If you’re looking to build your own pickleball court at home, you may be wondering how to do so. You might also be wondering how big is a pickleball court exactly and how much space do you need to add one to your yard. In this article, we’ll review the dimensions of a pickleball court, how big each of the inner spaces should be, and what each line means.
Table of Contents
How Big is a Pickleball Court Dimensions?
Court Perimeter
Like tennis, a pickleball court is rectangular. It’s split into two equal sides by a net; however, they don’t share the same dimensions. The perimeter of a typical pickleball court is 20 ft. wide and 44 ft. long. Each section on either side of the net is further divided into three sections; a left and a right service court area and a non-volley zone (a.k.a the Kitchen).
Surrounding Out-of-Bounds Area
How big is a pickleball court out-of-bounds area? According to USA Pickleball, the area outside of the perimeter of the court should be 10 ft. on all sides. This means the total width should be 40 ft. wide and 64 ft. long.
Service Court Areas
The service court areas take up the majority of the space on either side of the net. They border the non-volley zone and extend to the baseline (which marks the perimeter of the court). They are separated by a center line, with each area measuring to be 10 ft. wide and 15 ft. long.
Non-Volley Zone
The non-volley zone is the smaller rectangular area closest to the net. Taking up the remaining space, its dimensions are 20 ft. wide and 7 ft. long.
Net Height
The height for a net on a pickleball court should be 3 ft. tall at the sides and 2 ft. and 10 in. at the center. Having a lower height at the center allows easier hits toward the middle of the court and more difficult ones at the sides.
What are the Pickleball Court Lines?
Pickleball courts have several borders that each have a different significance to the game.
Baseline
The baselines are the outermost lines that cover the width of the court. They run parallel to the net. They also serve as the out-of-bounds lines and players must stand behind them while serving. Not doing so can result in a fault.
Sideline
The sidelines are the two outermost lines that cover the length of the court. They run perpendicular to the net. Together, the sidelines and the baselines create the perimeter of the court.
Centerline
The centerline is the boundary that separates the left and right service areas. It extends from the border of the non-volley zone to the baseline.
Kitchen
The kitchen does not contain a centerline, only a single line that separates it from the service area boxes.
Conclusion
How big is a pickleball court? A typical pickleball court is 20 ft. wide by 44 ft. long. This area is marked by the baseline, which encloses the perimeter of the court. The center of the court is separated by the net. Each side contains three identical sections. The border between the Kitchen/non-volley zone and the service areas is a line measuring 20 ft. wide and 7 ft. away from the net. A pickleball court also contains a centerline, which separates the service area into a right and a left service box.
Now that you know the layout of the court, check out this article on how to play.
Have other questions about pickleball? Leave them in the comments below!