How Big Is a Pickleball Court? Complete Size & Layout Guide

A lot has changed since three dads-Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum set out to devise a game to keep their kids engaged on the Bainbridge island back in the summer of 1965. From the wooden paddles and plastic Custom balls used at that time, the pickleball game has evolved a lot over the years.

One thing, however, has remained constant, the size of the pickleball court. It hasn’t changed since the game's inception, although a few minor changes have been made to the kitchen size and the space around the court.

If you are new to pickleball or planning on pickleball court construction, you must be wondering, how big is a pickleball court? This complete size and layout guide by Pine State Courts will answer this question and unravel everything else about constructing a pickleball court, so you can build a professional grade court.

How Big is a Pickleball Court?

Before diving into the details of the size, let’s first start with the basics! The story of how pickleball came to be, it is an interesting tale that begins with three dads trying to keep their kids engaged back in the summer of 1965.

Wanna know all the details and how the sport got its name? Here's an introduction to pickleball for you.

Moving further, the one constant that hasn’t changed till date, is the size of the pickleball court. This knowledge of size and dimensions of any sport is essential no matter if you are a player or a court owner. It helps to develop a better understanding of the game’s rules and know the playing field well. So, to answer this question of how big a pickleball court is, the pickleball court is 30 ft x 60 ft.

This includes the playing field of 20 ft x 44 ft and the additional area to support the playability and safety of the players. Besides this general size, there‘s a lot of other considerations that go into the pickleball court construction. The next two sections will dive into the details of this:

What are the Dimensions of a Pickleball Court?

You now know about the overall dimensions of the pickleball court’s playing field, it is 20 ft x 44ft. This overall size includes several construction details of the different zones and field lines.

Here’s a brief breakdown of the dimensions of a pickleball court:

• A 7 ft non-volley zone or kitchen is present on both sides of the net.
• The court also houses serving boxes, two on each side of the court, measuring 10 ft x 15 ft.
• A tennis like net with a height of 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the center.
• The court lines that separate the different areas of the court (sidelines, base lines, center lines, and non-volley zone lines) are 2 inches wide.

Recommended Space for Professional Pickleball Court Construction

Although the playing area of a pickleball court is limited to 20 ft x 44 ft, the minimum total  recommended space for a pickleball court construction is actually bigger than this. It includes an additional space of 5 ft on each side (beyond the left and right baselines) and 8 ft beyond each of the two sidelines.

This makes the total area to be 30 ft x 60 ft, allowing better space for player movement. For the professional pickleball court construction however an even bigger area of 34 ft x 64 ft is recommended.

So, depending on whether you are building the court for casual plays or for professional matches, you should ensure the size of the court meets the guidelines of the International Pickleball Federation.

If you don’t have this much space at your disposal then you can also build a customized pickleball court. The expert pickleball court designers at Pine State Courts can customize one for you based on the space you have.

Pickleball Court Construction Essentials

Now that the details of the court size is out of the way, let’s start building your court.

Here’s a breakdown of pickleball court construction and what all essentials you require during this process:

The initial planning and getting permits

Before starting with your project, do a survey of the site and its topography, make sure the field is levelled and has a slope of around 1% away from the court. Get the necessary permits and be mindful of the local zoning laws.

The court size and its surface

You need a space of minimum 30 ft by 60 ft, orient the court in North-South direction to minimize the sun glare. The surface widely used for the construction of pickleball courts is an asphalt or concrete base, it is often topped off with an acrylic coating. Check out our pickleball court surfacing tips for more details on this.

The line markings on the court

After the surface has been laid, next comes the 2 inches wide line markings that define the overall layout of the court (including the sidelines, base lines, center lines, and the non-volley zones).

Netting the court

The net is to be placed at the center of the court, at a height of 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle, this creates a dip in the middle. The net should be 22 feet wide.

Fencing and Lighting

This court construction essential is important as fencing protects the spectators from getting hit by the ball and prevents game disruptions caused by it. Using LED light systems for pickleball courts helps playing in winters and extends the playtime to evening and night.

With these construction details in order and an expert pickleball court builder on board, you can build a great athletic court. At Pine State courts, we help build both customized backyard and professional-grade pickleball courts.

Contact Us – Build Your Pickleball Court!

Common Court Measurement Mistakes

While you have developed a better understanding of the court size and its layout now, there’s still a few things you should consider. Here’s a list of the most common mistakes that people make when it comes to the court’s construction and its measurement:  

• Just building the court in an area measuring 20 ft by 44 ft and not leaving enough space for player movement. The minimum recommended size is 30 ft by 60 ft while for professional courts the size is 34 ft by 64 ft.
• Not considering the dip in the middle while setting up the pickleball net (36 inches- sidelines and 34 inches-in the middle).
• Not creating a 7 ft long kitchen area or non-volley zone.
• The court is not a proper rectangle, leading to off-dimensional diagonals that affect the distance between the sidelines and the baseline.
• The court line markings have poor visibility, it is generally advised to use white color.

In addition to these measurement mistakes, one of the most commonly made post-construction mistakes is to not clean and maintain the court regularly. This can necessitate frequent resurfacing of your pickleball court.

To know the right time to resurface your pickleball court, check out our 101 guide on pickleball court resurfacing.

Can You Build a Pickleball Court in Your Backyard?

Now that you know all about building a professional pickleball court, you must be wondering if you can build one in your backyard. Well! The answer is yes. You can create a custom sized pickleball court and professional court depending on the space you have in your backyard, provided you have an expert court builder on your side.

At Pine State Courts, we can help you construct a professional-grade pickleball court and custom court in your backyard, we can also utilize this space to build a multi-athletic court. Contact us to start your next project!

Conclusion

Constructing a pickleball court is more than just creating a playing field, it is a space where communities connect, players compete, and you spend quality time with your family. And all this begins with this inquisitive question “How big is a pickleball court?”

You know the answer to this question now and with quality pickleball court builders on your side, you can create a space that performs and looks equally well. So, let’s prep your site, lay that foundation and asphalt surface, paint the court in your team’s color, and build a court that lasts long. Contact Pine State Courts today!

Frequently Asked Questions

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1. What is the official size of a pickleball court?

The official size of a pickleball court is 20 ft x 44 ft, this includes the non-volley zone of 7 ft on each size, and the net height of 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center. The recommended total area however is 30 ft x 60 ft.

2. What type of surface is best for pickleball?

The best surface for Pickleball is a hard surface i.e., an asphalt or concrete surface with an acrylic coating on top. This results in a durable surface that offers good ball bounce, traction, and a safe playing surface.

3. How often should I resurface my pickleball court?

How frequently you should resurface your pickleball court depends on the existing conditions of the court, it is generally advised to resurface every 4 to 8 years. Pickleball courts with heavy footfall, extreme weather conditions, and irregular maintenance may have to resurface every 3 to 5 years.

4. How much room do I need to build a pickleball court?

To build a pickleball court, you need an area of minimum 30 ft by 60 ft, however the official recommended playing field is 34 feet by 64 feet for proper player movement and safety.

5. What is the typical width of all lines on a pickleball court?

The typical width of all lines on a pickleball court is 2 inches, which includes the sidelines, base lines, center lines, and non-volley zone lines. The overall size of the court includes the measurement of these lines too.