Pickleball Court Dimensions: Official Size, Layout & Net Height
Official court size: 20 ft wide × 44 ft long. Net height: 34 inches at center, 36 inches at posts. Kitchen (NVZ): 7 ft from the net on each side. The court size is the same for singles and doubles.
Official Pickleball Court Dimensions
According to USA Pickleball's official rulebook, the playing surface must be 20 feet wide by 44 feet long — measured to the outside edges of the boundary lines. This is the same whether you're playing singles or doubles.
📐 All Court Measurements at a Glance
- Total court width20 ft (6.1 m)
- Total court length44 ft (13.4 m)
- Net height (center)34 in (86.4 cm)
- Net height (posts/sides)36 in (91.4 cm)
- Kitchen (NVZ) depth7 ft (2.1 m) each side
- Service box depth15 ft (4.6 m)
- Service box width10 ft (3.0 m)
- Recommended out-of-bounds buffer10 ft on ends, 7 ft on sides
- Total recommended space30 ft × 60 ft
Court Layout Diagram
The court is divided into distinct zones. Here's a text-based representation of the layout:
┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ BASELINE │ │ ←——————————— 20 feet ————————————→ │ │ │ │ Left │ Right │ │ Service Box │ Service Box │ │ 10 ft wide │ 10 ft wide │ │ │ │ │ ←——— 15 ft ——│ │ │ (service │ │ │ box depth) │ │ ├───────────────┴────────────────────────────┤ ← Kitchen Line (NVZ) │ │ │ NON-VOLLEY ZONE (KITCHEN) │ │ 7 feet │ │ │ ├────────────────── NET ─────────────────────┤ ← 34" center / 36" sides │ │ │ NON-VOLLEY ZONE (KITCHEN) │ │ 7 feet │ │ │ ├────────────────────────────────────────────┤ ← Kitchen Line (NVZ) │ │ │ │ Left │ Right │ │ Service Box │ Service Box │ │ │ │ │ │ │ BASELINE │ └────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Net Height Specifications
The pickleball net sags slightly in the middle, which is intentional. This design creates the slight dip that experienced players exploit with low, hard drives aimed at the center of the court.
| Location | Height | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Center of net | 34 inches (86.4 cm) | Measured at the top of the net |
| At the posts / sidelines | 36 inches (91.4 cm) | Posts placed 22 ft apart (1 ft outside each sideline) |
| Post height | 36 inches | Must not exceed 36 inches |
The Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)
The kitchen — formally called the Non-Volley Zone (NVZ) — is the 7-foot-deep zone on each side of the net. It runs the full 20-foot width of the court. Both the zone itself and the boundary line are included.
The rules around the kitchen are precise:
- You cannot volley (hit a ball out of the air) while any part of your body — or your momentum — is in or touching the kitchen or its boundary line
- You can stand in the kitchen any other time (including before/after the ball bounces)
- If you fall into the kitchen after volleying, that is a fault — momentum counts
- Your paddle, hat, clothing, or anything else that touches the kitchen during a volley also counts as a fault
How Does It Compare to a Tennis Court?
| Measurement | Pickleball | Tennis (Doubles) |
|---|---|---|
| Width | 20 ft | 36 ft |
| Length | 44 ft | 78 ft |
| Total area | 880 sq ft | 2,808 sq ft |
| Net height (center) | 34 in | 36 in |
| Courts per tennis court | 2 (with buffer space) | — |
The smaller court is a major reason pickleball is more accessible for older players and beginners — there's far less ground to cover.
Setting Up a Backyard Court
Want to put a court in your yard? Here's what you need:
- Minimum space: 30 ft × 60 ft (includes the recommended out-of-bounds buffer)
- Surface: Concrete or asphalt works best. Sport tiles and sport court surfaces are popular upgrades. Avoid grass (the ball doesn't bounce correctly)
- Net system: A portable pickleball net costs $80–$200 and can be set up on any flat surface
- Court tape or paint: Boundary tape kits start around $20 for temporary lines; permanent paint lines are more involved but last longer