Pickleball Court Dimensions

Pickleball is a well-established and highly competitive sport, with annual regional tournaments attracting streams of participants and spectators nationwide. This sport’s interesting origin makes it unique, but anyone can enjoy it, regardless of age, gender, fitness level or experience.

Pickleball courts are relatively easy and cost-effective to build if there are not too many additional features to expand on. If you follow the correct legal channels, you can have yours built by a professional court construction company in a designated public area.

How big is a pickleball court? If you plan to build a standard pickleball court, you must know all the dimensions involved. They will be the same whether participants play singles or doubles, inside or outside. Read on for more on the dimensions of each court component and tips for designing your pickleball court. USA Shade is your go-to for custom building projects and will provide the ideal shade structure to complement your court.

What Are the Dimensions of a Pickleball Court?

A pickleball court consists of five areas. Equipped with a tape measure and marking tape or chalk, you can measure the area where you will build your pickleball court. The measurements are regulation-sized per the USA Pickleball Rule Book to ensure your stand-alone court meets the professional requirements.

A pickleball court is rectangular, and its full dimensions are 20 by 44 feet. Except for the net’s height, it has the same dimensions as a badminton court. To get accurate measurements for the entire court, we’ll separate each area and its relevant dimensions.

Remember to include the marking lines in your court measurements. In other words, measure the lines’ outside borders as your measuring points, with the line diameter included inwardly. Additionally, the pickleball court’s position should ensure direct sunlight doesn’t shine into the players’ eyes. A north-south bearing should help with this.

How Wide Is a Pickleball Court?

A regulation pickleball court is 20 feet wide. It is the width calculated between both sidelines and excludes the out-of-bounds area. The width is the same for single and doubles play.

How Long Is a Pickleball Court?

A pickleball court is 44 feet long. The length remains the same for courts designed for single and double play.

How Many Square Feet Is a Pickleball Court?

A pickleball court is between 800 and 880 square feet, which may vary depending on whether you include space for a bigger out-of-bounds area.

Pickleball Court Layout Dimensions

Apart from the court’s overall dimensions, consider additional measurements. The centerline, sideline, non-volley zone, net, left and right service areas and baseline all make up the sections that enforce the game’s rules, with each performing a specific function. Read on for short descriptions of the court layout and its dimensions.

Centerline

Each baseline has a dividing centerline that runs parallel to the sidelines, in the middle of the court. The centerline measures 10 feet from both halves of the baseline for a total length of 20 feet.

Sideline

As the name suggests, the lines on both sides of the court are the sidelines. They should measure 44 feet on both sides.

Non-Volley Zone

The non-volley zone, aka the “kitchen,” runs parallel to the baseline and is 7 feet away from the net. When players are in this area, they cannot hit the ball without it bouncing first. The kitchen is the smallest area on the court and the only part they can’t volley or serve the ball from, due to its proximity to the net.

Net

The net is 36 inches high, though the middle is 2 inches lower. It should measure 21 feet between posts.

Left/Right Service Areas

Two sections within the court are the left and right service areas or odd and even courts. The even court is on the right side, and the odd court is on the left side of the centerline. They both measure 10 feet wide and 15 feet long.

Baseline

These are the lines at both far ends of the court and run perpendicular to the net. A player cannot cross these boundary lines when serving underhand.

The baseline measures 20 feet across on both sides.

Can I Use an Existing Tennis or Badminton Court to Build a Pickleball Court?

In general, yes, you can. Though tennis courts are longer, you can downsize them to accommodate pickleball. You would still need to follow the exact dimensions for accurate pickleball court measurements, but the foundation is the same, making it easier to convert to a smaller court.

Badminton court measurements are almost identical, so using them for pickleball primarily requires changing the markings. Temporary and shared-use courts allow you to do a “test-drive” before establishing permanent pickleball courts.

Tips for Designing Your Pickleball Court

When building a pickleball court, you have free rein to be creative with colors. You will also need to contemplate factors like lighting, fencing, and whether to add an out-of-bounds area, shade, and a painted surface.

These features will enhance the space and ensure players get maximum gameplay gratification every time.

Lighting

To maximize your pickleball court’s availability, it’s wise to place lights above it for nighttime action. The type of lighting depends on whether players are professional or recreational. Fixing two to four LED lights on poles will lighten up courts, since they cover larger areas.

The sun will provide sufficient lighting during the daytime, but darker flooring paint may absorb heat. Dark paint colors reflect off the surface and emit more heat than lighter paint colors, similar to players wearing dark and light clothing that will help them cool down or heat up depending on the color.

