Pickleball Court Dimensions: the Court, the Lines and the Space Around It

A pickleball court measures 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, and that size is the same for singles and doubles. The 2026 USA Pickleball rulebook measures it to the outside edge of the lines, so every line sits inside those numbers. Around the court you need more room: the rulebook's minimum playing surface is 30 by 60 feet.

How big is a pickleball court?

The rulebook fixes the court at 20 × 44 feet for both formats (rule 3.A.1). Measurements run to the outside edge of the perimeter lines and the non-volley zone lines (rule 3.A.2). That detail matters when you mark a court yourself: lay the tape or paint inward from your outer chalk line, not centered on it.

All lines should be 2 inches wide and one colour that clearly contrasts with the surface (rule 3.A.4.e). A white or yellow line on a blue or green surface is the usual choice. The planner above draws the lines thicker than real life so you can see them on a phone screen.

What does each line mark?

Four kinds of lines divide the court, and each one decides a different call:

• Baselines close each end of the court, parallel to the net (rule 3.A.4.a).
• Sidelines run the full 44 feet on both sides (rule 3.A.4.b).
• Non-volley zone lines cross the court 7 feet from the net on each side. The zone they enclose is 7 × 20 feet, and the lines belong to it (rule 3.A.4.c).
• Centerlines run from each kitchen line to the baseline, 15 feet long, and split the right and left service courts (rule 3.A.4.d).

The kitchen is flat: it covers the floor only and does not extend into the air above it (rule 3.A.4.c). That is why you may volley a ball while standing behind the line even if the ball is above the zone.

Lines also decide line calls. A rally ball that lands on any line of the opponent's end is in (rule 8.B). A serve is different: it must clear the kitchen, so a serve that lands on the kitchen line is out (rule 8.C). The service court includes its baseline, sideline and centerline, so a serve on those lines is in (rule 3.A.4.f).

How much space do you need around the court?

Players run wide for angled dinks and back for lobs, so the rulebook adds a playing surface around the lines (rule 3.A.3). It lists three sizes:

On the minimum surface you get 5 feet beside each sideline and 8 feet behind each baseline. The recommended 34 × 64 feet gives 7 and 10 feet. The planner above shows those margins for your own space and says how many feet you are short of each size. For wheelchair play the rulebook recommends a larger surface of 44 × 74 feet (rule 25.A.11).

How high is the net, and where do the posts go?

The net posts stand 22 feet apart, measured inside to inside, with a tolerance of one inch (rule 3.B.2). Because the court is 20 feet wide, each post sits about a foot outside the sideline. Posts should be no thicker than 3 inches.

The net itself must be at least 21 feet 9 inches long and 30 inches tall (rule 3.B.3). Its top is 36 inches above the surface where it crosses the sidelines and 34 inches at the center, each within a quarter inch (rules 3.B.6 and 3.B.7). A center strap may pull the middle down to height (rule 3.B.5). After setting up a portable net, check the center height with a tape measure.

A worked example: a 24 × 50 ft driveway

Say your driveway is 24 feet wide and 50 feet long. Enter 50 and 24 in the planner above. The 20 × 44 court fits, but it leaves 2 feet beside each sideline and 3 feet behind each baseline. That is well under the rulebook minimum of 5 and 8 feet, so the planner flags it as a court for casual games, not a regulation surface.

Marking it takes 198 feet of 2-inch line: two baselines and two kitchen lines of 20 feet, two sidelines of 44 feet and two centerlines of 15 feet. To check that your rectangle is square, measure both diagonals of the 20 × 44 outline. They should match at about 48 feet 4 inches; if they differ, shift one corner until they do.

Common mistakes when you mark a court

• Centering tape on the measurement line, which makes the court 2 inches too small in each direction.
• Starting the centerline at the net instead of at the kitchen line.
• Forgetting the run-off: a wall or fence right behind the baseline turns every deep lob into a collision.
• Setting a portable net to 36 inches in the middle; the center should be 34 inches.

Planning a permanent court instead of tape? The construction guide covers surfaces and costs, and the backyard guide walks through the site checklist.