Can You Add Pickleball Lines to a Tennis Court?

Pickleball has taken off across Dallas-Fort Worth, and many homeowners, HOAs and clubs already have a tennis court that sits unused for part of the week. Adding pickleball lines lets you play both sports on the same surface without building a second court.

How it works

A pickleball court is much smaller than a tennis court. The playing area is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long, while a doubles tennis court is 36 feet wide by 78 feet long. That size difference means pickleball lines can be laid out inside the existing tennis court footprint.

Lines are added as part of a resurfacing or line painting project. The court is cleaned and repaired as needed, then the new lines are measured and painted alongside the existing tennis lines.

How many pickleball courts fit?

• Blended lines on one tennis court. Most shared courts add one or two pickleball courts within the tennis lines so both sports can be played.

• Full conversion. If you are willing to give up tennis on that court, the full fenced area of a standard tennis court can fit up to four pickleball courts.

The right layout depends on how often each sport gets played and how much space surrounds the court.

Line colors matter

With two sets of lines on one surface, players need to tell them apart quickly. The usual approach is to keep tennis lines white and paint pickleball lines in a different color that contrasts with the court surface. We plan colors so each sport is easy to follow during fast play.

What about the net?

Pickleball nets are slightly lower than tennis nets: 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the center, compared to 42 inches and 36 inches for tennis. Many shared courts use portable pickleball nets that set up in a few minutes. Others lower the tennis net to pickleball height when needed.

Things to check first

• Surface condition. If the court has cracks or faded areas, it makes sense to repair and resurface before painting new lines.

• HOA or club rules. Shared courts may need approval before changes.

• Noise. Pickleball is louder than tennis, which matters for courts close to neighbors.

Thinking about adding pickleball?

Total Court Construction adds pickleball lines to tennis courts and builds dedicated multi-sport courts across North Texas. See our multi-court options or ask us about your court.