Pickleball Court Dimensions: Everything You Need to Know

Understanding the pickleball court isn't just useful for beginners — it's strategically important at every level. The dimensions, zones, and lines of a pickleball court are all purposeful. Here's the full breakdown.

Overall Court Size

A standard pickleball court is 44 feet long and 20 feet wide — the same dimensions as a doubles badminton court. This is significantly smaller than a tennis court (78 feet long, 36 feet wide for doubles). The smaller court creates a game that is more condensed, with more net-based play and less emphasis on covering large ground distances.

The Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone)

The kitchen extends 7 feet from the net on both sides. It runs the full 20-foot width of the court. This zone is where the most important strategic play happens in pickleball — controlling it gives you an enormous advantage, but the rules governing it (no volleying while standing in it) require precision and discipline. The kitchen line is the boundary closest to the net on each side.

Service Boxes

Beyond the kitchen, each side of the court is divided into two service boxes — left and right — by a centerline running from the kitchen line to the baseline. Each service box is 10 feet wide and 15 feet deep (from kitchen line to baseline). Serves must land in the diagonal service box.

The Baseline and Sidelines

The baseline runs the full 20-foot width at each end of the court. Players serve from behind the baseline. The sidelines run the full 44-foot length. Any ball landing on any line is in — except a serve landing on the kitchen line (the NVZ line), which is a fault.

Net Height

The pickleball net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches high at the center — it dips slightly in the middle. This slight dip is why experienced players aim cross-court during dink exchanges: the center of the net is 2 inches lower, giving you a small margin advantage on cross-court shots.

Converting a Tennis Court

A standard tennis court can fit up to 4 pickleball courts within its lines when dual-lined. Most public parks that have converted tennis courts to pickleball use this approach, which is why you'll often see multiple pickleball courts within what used to be a single tennis court footprint.

Setting Up Your Own Court

If you're setting up a portable net or marking a driveway court, the key measurements are: 44 feet end to end, 20 feet side to side, kitchen line at 7 feet from the net on each side, centerline dividing each side in half. Use chalk or painter's tape for a temporary setup. For an outdoor permanent setup, weather-resistant court tape is the standard.

Once your court is set, you'll want proper balls — our pink glitter pickleballs and yellow glitter pickleballs are USAPA-approved for both indoor and outdoor play.