When you are brand new to pickleball, learning everything you can about the basics, like the rules, pickleball scoring, and even pickleball court dimensions, will help you when you get out on the court. Even though pickleball is similar to tennis in many ways, the smaller court in pickleball removes a barrier to entry that stops many people from playing tennis.
Whether you’re joining an existing league or building your own court, knowing pickleball court dimensions will give you additional insight into the game.
How big is a pickleball court?
The dimensions of a pickleball court are pretty standard wherever you play pickleball.
The entire pickleball court
20 feet wide - from sideline to sideline
44 feet long - from baseline to baseline
The kitchen/non-volley zone areas
20 feet wide - from sideline to sideline
7 feet high - from the net toward the baseline
The playing surface on each side of the net (not including the kitchen)
20 feet wide - from sideline to sideline
15 feet long - from kitchen line to baseline
The left service area on each side of the court
10 feet wide - from sideline to centerline
15 feet long - from kitchen line to baseline
The right service area on each side of the court
10 feet wide - from sideline to centerline
15 feet long - from kitchen line to baseline
The net
Up to 22.5 feet wide
36 inches high - at the sidelines
34 inches high - at the center
Crosscourt line
580 inches or 48 feet, 4 inches - the diagonal line between one corner of the court to the opposite (crosscourt) corner
Pickleball court sections
A pickleball court is made up of three sections on each side of the net (six sections total):
Right service area
Left service area
Non-volley zone/the kitchen
Pickleball court lines
The different pickleball court lines on the court are:
Court line width
All lines are 2 inches wide
Sidelines (2)
44 feet - from baseline to baseline
22 feet - from baseline to net
Baselines (2)
20 feet wide - from sideline to sideline
Kitchen/non-volley zone lines (2)
20 feet wide - from sideline to sideline
Centerlines (2)
15 feet - from kitchen line to baseline
Wheelchair pickleball court dimensions
Although adaptive, or wheelchair, pickleball may be played on a standard pickleball court, the recommended playing area is:
44 feet wide - from sideline to sideline
74 feet long - from baseline to baseline
In a stadium court, the recommended playing area for wheelchair pickleball is:
50 feet wide - from sideline to sideline
80 feet long - from baseline to baseline
Playing surface
If you are looking to play at home or other non-pickleball designated area, you can make it work. But it will be much easier if you follow some basic rules.
Outdoor court
Pickleball was invented in a backyard, so it is easy to create a court in many different places. Some places you can play pickleball at home on many hard surfaces:
Concrete
Asphalt
Driveways
Cul-du-sacs
Tennis courts
The ball does need to bounce, so soft surfaces like grass or clay will make the game more difficult or impossible to play. If you want to play the game like it’s meant to be played, you will want at least a 30x60-foot area.
If you are looking for a permanent pickleball court at your home, there are contractors who can help you surface an outdoor court.
Indoor court
If you are looking to play on an indoor court, many hard surfaces will also be a potential, including:
Basketball courts
Tennis courts
Badminton courts
Other sports courts
Although an indoor court will keep you dry, the downsides are that you will probably not be allowed to chalk or spray paint lines on the court (unless you own it) and you may have to share the courts with others.
Pickleball court dimensions & layout
Knowing the dimensions of a pickleball court will help you learn the rules of the game. If you are looking to make a court at home or business, these court dimensions will be incredibly important to learn.
If you are looking to practice at home, you can take the dimensions of a standard pickleball court and carve out that area to start practicing any time you want.
