Pickleball Court Size
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A pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court and is the same size as a badminton doubles court. The court measures 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. This size is used for both singles and doubles matches.
Because the court is compact, pickleball games are fast-paced and require quick reactions rather than long-distance running.
📏 Court Dimensions
The official pickleball court dimensions are:
• Width: 20 feet
• Length: 44 feet
• Non-volley zone: 7 feet from the net on each side
• Service area: the space between the non-volley zone and the baseline
• Net height: 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the centre
These measurements are standard for recreational and professional pickleball courts.
🚫 The Non-Volley Zone (The Kitchen)
The non-volley zone is one of the most important areas of the pickleball court. It extends 7 feet from the net on both sides of the court.
Players are not allowed to hit the ball in the air while standing inside this zone. Because of this rule, players often refer to this area as the kitchen.
Players can enter the kitchen only after the ball has bounced.
🔄 Service Courts
Each side of the court is divided into two service areas:
• Right service court
• Left service court
Serves must be hit diagonally across the net into the opponent’s service court.
If the ball lands outside the correct service area, it is considered a fault.
🎾 Comparison to a Tennis Court
Pickleball courts are much smaller than tennis courts.
A standard tennis court measures 36 feet wide and 78 feet long, while a pickleball court measures only 20 feet by 44 feet.
This smaller playing area makes pickleball easier for beginners and allows courts to be built in smaller spaces such as community centres, parks and driveways.
⚡ Why the Court Size Matters
The smaller court size makes pickleball:
• easier for beginners to learn
• less physically demanding than tennis
• more focused on control and placement
Because of these factors, pickleball is popular with players of all ages.
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