Pickleball Court Layout Explained: Net Height, Kitchen and Lines

Whether you are building a court or just learning the game, it helps to know how a pickleball court is laid out. Here is a simple guide to every part of the court.

Court size

A regulation pickleball court is 20 feet wide by 44 feet long. The same size is used for singles and doubles. For comfortable play, plan for about 30 x 60 feet of total space, including room around the lines.

Net height

• 36 inches at the sidelines

• 34 inches at the center

The net sags slightly in the middle by design. Net posts are placed just outside the sidelines.

The kitchen (non-volley zone)

The kitchen is the area that extends 7 feet from the net on each side. Players cannot volley the ball, meaning hit it out of the air, while standing in the kitchen. Much of pickleball strategy revolves around play near the kitchen line.

Service courts

Behind the kitchen, each side is divided by a centerline into a right and left service court. Each service court is 10 feet wide and 15 feet deep, running from the kitchen line to the baseline.

The lines

• Baselines: the lines at each end of the court

• Sidelines: the lines along each side

• Kitchen lines: the lines 7 feet from the net

• Centerlines: the lines that split each service area in half

Lines are 2 inches wide and are part of the area they mark. They are usually white or another color that contrasts with the court surface.

Tips for a home pickleball court

• Orientation. Running the court roughly north to south helps reduce sun glare.

• Surface. A textured acrylic surface over concrete gives consistent bounce and good footing.

• Fencing. Fencing or windscreens keep balls on the court and can help soften noise.

• Permanent or portable net. Permanent nets are sturdier. Portable nets work well on shared courts.

• Accurate layout. Lines should be measured and painted precisely so the court plays true.

Planning a pickleball court? Explore our pickleball courts or request a free quote. See our court dimensions guide for tennis and basketball sizes too.