Tennis court dimensions: singles, doubles and the space around
Official tennis court dimensions: 78 by 27 ft for singles and 36 ft for doubles, service lines, net and posts, and the footprint needed for club or tournament courts.
A tennis court is 23.77 m long (78 ft). It is 8.23 m wide for singles (27 ft) and 10.97 m for doubles (36 ft): the doubles alleys add 1.37 m on each side. The service lines sit 6.40 m (21 ft) from the net. The net is 0.914 m (3 ft) high at the centre and 1.07 m (3½ ft) at the posts. Around the lines, a club court needs at least 5.48 m behind each baseline and 3.05 m beside each sideline.
- 23.77 mLength, baseline to baseline (78 ft)
- 8.23 mSingles width (27 ft)
- 10.97 mDoubles width (36 ft)
- 6.40 mFrom the net to each service line (21 ft)
- 0.914 mNet height at the centre (3 ft)
- 1.07 mNet height at the posts (3½ ft)
The lines, one by one
| Element | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Length of the court | 23.77 m | 78 ft |
| Width, singles | 8.23 m | 27 ft |
| Width, doubles | 10.97 m | 36 ft |
| Doubles alley, each side | 1.37 m | 4½ ft |
| Net to service line | 6.40 m | 21 ft |
| Service line to baseline | 5.49 m | 18 ft |
| Service box | 6.40 × 4.115 m | 21 × 13½ ft |
| Centre mark | 10 cm long | 4 in |
Every measurement is taken to the outside of the lines. The lines themselves are between 2.5 and 5 cm wide, except the baseline, which may be up to 10 cm, and the centre service line and centre mark, which are exactly 5 cm. The lines belong to the court: a ball that touches one is in.
The net and the posts
The net hangs from a cord or cable at most 0.8 cm thick, 1.07 m high at the posts and held down to 0.914 m at the centre by a strap. On a doubles court, the centres of the posts stand 0.914 m (3 ft) outside the doubles sidelines. When a court with doubles posts is used for singles, singles sticks hold the net at 1.07 m, 0.914 m outside the singles sidelines, so the net height a singles player faces is the right one.
The space around the court
The lines are only part of the footprint. Players chase balls well behind the baseline, and the ITF gives two sets of minimum run-off distances in the appendix to its rules:
| Type of court | Behind each baseline | Beside each sideline | Total footprint |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club and recreational play | 5.48 m (18 ft) | 3.05 m (10 ft) | 34.73 × 17.07 m |
| International competition | 6.40 m (21 ft) | 3.66 m (12 ft) | 36.57 × 18.29 m |
The total footprint is the doubles court plus the run-off on both sides. It is the area to reserve before anything else, fencing and walkways included, and it is the number that decides whether a plot takes one court or two.
Tennis, padel, pickleball, badminton: side by side
| Sport | Court (lines) | Playing area |
|---|---|---|
| Tennis, doubles | 23.77 × 10.97 m | ≈ 261 m² |
| Padel | 20 × 10 m | 200 m² |
| Badminton, doubles | 13.40 × 6.10 m | ≈ 82 m² |
| Pickleball | 13.41 × 6.10 m | ≈ 82 m² |
Pickleball and badminton courts are almost the same size, which is why pickleball lines often go onto badminton halls and tennis courts. The guides to padel court dimensions, badminton court dimensions and pickleball court dimensions give each one in full.
Sources
- International Tennis Federation (ITF), Rules of Tennis 2026: rule 1 (the court) and its appendix on the recommended minimum distances around the court. Read on 22 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a tennis court in feet?
78 feet long, 27 feet wide for singles and 36 feet wide for doubles. The service lines are 21 feet from the net.
How much space do you need to build a tennis court?
For club play, the ITF’s minimum run-off gives a footprint of 34.73 by 17.07 metres: 5.48 m behind each baseline and 3.05 m beside each sideline. For international competition it is 36.57 by 18.29 metres.
How high is a tennis net?
0.914 m (3 feet) at the centre and 1.07 m (3½ feet) at the posts.
Is a ball on the line in or out?
In. The lines are part of the court they mark out, so a ball that touches any part of a line is good.
