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Many people may be unfamiliar with the concept of a specialized badminton court, especially those who have been playing badminton in multipurpose gyms or in their backyard.

Let’s take a look at what the dimensions are for a standard badminton court, and see how knowing these dimensions can help you make the right decisions. So, what is the size of a badminton court?

Contents

What Is the Size of a Badminton Court?
Types of the Badminton Court
Related Questions
- What Is the Badminton Court Size in Square Feet?
- What Is the Length of a Badminton Racket?
Conclusion

What Is the Size of a Badminton Court?

According to the Badminton World Federation (BWF), a badminton court is 44 feet long and 20 feet wide for doubles, and 44 feet by 17 feet for singles. While the length remains the same for singles, the width is reduced by 1.5 feet on both sides. White or yellow lines mark the dimensions of the court.

Standard Badminton Court Dimensions

Standard badminton courts are rectangular, as indicated by their measurements. In the middle of the court, a net divides the length of the court. Each half of the court is 22 feet long.

On a badminton court, you will find the following markings and measurements:

A short service line is placed parallel to the net in both halves at a distance of 6.5 feet from the net. A center line divides each half and the court width-wise into two equal sections. This line starts from the short service line and ends at the furthest line from the net, called the back boundary.
A long service line is placed parallel to the back boundary in both halves at a distance of 2.5 feet. This service line indicates that the service should not land beyond this point for doubles games.

Rules Concerning Court Dimensions

Badminton has a long list of rules regarding the scoring system, the serve, and the shot placements. These are the rules and regulations dealing with the court dimensions and markings:

In a singles game, a player’s service should land beyond the short service line of the opposite court.
In a doubles game, the service should also cross the short service line. However, it should not land beyond the long service line. This makes the area allowed for the serve to land in a doubles match.
The players have to serve from the right side of the court when there is an even number of points and serve from the left side of the court when there are odd numbers of points. This is applicable for both singles and doubles.
If the shuttle falls on the lines, the shot is considered to be inside the boundary.
Players cannot stand on a line when they serve or receive a serve.

Dimensions of the Badminton Posts

According to the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the badminton posts should be 5.1 feet tall and placed on each side of the court for both singles and doubles matches. Finally, they must remain upright to keep the net firm during the game and should not extend beyond the court.

Badminton court with shuttlecocks on the floor

Dimensions of the Badminton Net

The badminton net extends across the width of the court. It is 20 feet wide and 30 inches deep. The top of the net is 5.1 feet tall above the surface at the edges. Additionally, it dips slightly in the middle resulting in a height of 5 feet in the center of the court.

Badminton nets are often mobile and can be set up quickly before a match. They are made from a fine dark cord with a mesh size between 0.6 inches to 0.79 inches. The materials used for the manufacturing of the mesh include polyethylene, vinyl, and nylon.

Types of the Badminton Court

There are three types of courts. Wooden, synthetic, and cement. Knowing the difference between these three types of courts is important as it can help you avoid injuries or choose the right gear to play with.

For instance, cement courts may lead to a lot of injuries to the shin bone and the feet, yet you’ll see a lot of cement courts in India, where Badminton is popular. Other courts like wooden courts can be easily damaged or marked if you wear the wrong type of shoes.

Cement Badminton Court

Cement courts are most common in outdoor areas, such as parks. They’re popular since they are the cheapest type of court to build. However, this surface is not recommended for playing for long periods, as it does not provide good traction or shock absorption for your knees.

Wooden Badminton Court

Wooden surfaces are great for playing badminton, due to their natural shock absorption mechanism. They are also recommended by the BWF as they make a great playing surface, yet the wooden courts are covered with synthetic mats in international matches.

However, not any type of wood can be used, as some varieties become slippery and unsuitable for playing when they get wet. The best type of wood for a badminton court is hardwood. You’ll see more cement courts in places like India because wooden courts are more expensive than synthetic mats or cement courts.

Synthetic Badminton Court

Synthetic courses are the best surface to play badminton and the top choice for international tournaments. Synthetic mats are laid on a wooden base to provide a great amount of friction and better bounce. It also helps reduce the strain on your knees.

There are two types of synthetic materials used in the badminton courts:

PVC mats provide a decent anti-slip and abrasion-resistant playing surface so you remain safe and the mat lasts a long time. They are also easy to spread on the court.
Acrylic mats also provide comparative anti-slip properties and are cheaper than PVC mats. However, the shock absorption of an acrylic mat is not as good as a PVC one.
Rubber mats are a new option for badminton courts. They are easy to maintain, install, and uninstall. They also have good shock absorption capabilities.

Conclusion

Badminton courts are 44 feet by 20 feet for doubles and 44 feet by 17 feet for singles. The court is divided in half by the net. Each half is further divided into two equal parts with a centerline.

There are also short and long service lines for singles and doubles, respectively. These lines identify the area on the court where the legal service should land.