Pickleball Nets and Courts

As one of the fastest-growing games in the US, pickleball courts are being built left and right. In fact, pickleball courts are so easy to build because they’re not as large as tennis courts, and they’re not that difficult to maintain.

Throughout this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about pickleball court dimensions, how the courts are divided, and even pickleball nets and their height compared to tennis nets. Let’s jump right into it!

Pickleball Net Width and Height

A pickleball net is 36 inches in height, and it can drop to 34 inches around the center of the net, making it about 3 feet in height at the sides of the net, much shorter than a tennis net that has a height of 3 feet and 6 inches at the sides.

As for its width, the net should cover the whole court, which should be 20 feet wide.

Pickleball Court Size

A pickleball court is divided at the center by the net; each of the two halves is divided into three parts: the right service area, the left service area, and the kitchen or the non-volley zone on either side of the net. The two service areas are bordered by the centerline, sideline, and two baselines, while the kitchen area is bordered by the non-volley lines, which are parallel to the net.

Pickleball Court Dimensions

Here’s a more detailed analysis of the court measurements. The pickleball court dimensions must be 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. This is equal to a doubles badminton court. Also, notice that the pickleball court size doesn’t change for singles and doubles play, unlike tennis courts.

First of all, let’s cover the playing area. It’s surrounded by two sidelines and a baseline. It’s divided in the middle by the centerline, which is perpendicular to the net. That area is 15 feet long and 20 feet wide, so it takes up most of the court size.

The centerline is at the center of the court and divides the playing area into the left and right service areas. Each one of these two areas is 10 feet long and 20 feet wide.

The non-volley zone, which is determined by the non-volley line, should be around 7 feet long, and it takes the whole width of the court. As the name implies, you’re not allowed to volley the ball if you’re standing in that area.

Also, note that all the court lines are 2 inches wide.

How Big is a Pickleball Court Compared to a Tennis Court?

When comparing a pickleball court size to a tennis court size, you’ll find that the tennis one is much larger. A singles tennis court should be 78 feet long and 27 feet wide, while a doubles court should be 36 feet wide with the same length.

If you’re in an area where there are no courts around, but you do have access to a tennis court you at least now know the dimensions. You can always grab a set and measure things out on the tennis court and try to play. However, playing on a real court will probably be more fun.

Pickleball Court Surface

A typical outdoor court can have one of two surfaces:

• Concrete
• Asphalt

Concrete is the more popular option because of how durable it is. On the other hand, some people tend to go for asphalt courts because it’s easier to install.

After the layer of concrete or asphalt has been laid and ready to go, a textured acrylic coating is poured onto the surface to coat it. As you can guess, the surface is textured to prevent the pickleball court from being slippery.

Related Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about pickleball nets and courts.

Are Tennis Court Nets and Pickleball Nets the Same Height?

No. Tennis court nets are higher than pickleball nets. While tennis nets should be 36 inches high, pickleball nets should be at 34 inches. Therefore, if you want to use a tennis net to play pickleball, you would need to adjust its height.

What Is the Pickleball Net Made Of?

The pickleball net is mostly made out of plastics, nylon, or lightweight metals. This way, they assure that the net can withstand the elements and be durable after a lot of usages.

How Much Space Do You Need Between Pickleball Courts?

Each pickleball court must be at least 30 feet by 60 feet in size. If you want to create many tournament-ready pickleball courts next to each other, it’s best to designate 34 by 64 feet for each individual court.

Final Words on Pickleball Nets and Courts

Now that you know everything there is about pickleball courts, you’re ready to start forming a team to play a Pickleball game or two! Before you go, though, here’s a quick recap of the pickleball court dimensions and the net size, as well.

At the sides, the net should be 36 inches high, and it should drop to 34 inches at the center. Additionally, the court itself must be 20 feet in width and 44 feet in length, while the lines themselves are 2 inches wide.

Lastly, keep in mind that the court is divided into two halves, and each of these halves is divided into three parts: left and right services areas and a kitchen non-volley area.

Now get out there and start playing some pickleball!