01 · Spec explorer
Official court dimensions
Same court for singles and doubles. Measurements are taken to the outside edge of the lines (Rule 3.A.2). Click any zone on the diagram to learn what it is.
Interactive court diagram
Playing court
Non-volley zone (kitchen)
Net
Tap a zone: kitchen, service box, baseline or net.
Spec table — USA Pickleball
| Element | Official size |
|---|
Source: USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (2026), Section 3.A (court specs) & 2.C (net). See sources.
02 · Fit calculator
Space-fit planner
Enter your available space — driveway, backyard, gym floor, warehouse — and see honestly how many full courts fit, with a to-scale layout.
The 30×60 ft minimum (Rule 3.A.3) gives 5 ft sidelines + 8 ft baselines of runoff. 34×64 ft is the preferred tournament margin. "Lines only" means no safe runoff — fine for chalk/tape practice, not for real play.
03 · Conversion layouts
Pickleball on a tennis court
The most common shared-use surface. Pick a scenario — the lab draws the layout to scale and tells you the honest trade-offs.
Orientation warning (USA Pickleball): if the tennis court runs north–south, do not place pickleball courts at right angles to it — one player would stare straight into the sun morning and evening. Keep pickleball long axes parallel to the tennis long axis.
Tennis vs pickleball — head to head
| Pickleball | Tennis (doubles) | |
|---|---|---|
| Court lines | 20 × 44 ft | 36 × 78 ft |
| Net height | 36″ sidelines / 34″ center | 42″ posts / 36″ center |
| "Kitchen" equivalent | 7 ft non-volley zone | None (service boxes 21 ft) |
| Min. total area | 30 × 60 ft | 60 × 120 ft |
Fun fact: a doubles badminton court is also 20 × 44 ft — the exact same footprint. Badminton lines make an excellent temporary pickleball court.
04 · Line painting
Paint & tape guide
One court needs 198 linear feet of 2-inch line. The lab turns that into tape rolls and paint, adjusted for your surface.
Where the 198 ft comes from
| Lines | Length |
|---|---|
| Perimeter (2 baselines + 2 sidelines) | 2 × (44 + 20) = 128 ft |
| Non-volley zone lines (2) | 2 × 20 = 40 ft |
| Centerlines (2) | 2 × 15 = 30 ft |
| Total 2″ line | 198 ft ≈ 60.4 m |
Painting order (so you don't paint yourself into a corner)
- Clean & dry the surface; chalk-snap all lines and measure diagonals (both should read 48 ft 4 in — the diagonal of 20×44).
- Mask the outer edge of every line first (measurements go to the outside edge, Rule 3.A.2).
- Paint baselines + sidelines, then the two NVZ lines, then the centerlines.
- Second coat after the first is tack-dry; pull tape while the last coat is still slightly wet for crisp edges.
- Let cure 24 h before play (check your paint's label).
Honest disclaimer: paint usage depends heavily on surface porosity, application method and waste — treat these as planning estimates, then buy ~10% extra. Tape is the reversible option for shared courts (test a small hidden spot first — adhesive can leave residue).
05 · Net
Net setup guide
36″ at the sidelines, 34″ at center — the 2-inch sag is part of the spec, held by a center strap.
Net height profile
Measure with a tape from the playing surface: 36″ where the net meets each sideline post, 34″ at the center strap.
Portable vs permanent
| Portable net system | Permanent posts | |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | ~5–10 min | One-time install |
| Post spacing | Built into frame (≈22 ft) | 22 ft apart (1 ft outside each sideline) |
| Center height | Fixed strap at 34″ | Adjustable strap at 34″ |
| Best for | Driveways, gyms, shared courts | Dedicated courts |
| Typical cost | ~$100–$300 | ~$300–$800+ installed |
Cost ranges are rough US retail/install estimates and vary by region — verify locally.
Setup checklist
- Posts 22 ft apart, centered on the court (1 ft outside each sideline).
- Top of net 36″ above the surface at both sidelines.
- Center strap pulled down so the middle reads exactly 34″.
- Net mesh small enough that a ball can't pass through; white top tape 2″.
- Re-check center height after the first few games — new nets stretch.
06 · Answers
Pickleball court FAQ
07 · Provenance
Sources & methodology
- Dimensions, line widths, minimum area, net heights: USA Pickleball — Courts and Construction and the USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (2026), Rules 3.A.1–3.A.3 (court) and 2.C (net).
- Kitchen rules: USA Pickleball — The Basics of Pickleball (7 ft non-volley zone each side of the net).
- Fit math: pure floor-division packing in both orientations, verified against an independent Python oracle before build. Layouts are drawn to scale from the same numbers.
- Paint math: line inventory 128 + 40 + 30 = 198 lin ft of 2″ line (33 sq ft); tape rolls = ceil(198 / 180); paint = line area × coats ÷ coverage × surface factor. Full-court re-color uses your surface area and a 100 sq ft/gal/coat default you can sanity-check against the paint label.
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