Whether you are looking to install an indoor or outdoor Pickleball court, there are a set of dimensions that you need in order to create a court that’s the correct size. You can either choose to create a temporary or long-term court, but either way, it’s best to follow the official dimensions so that you can have a convenient place to play your next game of Pickleball.
The dimensions of a Pickleball Court are 44 by 20 feet. Within the court, there are a few zones that must be accounted for. The non-volley zone must be 7 feet on either side of the court and the service areas must be 15 by 10 feet. The net should be 36 inches at the sides and 34 inches at the center.
Pickleball is a great sport that can be played in your own home, public tennis courses, or even parking lots. If you learn about the pickleball court dimensions, you can play the game virtually anywhere.
Pickleball Court Dimensions and Net Height
Whether you are looking to play doubles or singles, the measurements of the Pickleball court will stay the same. According to USA Pickleball, the dimensions of a Pickleball court should be 44 by 20 feet. It’s important to note that the lines of the court should be included inside of the measurement (the recommended width of the lines is approximately 2 inches). Another Pickleball website mentions that you should make room for out of bound areas, which account for 4 feet of extra room on the sides and 10 feet of extra room on the front and back of the court.
There are also a few areas within the Pickleball court that need to be accounted for as well. The non-volley zone is at the front of the court parallel to the net on either side of the court. Each of these non-volley zones should be 7 feet long and should extend to either side of the court. The areas that start at the back of the non-volley line are the two left and right service areas, divided by a center line. Each of the service areas should be 15 by 10 feet.
The net should be hung in the middle of the court between the non-service areas. When looking for a net, it is best to use a net that is 20 feet and 9 inches long so that the net can extend from post to post. Extend the net from one side of the court to the other, ensuring that each side of the net is 36 inches high while the center is 34 inches high.
If you are more of a visual learner, take a look at the pdf diagram on USA Pickleball’s website. This shows the exact dimensions of an official Pickleball court, although it does not include how much out-of-bound space is needed around the court.
Installing a Pickleball Court
The price of installation can be tens of thousands of dollars, ranging from $20,000 to $40,000. This is quite an expense, but it’s important to note that there is a lot that goes into installing a pickleball court. If you are planning on installing a court either indoors or outdoors, there is a lot that needs to be considered. Some factors include if you have enough room, the fencing, lighting conditions, and whether the ground is flat enough to ensure that you have a safe court to play on.
First of all, if you are creating a pickleball court in your own yard, you have to ensure that you have enough backyard space to fit a court. If you are creating one court, you’ll have to have at least 30 by 60 feet of free space mapped out to ensure that the pickleball court isn’t too cramped. If you want to have more than one pickleball court installed, then you will have to find about double that space (or more) so that each of the courts has enough room.
If you are having a pickleball court installed outside, make sure to talk to the contractor to orient the court in such a way so that you won’t have the sun in your eyes while playing. If the court faces towards the east and west, you can guarantee that the sun will be in your eyes while playing in the daytime. If possible, try to orient the court so that it faces north and south to avoid having the sun in your eyes.
To create a foundation for a pickleball court, you can decide to either use asphalt or concrete as the base. The material is completely up to you, but it’s important to note that concrete is often more pricey than asphalt. If you already have an indoor area picked out for a pickleball court, you won’t have to worry about pouring a base for the court. However, the smooth surface of wood or rubber on an indoor court can make the ball skip when it is low, so just keep that in mind if you are planning on installing an indoor court.
The coating that you should use, whether you are installing an indoor or outdoor court, is 100% acrylic coating. All official pickleball courts use this type of coating because it’s non-slip and the pickleball can bounce correctly. If you are installing an outdoor court, it’s especially important to have a breathable surface. (US Pickleball). When installing this coating, you can also choose to have a cushioned layer applied. This is completely optional, but the cushion provides shock absorption (which is great for the joints) without affecting the pickleball’s bounce.
When choosing a court coating, you don’t have to just use the standard green or blue color that you see on a lot of communal tennis courts. There are many colors to choose from, but it’s important to keep some color theory in mind before choosing any coating for your picking your pickleball court. For an outdoor court, if you install a lighter colored surface, the coating will stay cooler in the sun. If you choose a darker colored surface, the court will absorb more of the sun and the court will become hot. However, this can be beneficial if you live in a colder climate.
