How to tape or paint a pickleball court

Although pickleball is a growing sport, you may still have to get creative to find a pickleball court near you. You can play pickleball on a basketball court, sport court, tennis court, and even concrete. So if you have either a backyard court or slab you’d like to convert into a pickleball court, or need to add lines to an existing court near you, here are some DIY tips on how to tape a pickleball court.

Taping or painting pickleball lines on a tennis court

Adding a pickleball court to a tennis court can easily be done due to the similarities between the two courts. Below you will find the instructions for adding a pickleball court to your tennis court, basketball court, concrete slab, or other surface.

Dimensions of a pickleball court

To tape a pickleball court, you will first want to learn the dimensions. A standard pickleball court is:

• 44 feet long (from the outside of each baseline).

• 20 feet wide (from the outside of each sideline).

• Each line is 2 inches wide.

• The net line is 22 feet from each baseline, and 20 feet wide.

  • The net may be up to an additional 12.25 inches outside each sideline.

• Each kitchen/non-volley zone line is 7 feet from the net, and 15 feet from each baseline.

• There is a center line on each side of the court, running 15 feet from the baseline to the kitchen line.
  

Learn more about the full pickleball court dimensions here.

What you will need to tape lines on a pickleball court

Taping temporary lines on a pickleball court will entail a minimal amount of effort, but it’s still something you will want to do well. Here are the things you will need to tape temporary lines for a pickleball court:

• Two people.

  • It’s possible to tape a court by yourself, but will be a much more difficult process.

• 200 feet of tape per court.

  • 400 feet of tape per court if your tape is not 2 inches wide.

• Two tape measures.

  • 25 feet.

  • 50 feet.

• A chalk or pencil marker.

When you are taping a pickleball court, you will find it’s a lot less work to use any existing lines on the court you are utilizing.

What you will need to paint permanent lines on a pickleball court

If you own the court and plan to add permanent lines, it will be a slightly more arduous process — but still very possible. Here are the things you will need to add permanent lines for a pickleball court:

• A few days of good weather (if the court is outside).

• Two people.

  • It’s possible to tape a court by yourself, but will be a much more difficult process.

• 400 feet of tape per court.

• Line paint.

• Painting materials based on your needs.

  • Paint brush.

  • Drop cloth.

  • Other painting materials, as needed.

• Two tape measures.

  • 25 feet.

  • 50 feet.

• A chalk or pencil marker.

When you are painting a pickleball court, you will find it’s a lot less work if you can use any existing lines on the court you are utilizing.

How to tape your pickleball court

To tape a pickleball court, you will want to follow these steps:

Measure your baseline and sidelines

You will first want to measure and chalk your baseline and sidelines. It’s recommended you do this one side of the net at a time.

• Your baseline will be 22 feet from the net, and 20 feet wide.

• Your sidelines will be 22 feet from the net to the baseline.

• The diagonal line between one corner of the court to the opposite (crosscourt) corner is 580 inches or 48 feet, 4 inches.

  • To check your dimensions before taping, you will want to make sure the three sides of this triangle are all the right lengths.

Measure two inches from each sideline and the baseline and chalk that line as well, so signify the inside of each line.

When you feel confident in your dimensions, you can then tape the chalk lines you made.

Measure your kitchen line

You will next want to measure your kitchen/non-volley zone line. This line will span 20 feet, sideline to sideline, on each side of the net.

• First measure the lines on each side of the net, 7 feet from the net.

• Then confirm that this line is also 15 feet, 2 inches from each baseline.

• Then measure 2 inches in from the line you made, toward the net. 

• Chalk both lines on each side of the net.

When you feel confident in your kitchen line dimensions, you can tape the chalk lines you made.

Measure your center line

Lastly, you will want to take your centerline on each side of the court.

• Measure 9 feet, 11 inches from the outside of each sideline intot he court.

• This will give you two lines, 2 inches apart from each other.

• Chalk these two lines.

• Repeat on the other side of the net.

When you feel confident in your center line dimensions, you can tape the chalk lines you made.

How to paint your pickleball court

To paint your pickleball court, you will want to follow the above directions for taping your pickleball court. Instead of taping the court at the end of each stage, you will want to follow these directions:

Painting a concrete pickleball court

If you are painting a pickleball court on concrete, you will want to:

• Use concrete or other outdoor paint.

  • When choosing your paint, it is well worth talking to an expert at the store you are purchasing it from to ask them for their advice on the right type of paint to use.

• You will probably need at least two or three layers of paint to get the results you are looking for.

• You will get the best results if you seal your paint for better waterproofing.

Painting a pickleball court onto a tennis court

If you are painting a pickleball court on a tennis court or other sport court, you will want to:

• Use outdoor paint.

  • When choosing your paint, it is well worth talking to an expert at the store you are purchasing it from to ask them for their advice on the right type of paint to use.

• You will probably need at least two or three layers of paint to get the results you are looking for.

• You will get the best results if you seal your paint for better waterproofing.

Creating your own DIY pickleball court

If you have the space, creating your own pickleball court can be a fun adventure and will allow you to play pickleball whenever you want. Although it will be a lot of hard work in the beginning, it will be well worth it to have your own court.