Pickleball Court Dimensions and How to Set One Up
Pickleball courts have precise official dimensions, but the sport's grassroots growth means many players play on temporary setups — driveways, gym floors, and converted tennis courts. This guide covers both: the official specs you need for any serious play, and the practical setup guide for making your own court.
Official court dimensions
Playing area: 20 feet wide × 44 feet long. This is the same for singles and doubles (unlike tennis, which has a wider doubles court).
Recommended total playing surface (including out-of-bounds run-off): 30 feet wide × 60 feet long minimum. Official tournament facilities use 34 × 64 feet.
Net: 36 inches high at the sideline posts, 34 inches at the center. The center sag is standard — the net must be taut at the posts but can and does sag in the middle.
Kitchen (non-volley zone): 7 feet from the net to the NVZ line on each side, spanning the full 20-foot width.
Service boxes: each service box is 10 feet wide × 15 feet deep (half the 20-foot court width, from the NVZ line to the baseline).
Centerline: runs down the middle of each service box from the NVZ line to the baseline, dividing the service area into left and right boxes.
Setting up a temporary court on a hard surface
What you need: portable net (many options under $100 with carrying bag), measuring tape, chalk or removable court tape, and a surface at least 30 × 60 feet.
Step 1: measure and mark the baseline (44 ft from center net post to each baseline).
Step 2: measure and mark the sidelines (20 ft wide, centered on the net).
Step 3: measure and mark the NVZ lines (7 ft from each side of the net).
Step 4: mark the centerline (runs from NVZ line to baseline, down the middle of the playing area).
For driveways: chalk washes off cleanly. For gym floors: use painter's tape or dedicated court tape — never permanent adhesive.
Converting a tennis court to pickleball courts
A standard tennis court (78 × 36 ft for doubles) can fit two pickleball courts side-by-side (each 20 × 44 ft) within the doubles tennis boundaries with some left over.
Some facilities fit three or even four pickleball courts on a single tennis court by using the full measured court area — this requires checking that run-off zones are adequate.
Net height: tennis nets are 3 feet (36 inches) at the center — correct for pickleball at the post, but standard tennis center height may need slight adjustment to match pickleball's 34-inch center spec. Many converted courts skip the adjustment for recreational play.
Portable pickleball nets placed inside the tennis court boundaries are the most common setup for conversions at parks and community courts.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pickleball court the same size as a badminton court?+
Doubles badminton is 20 feet wide × 44 feet long — exactly the same dimensions as a pickleball court. Singles badminton is narrower. Many facilities that already have badminton courts can convert them for pickleball with just a net change.
How much space do I need for a backyard pickleball court?+
Absolute minimum playing surface: 20 × 44 feet. Recommended with run-off: 30 × 60 feet. A typical suburban driveway won't fit a full court — you'd need a 30 × 60 ft flat paved or hard-packed surface.
Does the net height matter for recreational play?+
Yes — net height significantly affects gameplay. Too high and the soft game is harder; too low and drives clear the net too easily. Use the 36-inch posts/34-inch center spec even for casual play for an accurate game experience.
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