Pickleball Court Dimensions: Official Size, Layout and Net Height
This post has been updated in 2026 according to the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (2026).
For those pickleball addicts looking to put down temporary court lines, or are considering building their own pickleball courts, regardless of location or venue, the official pickleball court size and dimensions are the same – 20 ft wide x 44 ft long. The non-volley zone (kitchen) extends 7 feet from the net on each side. The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches high in the center.
Court Dimensions Quick Reference
Size | |
|---|---|
Court Length | 44 ft (13.41 m) |
Court Width | 20 ft (6.10 m) |
Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) | 7 ft long x 20 ft wide on each side of the net |
Service Box | 15 ft long x 10 ft wide |
Net Height Sideline | 36 inches +/- 0.25 inch |
Net Height Center | 34 inches +/- 0.25 inch |
Minimum Playing Surface Area | 60 ft long x 30 ft wide |
Outdoor Court Orientation | North/South |
Indoor Court Ceiling Height | 20+ ft |
Pickleball Court Size Specifications – According to the USA Pickleball/IFP Official Rulebook
Pickleball court dimensions are explicitly laid out in the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook. The following are 3 key points with respect to official pickleball court size and configuration.
3.A.1. Court Dimensions. The court must be a rectangle measuring 20 feet (6.10 m) wide and 44 feet (13.41 m) long for both singles and doubles matches.
3.A.2. Court Measurements. Court measurements must be made to the outside edge of the perimeter and non-volley zone lines.
3.A.3. Playing Surface. The minimum playing surface area is 30 feet (9.14 m) wide and 60 feet (18.29 m) long.
Non-Volley Zone
As the name implies, one cannot volley (hit a ball out of the air) with a foot inside the Non-Volley Zone (referred to as the Kitchen) or on the Non-Volley Line. For additional information, please check out the following Pickleball Kitchen Rules FAQs.
official Dimensions
Non-Volley Zone. The 7-foot by 20-foot (2.13 m by 6.08 m) area of the court adjacent to each end of the net. The non-volley zone lines run parallel to the net, 7 feet (2.13 m) from the net on each end between the two sidelines. All lines that bound the non-volley zone are part of the zone. The non-volley zone is two-dimensional and does not extend above the playing surface.
Space Around the Court
Always make sure there is plenty of room between courts. Don’t – and, I repeat – don’t cram the courts together!!! Space is needed.
USA Pickleball suggests preferred court dimensions are 34 ft wide x 64 ft long. This allows for at least 10 feet of extra space around the width of the court and 16 feet of extra space around the length. This is important since players serve behind the baseline and can hit shots that are outside the court boundaries. If you have the space, the USA Pickleball rulebook says a size of 40′ x 64′ is ideal.
One More Question… How High is a Pickleball Net?
To answer this question, we once again turn to the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook.
3.B.6 Sideline Net Height. The top of the net must be 36 inches +/- 0.25 inch (91.44 cm +/- 0.635 cm) above the playing surface where the net crosses the outer edge of the sidelines.
3.B.7 Center Net Height. The top of the net must be 34 inches +/- 0.25 inch (86.36 cm +/- 0.635 cm) above the playing surface at the center point of the court. If there is a center strap, the center net height measurement includes the center strap.
Pickleball Court Dimensions (including Net Height) VS Tennis Court
The square footage of a tennis court is just over 3 times that of a pickleball court. More specifically, whereas a pickleball court has court dimensions equal to 20′ x 44′, a tennis court has dimensions (including doubles alley) of 36 feet wide by 78 feet long.
While a pickleball net is 34″ at the center, a tennis net measures 36″ at the center. The following image should give you a better graphical representation of the size differences between a pickleball court and a tennis court.
A Common Configuration at Tennis Facilities
We live in southwest, Ohio, where we are a bit spoiled with 18 dedicated outdoor pickleball courts within a 20-minute drive. During the winter, however, we are relegated to playing indoors. Luckily, more and more tennis facilities are adding pickleball to their tennis offering.
At these facilities, you will often see 2 pickleball courts (with temporary pickleball nets) laid out on a single tennis court as you see below. You will notice that the tennis net divides the two pickleball courts.
Indoor and Outdoor Court Considerations
There are a couple of items to consider when building either an indoor court or an outdoor court.
Indoor Court
With indoor courts, it’s important to allow enough space around the courts. Do not place courts directly next to pillars. Players need room to hit serves behind the baseline and around-the-post shots without anything impeding them.
Additionally, ceiling height needs to be a consideration. Ceilings should be at least 20 ft tall. Players need space to hit lobs.
Outdoor Court
When building outdoor courts, it’s important to consider which direction the courts will be facing. Court orientation should be north/south. That way, the sun doesn’t become a bothersome factor during play. Nobody likes to play while they’re looking into the sun in the morning or late afternoon.
What the Movie, Hoosiers, Teaches Us About Court Size & Dimensions
I love the following scene from the 1986 film, “Hoosiers.” If you recall, Hoosiers is a 1986 sports film about a small-town Indiana high school basketball team that wins the state championship. The story is set in 1951/1952, when all high schools in Indiana, regardless of size, competed in one state championship tournament.
In an iconic scene, the coach demonstrates with the help of his players, that, regardless of the size of the venue or arena, the court dimensions will always be identical – with the free-throw line always set at 15 feet from the basket and the height of the basket always 10 feet from the floor.
FAQs
What is the kitchen size in pickleball?
The Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) is 7 feet by 20 feet on either side of the net.
How high is a pickleball net?
Both sidelines of the net are 36 inches high, while the top of the center net is 34 inches.
Is a pickleball court the same size as a badminton court?
Yes, a pickleball court and a badminton court have the same dimensions.
How many pickleball courts fit on a tennis court?
Two to four pickleball courts can fit on a tennis court.
Related Articles
For more information about courts, check out the articles below:
- Best Portable Pickleball Nets
- Building a Pickleball Court
- Court Colors
- Dedicated Pickleball Indoor Venues
- Pickleball Franchise Opportunities
Pickleball Court Measurements Should Always be the Same
Similarly, whether you play at a dedicated pickleball facility, a church gym, your own outdoor court – or anything in between – the pickleball court dimensions should always be the same.
Look forward to seeing you on the pickleball courts – and if you build your own backyard court, please invite me to play!
Hi
What is the rule about my partner hitting the ball, but it don’t go over the net. Can I then hit the ball making it go over resulting with two hits?
Absolutely not. It would make for an interesting game, however, if you could. :-)
How high of a ceiling must it be to play pickleball? Is 18’ too low
Hi Jim, 18 feet for ceiling height when playing pickleball would be cutting it a little close. I would recommend a higher ceiling to accommodate those wanting to lob. Hope that helps.
Hello,
Is there a “standard” height? We have just constructed an outdoor court, and considering an awning shade to go over the top to provide protection from the sun. Is 18′ definitely too low? The sun gets very bright outside which is the reason for our awning idea. However, we don’t want to impede play. I need to measure our posts, but I believe the height was around 15′ high
Hi Jason, Not sure if there is a “standard” or regulation height. I have seen it stated previously that the minimum height should be 18′- 20.’ I guess it depends how high those with whom you play lob the ball. Ha!!! Sounds like a great set-up, however. Love the awning idea.