Pickleball is a young sport created in 1965 by three friends looking to play a game that could be challenging and fun. By 1976, their friendly hobby became a popular sport in their state, with competitive tournaments held on pickleball courts monthly.
Every year, the sport continues to see incremental growth. Since the sport’s inception, it’s now played on pickleball and badminton courts worldwide. There are now official pickleball courts in all 50 states.
The founders admit that their sport’s leading source of inspiration is badminton, and they studied people playing it on outdoor courts in their city. Since you already know the equipment you need to play, this guide will show you how big the court needs to be to play by giving you the exact pickleball court dimensions below.
Pickleball Court Dimensions Diagram
Since pickleball is directly inspired by badminton, you will see their courts are the same size as any doubles badminton court in the country. However, they differ from tennis courts because pickleball doesn’t modify its courts to accommodate singles and doubles. This is the reason why Pickleball court dimensions are 20 by 44 ft.
You can cut the layout of pickleball courts into three primary sections. The first notable section is called the non-volley zone, and it starts from the non-volley line to the pickleball net, which is 7 feet in length. This area is also known as the “kitchen” by outdoor pickleball enthusiasts.
Next, you must know about the service areas on the pickleball court diagram. The left and right service areas are behind the non-volley line. Note that the official pickleball court size for this part of the diagram is ten by 15 ft.
A standard pickleball court is convertible if you want to set up a basketball or badminton court so everyone can make the most of the outdoor court surface.
Court lines include baselines, centerlines, and sidelines that split a court into appropriately designated parts. Also, a pickleball net is horizontal and separates the court evenly from the middle.
Lastly, the pickleball net system dictates the size of all nets must be 20 by 3 feet, even if it drops a bit in the middle area. The net height of most pickleball courts is approximately 36 inches on the far ends of the sidelines and goes down to 34 inches in the middle of the playing area. It would be best if you kept this in mind when you try to build a DIY pickleball court in a recreation center where people play casual games.
Pickleball Courts Surface Materials
A commercial quality pickleball court in a country club or a senior living community is coated by using AcrylotexPB. Most builders work with this surface product. However, if you want to practice at home with a personal pickleball court in your backyard, it’s easier than you think. All you need is a 3/4″ nap roller and pickleball court paint to get started without an expert contractor to design the playing area of your dreams.
A pickleball court has the same terrain when you step on them as a tennis court because they both have ribbed surfaces that discourage slippages. Our favorite coating paint is PicklePave, made by California Sports Surfaces. This pick is ideal for concrete floors and is textured acrylic paint.
Line Regulations
Pickleball court lines are 2 inches wide and white, contrasting nicely with the green terrain like a tennis court. If your ball lands on any pickleball lines, it’s fair and means you can serve again. The minute it hits the line or the ball lands on anywhere area, the decision on whether it’s a point will go to the referee.
For example, if you hit the ball and it goes over the line towards the outer end, despite hovering over it, you commit a fault.
The pickleball court dimensions contain the measurements of the lines also. And since the court size measurements are known to be 20 x 44 feet if space permits, you can play pickleball knowing the lines are already included, and there is no need to add two extra feet.
The center line where the net cuts the 44-feet-long court in half has two baselines. Each baseline stands next to the other against the net and is the furthest from the center. Next, you have the sidelines vertically positioned from the net.
Lastly, the non-volley zone line is on each side. They will be 7 feet away from most pickleball net systems if appropriately drawn. Then you can count the center line, which divides the non-volley zone from the baseline producing left and right service areas.
The Net
The length of the net will be 20 feet, no matter how big or small the pickleball court size is. It’s made with mesh using a design meant not to allow balls to get through it.
The net’s height should be 3 feet, which decreases to 24 inches towards the middle because the center strap pulls it down slightly.
Since you can customize the center strap, ensure it is rigid enough so it doesn’t sag. Even if a center strap is not included with a net, the middle area will still be a little lower, so you don’t need to think there’s a problem if you see it. An outdoor pickleball court will need extra attention in this area if it’s windy outside.
To hold it up, you need two net posts on each side according to USA pickleball rules. A cable will connect both pickleball poles and must be installed 12 inches over the sidelines.
Extra Outdoor Court Requirements
Owning an outdoor court requires a little more effort, and you should know a few things before getting started.
The location of your court cannot get too much sun exposure. Always remember that the sun gravitates from east to west from the morning until late afternoon. Because of this, place your court in the north-to-south position so the sun doesn’t get into anyone’s eye.
Another factor to consider is fencing installation. Fences are used to keep your pickleball from getting lost outside the court. The best types are wiretap fences because they are inexpensive and see-through.
Our last tip is to install windbreaks on your fences. They are a lifesaver on windy days and don’t allow the wind to decrease the accuracy of your shots.
