most important area in the game, and it has its own guide: pickleball kitchen rules. For the rest of the rulebook, see our pickleball rules guide.
How to lay out pickleball on a tennis court
A tennis court measures 78 × 36 ft between the lines, and the fenced area is usually much larger. That's why up to 4 pickleball courts fit on one tennis court when you use the whole enclosure with portable nets. There are two common approaches:
- One court on the tennis net: center a pickleball court on the existing net. A tennis net is 36 in at the center, about 2 in higher than a pickleball net; for rec play it works as is, and if the center strap is adjustable you can lower it. The kitchen falls inside the tennis service box.
- Multiple courts with portable nets: lay out courts parallel or perpendicular to the tennis court, each with its own portable net, leaving at least 5 ft between courts.
For temporary courts, use sport floor tape, rubber throw-down lines or chalk; for permanent courts, use acrylic paint in a color that contrasts with the tennis lines. See options in our roundups of court marking kits and portable pickleball nets.
How to play on a padel court
A padel court is about 33 × 66 ft (10 × 20 m), so one pickleball court fits, aligned with the padel court and using its net. A padel net is about 34.6 in (88 cm) at the center and up to about 36.2 in (92 cm) at the ends, almost the same as a pickleball net, so it works for casual play. With the court centered, you get about 10.8 ft behind each baseline and roughly 6.4 ft on each side.
Mind the walls: on paper there's enough room, but the glass walls and mesh are hard obstacles that shrink your real safety margin. Also, pickleball isn't played off the walls. Padel turf with sand slows the bounce, so use outdoor pickleballs.
We cover the differences between the two sports, beyond the court, in pickleball vs padel.
On your driveway, in the backyard or in a gym
For a regulation court with a minimal buffer, you need a smooth surface of roughly 25 × 52 ft (7.5 × 16 m). Many driveways and patios fall short, but you can still play:
- Half court: one kitchen and one service area to drill dinks and volleys with a partner or against a rebounder.
- Short court: keep the 7 ft kitchen and shorten the backcourt. It isn't regulation, but the net game, which is what you practice most, is identical.
In a gym, the easiest option is to use the outer lines of a doubles badminton court, which is the same size. However, the badminton short service line is 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) from the net, so you'll need to mark the kitchen line about 6 in further back, at 7 ft. A badminton net is much higher, so you'll need a pickleball net.
Surfaces, slope and orientation
| Surface | Bounce | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete or asphalt with acrylic coating | Excellent and consistent | The standard outdoors; the coating adds grip and protection |
| Modular sport tiles | Good | Snap together over a firm, level base; great at home |
| Hardwood or synthetic gym floor | Excellent | Ideal indoors, with indoor balls |
| Artificial turf | Low and uneven | Only for occasional play |
| Dirt or clay | Poor | Not recommended |
If you're building an outdoor court, give it a slight slope so water drains (around 1 %, ideally side to side rather than toward the net). Orient the long axis north to south so neither player faces the sun at sunrise or sunset, which is when most summer play happens.
Common layout mistakes
- Measuring to the center of the lines instead of the outside edge.
- Skipping the diagonal check: if both diagonals don't match, the court isn't square.
- Leaving a tennis net at full height without lowering the center, or leaving it slack.
- Placing the posts right on the sideline, when they belong outside it.
- Using the same line color as the tennis or padel lines, which confuses players.
Everything you need to set up your court is in our court and net category.
Recommended gear for this guide
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a pickleball court?
A pickleball court is 20 × 44 ft (6.10 × 13.41 m) for both singles and doubles, the same size as a doubles badminton court. A total playing area of 30 × 60 ft is recommended to leave room around the court.
How high is a pickleball net?
The net is 36 in (91.4 cm) high at the sidelines and 34 in (86.4 cm) at the center. It must be at least 21 ft 9 in wide, with the posts outside the sidelines.
How many pickleball courts fit on a tennis court?
Up to 4 pickleball courts fit if you use the whole tennis enclosure with portable nets. You can also lay out a single court centered on the tennis net, lowering the center by about 2 in.
How big is the kitchen in pickleball?
The kitchen, or non-volley zone, is 7 ft (2.13 m) deep on each side of the net and spans the full 20 ft width of the court. The kitchen line is part of the kitchen.
Can you play pickleball on a driveway?
Yes, if the surface is smooth. A regulation court with a small buffer needs about 25 × 52 ft. If your driveway is smaller, set up a half court or a shorter court that keeps the 7 ft kitchen for practicing the net game.