Beginner's guide
Pickleball court dimensions and size
A pickleball court measures 20 ft × 44 ft (6.10 m × 13.41 m) for both singles and doubles. The kitchen extends 7 ft (2.13 m) either side of the net. Allow extra space around the marked court: the recommended total playing area starts at 30 ft × 60 ft.
Reviewed by the NPL Professional Pathways team · Updated
Court measurements: metric and imperial
| Measurement | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Court width × length | 6.10 m × 13.41 m | 20 ft × 44 ft |
| Kitchen depth, each side | 2.13 m | 7 ft |
| Net at sidelines | 91.4 cm | 36 in |
| Net at centre | 86.4 cm | 34 in |
| Minimum total playing area | 9.14 m × 18.29 m | 30 ft × 60 ft |
| Preferred new-construction area | 10.36 m × 19.5 m | 34 ft × 64 ft |
The court is the same for singles and doubles
The marked rectangle is 20 ft wide and 44 ft long. There is no narrower singles boundary, so changing from doubles to singles changes how much court each player covers, not the court itself. The baselines are the back boundaries; the sidelines run along its length.
USA Pickleball's official rulebook measures the court to the outside edges of the perimeter and non-volley-zone lines. Do not add line widths outside the quoted dimensions when marking a layout. Use the rulebook's court specification rather than judging a rectangle by eye or copying nearby tennis lines.
The kitchen and service courts
The non-volley zone, usually called the kitchen, stretches across the court next to the net. Its depth is 7 ft (2.13 m) on each side. Its boundary lines belong to the zone, so a foot on the kitchen line counts as touching the kitchen.
Behind each kitchen line, a centreline divides the remaining court into right and left service courts. A serve travels diagonally into the opposite service court and must clear the kitchen, including its line. These markings are functional: they determine where the serve lands and where a player may volley.
You can enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced. The restriction concerns hitting a volley while touching the zone and momentum carrying you into it after a volley. Knowing that distinction makes the dimensions meaningful rather than treating the kitchen as an area players can never enter.
Measure the net at the sidelines and centre
The net is 36 in (91.4 cm) high at the sidelines and 34 in (86.4 cm) at the centre. Those are different measuring points, not interchangeable estimates. Check the height above the playing surface where the net crosses the sidelines and again in the middle.
A centre strap can help maintain the middle height. If using a portable net, check that its installation matches the manufacturer's instructions and that the net is set correctly before play. An existing tennis net should not simply be assumed to give a pickleball court the right heights.
Court size is not the whole playing area
The 20 ft × 44 ft rectangle describes the marked court, not the entire space a facility needs. Players move behind the baseline to serve and chase balls outside the sidelines. Surrounds therefore need to be considered before positioning a net, fence, wall or another court.
The official minimum playing surface is 30 ft × 60 ft (9.14 m × 18.29 m). For new construction and tournament play, the rulebook recommends 34 ft × 64 ft (10.36 m × 19.5 m). The larger footprint is preferred where the site allows it; neither measurement is a promise that every site is suitable.
Access, drainage, fencing, lighting and the condition of the base are separate planning questions. Leave their assessment to the project team rather than squeezing courts into an area solely because the painted lines fit. Check the requirements of any competition you intend to host as part of that planning.
Can a tennis court fit four pickleball courts?
One tennis court fits about four pickleball courts when its full playing area and surrounds permit a suitable conversion. That is a planning guide, not a guarantee that four rectangles fit inside the tennis doubles lines. The available enclosure, access routes and safe separation between courts all matter.
A temporary conversion can use suitable court markings and portable nets. A permanent conversion needs a site-specific plan. Existing tennis markings can be confusing, so agree which lines apply before play. Do not treat the tennis court's surface dimensions alone as a complete conversion drawing.
Find a court and keep learning
Use Where to Play to find a local venue, then check its booking information. The Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane city guides connect the basics to places you can actually play. Confirm the session format and equipment arrangements with the venue before booking.
For your first game, read the pickleball rules and scoring guide. If a session asks for a rating, DUPR ratings explained covers that separately. Planning a facility rather than a session? Build a Court is the place to discuss the site, surface and surrounds without assuming that a painted rectangle is the whole project.