Reduce glare on the court’s surface to avoid hindering players. If you are building a court indoors, choose low-glare options like fluorescent or LED lights. High-intensity discharge lights are effective inside and outside but don’t last as long as LED lights do.

Fencing Around the Court

If you’re building a pickleball court in a community space, consider cordoning it off with fencing. This enclosed area allows players to enjoy time on the court, while creating a sense of belonging. It also keeps the ball inside, so players who hit it out of bounds don’t have to run after it.

Reinforce fences to avoid injury and offer support against falling. Any holes or gaps in the fencing cannot be too big and must accommodate the ball so it stays within the internal boundaries. The ball diameter is between 2.9 and 3 inches, while the circumference is between 9 and 9.3 inches.

There are different types of fencing available.

• Windscreen: These solid, transparent fences consist of microfiber mesh and offer better wind protection. Their modern, discreet look makes the court space stand out.
• Chain link: This steel wire fence has a mostly transparent zig-zag pattern. Wind and light easily pass through the large diamond-shaped spaces in the fence, while the ball remains inside.
• Construction: You can also put construction fencing around your pickleball court, though you may have to secure it with weights or pins to shore it up for permanent use.
• Plastic netting: Another option is plastic fence netting. Like the others, its plastic mesh design and spacing prevent the ball from passing through.

Consider a Larger Out-of-Bounds Area

Players don’t want to feel restricted on a pickleball court. While the inside area has limitations, they should be free to move outside the baseline and sideline sections. The entire court surface should measure 30 by 60 feet, though the out-of-bounds area should ideally be longer.

For your stand-alone court, you could increase these dimensions to 34 by 64 feet to accommodate extra running after missed balls.

Some courts have specific requirements based on their intended use. Use the following dimensions for building your pickleball court.

• Recreational one-court dimensions: 30 by 60 feet, 34 by 64 feet, 40 by 64 feet and 44 by 74 feet
• Recreational two-court stacked dimensions: 68 by 64 feet, 30 by 120 feet and 60 by 60 feet
• Recreational four-court stacked dimensions: 60 by 120 feet and 68 by 128 feet
• Professional one-court dimensions: 30 by 60 feet, 34 by 64 feet, 40 by 64 feet and 44 by 74 feet
• Professional two-court stacked dimensions: 30 by 120 feet
• Professional four-court stacked dimensions: 60 by 120 feet
• Club one-court dimensions: 30 by 60 feet, 34 by 64 feet, 40 by 64 feet and 44 by 74 feet
• Club two-court stacked dimensions: 30 by 120 feet and 60 by 60 feet
• Club four-court stacked dimensions: 68 by 128 feet and 60 by 120 feet

Add Shade

Players and spectators will enjoy shade, especially on warmer days when the sun’s heat is more intense. There are a few advantages of adding shade structures on a pickleball court.

• Protect players from glare and direct heat that could cause sunburns during gameplay.
• Spectators can watch the game without bringing umbrellas and other items to protect them from the sun.
• Everyone can enjoy the game all year round, even if it rains, with adequate shade structures.
• Reduced sun damage and rain protection will prolong your court and net life.

Apart from shade structures that cover the court, other excellent additions to a larger pickleball court area are sails for shelter from the sun and bleachers for spectators to sit comfortably while watching the match. You would need a lot more space outside the fencing, but this would boost the outdoor experience for everyone.

Choose a Painted Concrete Surface

Ideally, you should cover concrete surfaces with acrylic paint to give you the best results and a smoother surface area. There are a few benefits of choosing a painted concrete surface.

• Better traction for players: A painted concrete surface provides better traction and grip during play. Since there is reduced bounce, players won’t have to strain themselves and are less prone to knee and other injuries.
• Custom painting: Enhance visual appeal by painting brand logos or using bright colors to attract players and spectators. A professionally painted court stands out anywhere.
• UV-resistant paint protection: Protect the court’s surface with UV-resistant paint, reducing the chance of fading over time.
• Line visibility: Markings and lines stand out on a brightly painted court, which is vital for demarcating distinct areas during matches.

Add a Shade Structure to Your Pickleball Court Today

A shade structure is a perfect feature for any pickleball court. It has many advantages for players and spectators, while looking impressive. At USA Shade, we have every shade structure possible to suit your needs and requirements. They come in an array of styles, shapes and sizes with varying degrees of versatility to accommodate any venue.

We want to help you find a shade structure that will accentuate your pickleball court. Contact us, and we will reply to you to discuss your project or provide a quote.