Official Pickleball Court Size
A regulation pickleball court measures 20 feet wide by 44 feet long. This is the same size for both singles and doubles play — unlike tennis, which uses different court widths for the two formats. The total playing surface is 880 square feet, roughly one-quarter the area of a tennis doubles court.
Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) Dimensions
The non-volley zone, universally called the kitchen, extends 7 feet from the net on each side. It spans the full 20-foot width of the court. The kitchen lines are part of the non-volley zone — stepping on any kitchen line while volleying is a fault. The kitchen accounts for 280 square feet of the total court area (140 square feet per side), which means nearly one-third of the court is restricted for volleys.
Service Court Dimensions
Behind the kitchen on each side, the court is divided into two service courts by a centerline. Each service court is 10 feet wide by 15 feet deep (from the kitchen line to the baseline). The centerline runs from the kitchen line to the baseline only — it does not extend through the kitchen.
Net Height
The net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center. This two-inch dip at the center is the same design principle as tennis but at a lower overall height. The net posts are positioned at the sidelines, and the net should be taut enough to maintain the correct center height under its own weight.
Line Width and Marking
All lines on a pickleball court are 2 inches wide. Lines should contrast clearly with the court surface — white lines on a colored surface are standard. The baseline, sidelines, kitchen line, and centerline are all the same width. Lines are considered “in” — a ball landing on any part of a line is good except during the serve, where a ball touching the kitchen line or its extensions is a fault.
Recommended Total Area Including Surrounds
While the court itself is 20 by 44 feet, USA Pickleball recommends a minimum total area of 30 feet wide by 60 feet long (1,800 square feet) to provide adequate out-of-bounds run-off space. For tournament play, the recommended total area increases to 34 feet wide by 64 feet long (2,176 square feet). These surrounds are essential for player safety — running down a lob with only inches of space beyond the baseline risks collisions with fences, walls, or adjacent courts.
Multi-Court Layout Spacing
When building multiple courts side by side, a minimum of 10 feet between courts is recommended for recreational play and 12-14 feet for tournament play. Courts arranged end-to-end need at least 16 feet between baselines. Four pickleball courts can fit on a single tennis court (78 by 36 feet) using the existing net area, though the shared surrounds are tighter than ideal for competitive play.
Comparing Pickleball and Tennis Court Dimensions
A tennis singles court is 78 by 27 feet (2,106 square feet). A tennis doubles court is 78 by 36 feet (2,808 square feet). A pickleball court at 20 by 44 feet (880 square feet) is 42% the size of a tennis singles court and 31% the size of a tennis doubles court. This compact size is a major reason pickleball is easier to play for older adults and beginners — less ground to cover means less running and lower cardiovascular demand per point.
Leave a Reply