For the color of the lines, it is best to choose a color that will stand out from the court’s color. If you choose a dark color, using white lines or the court’s complementary color will make the lines stand out better. If the court is light, use a dark or complementary color for the lines.
Although this factor is entirely optional, you might have to install a fence around your pickleball court to make sure that you aren’t chasing the pickleball all around your yard. This can be a hefty expense all by itself, which is another reason that pickleball courts have a large price tag. When choosing a fence, be sure to find a rust-proof material that can endure any type of weather. It is also important to make sure that the holes on the fence are small enough so that the pickleball can’t escape when it’s hit out of the court. This is why 45mm to 55mm links are recommended.
If you choose to build a fence for your pickleball court, there are a few height dimensions that should be followed.
| Location of Fence | Height |
| Backstop | Minimum of 10 feet |
| Side stops | Minimum of 3 feet |
The backstop and side stops have been recommended at these heights, but they don’t need to exceed 30 feet. On these fences, a windbreak can be added to combat the wind and to make the pickleball more visible.
Lastly, when installing a court, consider putting in some lighting so that you can play pickleball throughout the day and night. The lighting should be evenly distributed throughout the court so that all the players can see the ball. US Pickleball recommends that the poles for the lights should be at least 5 feet away from the court and that if they are within the fencing, they should be padded. The light poles should not be used as a fence post if you want to create an official pickleball court.
How to Create a Temporary Court
You can create your own temporary pickleball court if you have enough room and a hard ground surface such as cement, asphalt, a basketball court, or a tennis court. This is a great option for those who want to see if they like playing pickleball enough before dishing out the cash to have a permanent court installed.
To create a temporary pickleball court, just find a surface as mentioned before, and use some tape to lay out the court lines. Of course, if you are not utilizing your own property, talk to the property manager to ensure that you can create a temporary court. The adhesive may leave a bit of residue behind, so keep this in mind as well.
Measure out about 30 by 60 feet for your court. This ensures that you have enough room for out-of-bound areas. Then, use the tape to create the layout of a pickleball court, which is 44 by 20 feet. Use these helpful measurements from USA Pickleball to make your temporary court on tennis courts or existing pavement areas.
Indoor Vs. Outdoor Pickleball Courts
Whether you decide to play pickleball on an indoor or outdoor court, there are some advantages and disadvantages to playing on each type.
Indoor
When you play on an indoor court, there is no weather that can stop you from playing on the court, which is definitely a bonus. You don’t have to complain about the wind making the ball go out of bounds or the sun being in your eyes.
Another advantage to playing indoors is having access to multiple courts (most indoor courts can fit in quite a few courts, but there could be some indoor locations that only have one court). This means that there can be multiple games going on at once so no one has to wait for the pickleball court to open up.
However, there are tradeoffs when it comes to indoor courts. Since indoor courts usually are used in multi-purpose rooms, like skating rinks, basketball courts, or volleyball courts, there are a variety of lines on the ground. This can make it hard to decipher which line is used for the pickleball court, which can cause some confusion during gameplay.
Another drawback to playing indoors is the loud, echoing noises. The sounds from players on other courts and audience members can interfere with gameplay and easily become overwhelming.
When you are playing indoors, you also have to account for the walls and ceiling, which is something you usually don’t have to worry about when playing pickleball outside. If you are playing in an indoor court with low hanging ceilings, this can be a hindrance because the ball can hit the ceiling and affect gameplay.
Outdoor
When you are playing pickleball on an outdoor court, there are advantages and disadvantages. There is something to be said about playing any sport outdoors. The sun, the sounds of nature, and just getting outside can be a wonderful experience by itself. The calming effect of the outdoors is why many people opt to play pickleball on an outdoor court, but there are some factors that can make the experience less than ideal.
The outdoors can create more roadblocks than an indoor court, but playing with the sun on your back can be a great and relaxing experience. However, playing in the sun can also be a disadvantage. You might have the sun in your eyes, which can make it harder to track the pickleball. Of course, you can wear sunglasses and a hat to better combat this, but still, the sun can be relentless and throw off your game.
Another factor to consider is the wind. If you’re playing on a nice, still day, pickleball can be a fun experience. If there is any type of wind, whether it’s a slight breeze or random gusts of wind, you might have to plan on chasing the pickleball all over the court instead of actually playing the game. Anyone who has played pickleball on a windy day knows that this can be quite frustrating.