You don’t need a lot of room to play a competitive game of pickleball and get some cardio in for the day. It can be great exercise, but how big is a pickleball court?
For starters, it’s the same size as a badminton court. This makes sense since the sport heavily influenced everything about pickleball, from play style to court markings to its rules.
Although many pickleball courts are scattered around the country, it doesn’t hurt to know the exact court dimensions. You can use them to set up a home court, create temporary ones inside a gym, or build your own multi-court playing area for pickleball enthusiasts.
Pickleball Court Dimensions and Specifics
A pickleball court is 44 feet long and 20 feet wide, including the lines. This puts it roughly the same size as the doubles court in badminton. That also makes it a popular sport, as not many locations have interchangeable courts, and one court can suit both badminton and pickleball needs.
But unlike badminton, the pickleball net rests on the ground and comes up about 36 inches on each side. Like tennis, the net isn’t fully stretched from the side posts, leaving the middle portion slightly sagging. That makes the net’s height at the center court around 34 inches.
Pickleball Back Court Dimensions
The pickleball backcourt is split into two halves on either side of the net, just like a tennis court. Each section is 10 feet long and measures 22 feet from the baseline to the net.
It’s important to note that both sides of the court have a non-volley zone. It starts at the net and goes seven feet into the backcourt for the entire width of the court. This is an area with special rules for hitting the ball.
Interestingly, pickleball doesn’t have different zones for singles and doubles matches. For example, tennis doubles matches use the extended court widths. That means hitting a ball in the exterior section of a tennis court isn’t a fault in doubles matches.
But in pickleball, the singles and doubles game areas are the same; what’s considered out of bounds in a singles game is also out of bounds in a doubles match. That makes the game require more precision and team coordination to avoid faults.
The majority of pickleball courts in the U.S. are outdoor courts. In that regard, how big is a pickleball court? Each playing area typically is around 30 x 60 feet or 30 x 64 feet in size. These dimensions are regulation standards to allow sufficient room between two or more courts for players to maneuver.
Recreational or casual pickleball playgrounds may downsize the free space surrounding the courts. But no matter the constraints, the playing area always keeps its 20 x 44-feet zone.
However, leaving around 10 feet of space between pickleball court boundaries is often a great idea. It allows more than enough room for players in each match to move, meaning you can use the courts to organize tournaments.
In addition, pickleball is a disabled-friendly game. The extra clearance allows people with disabilities to access the court, go after balls, and not worry about colliding with other players.
Pickleball Court Surfaces
Unlike tennis, you won’t find many grass pickleball courts, if any. The light plastic ball doesn’t get a good bounce without a strong surface material. Therefore, concrete and asphalt are two of the most popular pickleball court terrains.
Concrete is arguably the best choice for permanent pickleball court installations due to its durability. Asphalt is another option that doesn’t affect the bounce too much. The latter may be a solid choice for players or organizations with limited funds.
There are a few plastic pickleball courts you can try. They are typically made from plastic sheets that snap together to create a stable playing field. Plastic can be a good base for temporary courts placed over grassy terrain, indoors, and in other areas.
But the bounce will be different, as will the player’s grip and traction on the court. Plastic pickleball courts can be slippery, so using proper shoes is necessary to stay safe and improve your performance.
The Importance of Good Perimeter Fencing and Lighting
Installing perimeter fencing is almost mandatory when building multiple pickleball courts. Fencing prevents players from colliding, helps keep the ball within the playing zone, and gives the multi-court setup a more professional look.
Although pickleball is fun, it’s not the neighborhood-friendliest of sports. A multi-court playground can get really noisy due to the sharp striking sound of the ball hitting the court or the paddles.
In addition, many players like to play pickleball at night. Thus, installing quality lights on the court can improve its accessibility and availability. A few high-mounted lights can do the trick, as they can light up multiple individual courts without interfering with the players’ visibility.
Alternative Pickleball Courts
Despite its growing popularity, pickleball doesn’t have courts all over the country. Chances are you might not find a regulation court near you and may need to make your own. You’ll need to know the answer to the question: How big is a pickleball court?
If that’s the case, temporarily modifying a regulation tennis court for a few pickleball games is an interesting idea. Tennis courts have nearly double the square footage of pickleball courts. But the similar markings and existing net can help you make quick temporary adjustments for a game of pickleball.
For example, you can use the tennis court net as is and the center line as a guide. Measure 11 feet from the center line to each side to determine where to start drawing the sideline. Then, go 22 feet back from the net to establish the baseline.
Remember to mark the non-volley zone, a 7 x 22-foot area around each side of the net. You will see an extra marking in the non-volley zone due to the center line from the tennis court. But that shouldn’t affect your positioning in any way.
It’s important to remember that grass courts won’t work well for pickleball unless you plan on mainly practicing volley shots. In addition, be careful when marking the existing tennis court. You probably shouldn’t draw permanent lines for a pickleball court unless it’s your personal court.
Always check with the court owners or managers on whether they allow setting up temporary markings for pickleball. Vinyl strips, chalk, and adhesive tape can work best in most fields since they can be easily removed or wiped away. Plastic cones may also do the trick but can cause confusion regarding lines.
Alternatively, you can use indoor or outdoor badminton courts to play pickleball. The dimensions of pickleball and badminton courts are identical. But there are two minor differences.
A badminton court has a much taller net, and the no-service line is 6.5 feet away from the net. And how big is a pickleball court? By contrast, the no-volley line in pickleball is 7 feet away from the net.
Therefore, you need two things to convert a badminton court into a pickleball court.
First, lower the net to the ground. Secondly, draw or mark another line for the no-volley zone. Again, using non-permanent markings like vinyl strips or chalk is the easiest way to do it.
Talk to court managers before attempting to drop the net or draw on the court to avoid causing any damage. But if you have to choose between non-pickleball courts, converting a badminton court is arguably the best way. It has fewer additional markings that can distract you when playing.
And due to their smaller size, it’s more likely to find more free badminton courts in multi-court areas.
You Can Play It Almost Anywhere
So how big is a pickleball court? You can play pickleball anywhere you have a 22 x 44-foot space, chalk, and a 36-inch tall net. You can set up temporary courts in many places and adjust tennis and badminton courts to suit your needs. Just consider that the ball must bounce cleanly (which rules out grassy terrain).
Remember to ask permission before making changes to existing courts and to talk to your neighbors before making a backyard pickleball court. It’s a fun sport for players but noisy for everyone not invested in the game.
I've always been someone who takes care of their health by eating well and staying active. My lean build is a testament to my dedication to tennis, which has kept me in great shape over the years. Although I'm a bit hesitant about pickleball, I'm looking forward to trying something new and keeping up my fitness.
As someone who has been deeply involved in tennis for most of my life, it's hard to imagine playing anything else. However, I understand that pickleball has a growing following, and I'm willing to give it a try. Who knows, maybe I'll even come to enjoy it as much as I love tennis.
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