Pickleball Court Size – What Are the Correct Pickleball Court Dimensions?
The USA Pickleball Rule book states that the dimensions of a standard pickleball court are 34’x64′ and the minimum size for the suggested playing area is 30′ x 60′. The USA Pickleball Rule book also states that the actual playing lines are 20’x44′.
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5 Key Facts – Pickleball Court Size & Dimensions
- The official pickleball court size is a rectangle that is 20′ wide (6.10 m) and 44′ long (13.41 m) inclusive of the court lines.
- The court size for singles and doubles is the same.
- The recommended minimum total playing area is 30 feet wide (9.14 m) and 60 feet long (18.28) but the preferred size is 34’x 64′ long allowing for room to move outside the court’s playing area.
- The pickleball court dimensions the ball.
- For recreational play, you can adjust the size of the court, according to the space that’s available to you but try to use at least the minimum size requirements of 20′ wide (6.10 m) and 44′ long (13.41 m) inclusive of the court lines.
Pickleball Court Playing Lines and Playing Areas
A pickleball court has lines that are similar to a tennis or badminton court but there are a couple of differences.
The main difference between a tennis court or badminton court and a pickleball court is that a pickleball court has a non-volley zone (the kitchen), a 7 ft area that runs parallel to the net on both sides.
Here’s a summary of the court lines and playing areas:
- The sidelines are perpendicular to the net on each side of the court
- The non-volley zone is defined by a line that is parallel to the net and is 7 feet from the net on both sides of the net and runs to each of the two sidelines. The lines are part of the non-volley zone.
- The service court area is on either side of the center line and includes the centerline, the sideline, and the baseline.
- The centerline is down the center of the court on both sides of the net and starts at the Non-Volley Zone and goes to the baseline.
- The right or even court service area is on the right side of the court when facing the net.
- The left or odd court service area is on the left side of the court when facing the net.
- All pickleball court lines are 2 inches wide.
Options For Pickleball Court Locations
A pickleball court can be created in almost any space that’s at least 20’ x 44’ and is a hard surface – the grass will not work well. Here are 3 possible locations to create a court:
An official pickleball court size is 20′ x 44′. These are the recommended dimensions. Most pickleball players don’t have access to a playing surface that can be dedicated to pickleball courts. Or the cost to create the playing surface is cost-prohibitive.
Here are a few suggestions on where you could easily put in a court by drawing the pickleball court lines yourself:
- Think about re-purposing a basketball court, tennis court, or badminton court. Many communities are taking this approach and in some cases, a surface such as a tennis court is multi-purpose and has lines for pickleball as well. These couild be indoor or outdoor courts and there might be room for mulitple pickleball courts. This is what my local pickleball club has done.
- Use an empty school parking lot that’s not used often. You could probably paint permanent or temporary pickleball court lines. There might even be room for multiple pickleball courts.
- A dead-end street or a cul-de-sac in your neighborhood that could do the trick.
- Your driveway.
That being said, because of the incredible growth of the sport, more and more permanent pickleball court construction.
TIP:
When picking a location for your court, and you have a choice, think about the position of the sun and the effects of shadows on the court surface.
Where possible, you don’t want players having to look into the sun.
As a general guideline, avoid putting a court up in a direction that will have the sun low in the sky during the busiest or most likely time of the day that the court will be used. A north-south setup is recommended.
Of course, you may not have many or any options if you’re using your driveway or an existing tennis court that you are re-purposing.
Pickleball Net Setup Guidelines
Here are the USAPA guidelines to follow when putting a pickleball net:
- The net can be made of any mesh fabric that the ball can’t pass through
- Posts should be 22 feet apart from the inside of one post to the inside of the other post. The maximum diameter of a post should be 3 inches
- The net length should be at least 21 feet 9 inches from one post to the other. The net height should be at least 30 inches.
- The net should be suspended over the center of the court and the top should be 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches high in the middle.
- The net can touch the court it should not drape onto the court.
Supplies For Creating A pickleball Court
There are several simple and cost-effective options for drawing court lines. It’s really a matter of deciding how temporary you want the lines to be and selecting the option that will work best for the pickleball court surface.
Regardless, you’ll need the following supplies:
- Spool of string or a carpenter’s chalk to mark the lines before drawing the permanent lines
- Tape measure
- Sidewalk chalk (approx. 2 large sticks per court), OR
- Court tape OR Gaffer Tape (approx. 198 ft per court) OR
- Line-marking paint applied with a marking applicator OR
- Another alternative to drawing the lines is to use these court lines OR these court lines (2 sets per court)
- Pickleball net option#1 OR pickleball net option#2
How To Set Up A Pickleball Court
Pickleball Court Size / Pickleball Court Dimensions
There are two options for creating a pickleball court that meets the minimum recommended pickleball court dimensions.
Remember when creating your court that the minimum recommended pickleball court size is 30 feet wide (9.14 m) and 60 feet long (18.28) but the preferred size is 34 feet by 64 feet long.
However, since this is probably for recreational play, make the court as close to this size as possible. It’s really about getting a court built that you can use and have some fun with.
FAQs For Pickleball Court Size
What are the dimensions of a standard pickleball court in feet?
The USA Pickleball Rule book states that the dimensions of a standard pickleball court in feet are 34’x64′ and the minimum size suggested playing area is 30′ x 60. The USA Pickleball Rule book also states that the actual playing lines in feet are 20’x44′
Can pickleball be played on a carpet?
Pickleball could be played on carpet but it’s recommended that the pickleball court surface is a hard surface such as gym floors, tennis courts or concrete, asphalt. In theory, the carpet will be on top of one of these surfaces but since carpet typically has a bit of softness to it, that will make it difficult for a ball to bounce.
And it’s also possible to play pickleball on grass.
Is a pickleball court the same size as a badminton court?
Yes, a pickleball court is the same size as a badminton court. The pickleball court and badminton court measurements are 20′ x 44′.
What are pickleball court dimensions in meters?
The USA PickleballRule book states that the dimensions of a standard pickleball court in meters are 10 meters x 19.5 meters and the minimum size suggested playing area is 9.1m x 18.2m. The USA Pickleball Rule book also states that the actual playing lines are 6.1m x 13.4m.
Summary – Pickleball Court Dimensions
Although many more pickleball courts are being constructed, sometimes you prefer to build a court of your own, whether it’s in your driveway, cul-de-sac or built on a re-purposed basketball court.
The USA Pickleball Rule book states that the dimensions of a standard pickleball court in feet are 34’x64′ and the minimum size for the suggested playing area is 30′ x 60′. The USA Pickleball Rule book also states that the actual playing lines in feet are 20’x44′.
It’s also affordable for most people.
There are few affordable pickleball nets on the market. Take a look at this guide to get some ideas on which net fits your budget and will work well for your needs
If you need help selecting a paddle, The Best Pickleball Paddles for Every Budget (And Game), simplifies buying paddles and includes a few great options for pickleball paddles.
For additional information on pickleball court size and dimensions, you can refer to the USAPA pickleball guidelines.
