"Pickleball Court Dimensions & Layout"

The short version

A pickleball court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long. That number stays the same whether you are playing singles or doubles, which is one of the things that makes the sport easy to set up and easy to teach. The rest of the layout follows from that rectangle: a non-volley zone near the net, two service areas behind it, and a set of lines that are all the same width.

This page is a quick reference to the official measurements set by USA Pickleball, plus the extra space you want around the court for comfortable play. The court at Pickler House in West Sedona is built to these regulation dimensions indoors, so the numbers below describe exactly what you would be playing on.

Official court dimensions

The figures below come from the USA Pickleball standards. All court measurements are taken to the outside edge of the lines.

Element	Measurement
Court width (singles and doubles)	20 ft
Court length (singles and doubles)	44 ft
Non-volley zone depth (from net, each side)	7 ft
Non-volley zone width	20 ft (full court width)
Service area depth (baseline to kitchen)	15 ft
Service area width (each, split by centerline)	10 ft
Net height at the sidelines	36 in
Net height at the center	34 in
Line width	2 in
Minimum total playing surface	30 ft x 60 ft
Preferred total playing surface	34 ft x 64 ft

A note on the net

The net is hung so it sags slightly in the middle: 36 inches at the posts and 34 inches at the center. That two-inch dip is intentional and is part of the official spec, so a regulation net will measure exactly that way once it is set up correctly.

The lines, explained

Every line on a pickleball court has a job. Here is what each one marks:

• Baselines — the two lines at the far ends, parallel to the net. They mark the back boundary of the court, 22 feet from the net on each side.
• Sidelines — the two lines running the length of the court that mark the left and right boundaries.
• Non-volley zone lines — the lines 7 feet from the net on each side. The area between this line and the net is the non-volley zone, commonly called the “kitchen.” You cannot volley (hit the ball out of the air) while standing in it.
• Centerline — the line running from each non-volley zone line back to the baseline, splitting the back court into two service areas.
• Service areas — the four quadrants behind the kitchen, divided by the centerline. Each one measures roughly 15 feet deep by 10 feet wide, and serves must land in the correct diagonal box.

All lines are 2 inches wide and should clearly contrast with the playing surface so they are easy to read at speed. Line width counts as in-bounds for most lines, with the kitchen line being the notable exception during a serve.

How much total space you actually need

The 20-by-44-foot rectangle is just the playing surface. You also need room to move behind the baselines and beside the sidelines so players are not running into walls or fences.

USA Pickleball recommends a minimum total area of 30 feet by 60 feet, which adds a buffer around the court. For tournament play and the most comfortable experience, the preferred size is 34 feet by 64 feet, giving more room behind the baseline for deep returns and reducing the chance of collisions.

Indoor courts, like the one at Pickler House, are designed with this surrounding clearance built in, plus enough ceiling height for lobs and overheads.

Pickleball vs. a tennis court

If you have played tennis, the scale is worth knowing. A tennis court is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide for singles (or 36 feet wide for doubles). A pickleball court, at 20 by 44 feet, is considerably smaller — which is exactly why the game is quicker to learn and easier on the legs. The shorter court means more rallies, less running, and a game that beginners and experienced players can enjoy together.

It is common to fit pickleball lines onto a single tennis court, but a dedicated, regulation pickleball court (especially an indoor one) gives you consistent bounce, proper lighting, and full clearance every time.

Quick recap

• Court: 20 ft x 44 ft, identical for singles and doubles.
• Kitchen: 7 ft from the net on each side; no volleys inside it.
• Net: 36 in at the sidelines, 34 in at the center.
• Service areas: four quadrants behind the kitchen, split by the centerline.
• Total surface: 30 x 60 ft minimum, 34 x 64 ft preferred.
• Lines: 2 in wide, contrasting color.

Keep reading

If you want the rest of the picture, the official pickleball rules cover serving, scoring, and the kitchen rule in detail. Curious how an indoor court compares to playing outside? See our breakdown of indoor vs. outdoor pickleball courts. And if a term here was new to you, the pickleball glossary defines the kitchen, the centerline, and everything in between.

Pickler House is a private West Sedona vacation home with its own indoor regulation court — heated, air-conditioned, and lit — sleeping eight, with paddles and balls provided. If you would like to play on a court built to exactly these dimensions, you can book direct.