Quick answer: A pickleball court measures 20 ft by 44 ft (6.10 m by 13.41 m), and the dimensions are identical for singles and doubles. The non-volley zone — the "kitchen" — extends 7 ft (2.13 m) back from the net on both sides. The net sits at 36 in (91 cm) at the posts and 34 in (86 cm) in the centre. That footprint is exactly the same as a doubles badminton court, which is why so much UK pickleball is played in badminton halls.
Almost every pickleball court guide online is American, written for people pouring a concrete court in a back yard. In Britain the question is nearly always different: can I play on the courts I already have? This guide gives the official numbers in both feet and metres, then answers the three questions UK players actually ask — about badminton courts, tennis courts and padel courts.
Official pickleball court dimensions
All measurements are to the outside of the lines, and lines are part of the court.
| Measurement | Imperial | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Court length | 44 ft | 13.41 m |
| Court width | 20 ft | 6.10 m |
| Non-volley zone (each side) | 7 ft | 2.13 m |
| Service court (each) | 10 ft x 15 ft | 3.05 m x 4.57 m |
| Net height at posts | 36 in | 0.91 m |
| Net height at centre | 34 in | 0.86 m |
| Recommended total playing area | 30 ft x 60 ft | 9.14 m x 18.29 m |
The single most surprising thing on that list, if you have come from tennis, is that the court does not change size for singles. There are no tramlines and no narrower singles court. Two players cover exactly the same 20 ft width that four players do, which is why singles pickleball is so much more physically demanding than the doubles game most people start with.
The kitchen, the service boxes and the net
The 7 ft non-volley zone either side of the net is the defining feature of the court. You may not volley — strike the ball before it bounces — while standing in it, or while your momentum carries you into it. That single rule is what stops pickleball becoming a game of standing at the net and smashing, and it is the reason the court can be so small without the rallies collapsing.
Behind the kitchen line, each side is divided into two service courts of 10 ft by 15 ft by a centre line. Serves are made diagonally, underarm, and must clear the kitchen entirely: a serve landing in the non-volley zone or on its line is a fault.
The net deserves attention because it is where improvised courts usually go wrong. At 36 in at the posts and 34 in at the centre, a pickleball net has a deliberate 2 in sag built into the specification. It is lower than a tennis net (36 in at centre) and dramatically lower than a badminton net. If you are new to the format, our introduction to pickleball for tennis players covers how those differences change the way the game is played.
How much total space do you actually need?
The 20 ft by 44 ft figure is the court, not the space. You need run-off behind the baselines and beside the sidelines or players will be running into walls and fencing.
- Recreational minimum: 30 ft by 60 ft (9.14 m by 18.29 m).
- Tournament standard: 34 ft by 64 ft (10.36 m by 19.51 m).
- Indoor ceilings: aim for at least 5.5 m of clear height. Lower than that and lobs become unplayable, which removes a whole layer of the game.
In practice most UK venues are working inside an existing sports hall, so the run-off is whatever the building gives you. It is worth measuring before committing to a permanent net position rather than after.
Can you play pickleball on a badminton, tennis or padel court?
Badminton court: yes, and the lines already fit
A doubles badminton court is 20 ft by 44 ft — the same footprint as a pickleball court, and not by coincidence. Pickleball was invented in 1965 on a badminton court, and the dimensions were simply kept. This is why converting a UK badminton hall is the easiest job in the sport: the outer lines are already correct.
What is not correct is the net. A badminton net sits at roughly 1.55 m; a pickleball net needs to be 0.91 m at the posts. You cannot simply lower a badminton net on its existing posts and get the right result — you need a portable pickleball net, and you will need to mark the two kitchen lines 7 ft from the net. Everything else is already painted on the floor.
Tennis court: yes, and you can fit four
A doubles tennis court playing area is 78 ft by 36 ft, so a single pickleball court sits comfortably inside it — and with the run-off a full-size tennis court usually allows, most clubs can lay out four pickleball courts in the space of one tennis court. Temporary line tape or chalk plus a portable net is all it takes; a tennis net at 36 in in the centre is only 2 in too high for pickleball, which is close enough for social play but not for anything competitive.
Padel court: no, not properly
This one comes up constantly and the answer is no. A padel court is 20 m by 10 m and enclosed by glass and mesh, with the walls in play. It is roughly two and a half times the length and well over three times the area of a pickleball court, and the whole tactical basis of the game is different. You could mark a pickleball court on the floor of one, but you would be wasting an expensive facility. If the walled game is what appeals, read our padel rules and scoring guide instead — it is a genuinely different sport.
Where you play decides which ball you buy
This is the practical consequence of everything above, and it is the mistake we see most often behind the counter. Indoor and outdoor pickleballs are not interchangeable. Indoor balls have fewer, larger holes, are lighter and softer, and behave properly on a sprung sports-hall floor. Outdoor balls are heavier with more, smaller holes so they hold their line in wind on a tarmac or acrylic surface.
Use an outdoor ball in a badminton hall and it will feel harsh and skid. Use an indoor ball on a windy converted tennis court and it will blow off line and crack in cold weather. Since most UK players end up doing both, buying one pack of each is the sensible move.
Our picks at Central Tennis
All in stock as we publish, and chosen to match the two court types above.
| Product | Price | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hundred Delta S400 Indoor Pickleballs (6) | £8.79 | For badminton halls and sports centres. Six balls is a season of club nights. |
| Head Champ Outdoor Pickleballs 40mm (3) | £6.50 | The cheapest way to get the right ball for a converted tennis court. |
| Wilson Max 40 Outdoor Pickleball | £10.00 | Durable outdoor ball for regular play on hard surfaces. |
| AIXO CP03 Ghost T700 Carbon Paddle | £40.00 | Our own carbon-faced paddle. A serious first bat without a serious price. |
| Wilson Pickle Pro Pickleball Shoes | £62.99 | Court-specific lateral support. Running shoes are the fastest route to a rolled ankle. |
Browse the full pickleball range at Central Tennis for paddles, balls, shoes and accessories.
FAQs
What is the official size of a pickleball court in the UK?
The same as everywhere else: 20 ft by 44 ft, or 6.10 m by 13.41 m, for both singles and doubles. Britain follows the international specification, so there is no separate UK court size.
Is a pickleball court the same size as a badminton court?
Yes. A doubles badminton court is also 20 ft by 44 ft. The nets differ substantially, though — badminton sits at about 1.55 m, pickleball at 0.91 m.
How many pickleball courts fit on a tennis court?
Four, in most cases, using the full fenced area of a standard doubles tennis court with portable nets and temporary line marking.
How big is the kitchen in pickleball?
The non-volley zone runs 7 ft (2.13 m) back from the net across the full 20 ft width, on both sides. You cannot volley while standing in it.
Can you play pickleball on a padel court?
Not sensibly. A padel court is 20 m by 10 m with walls in play — far larger than a pickleball court and built for a completely different game.
The short version
Twenty by forty-four feet, seven-foot kitchen, net at 36 in and 34 in, and no change between singles and doubles. If you have access to a badminton hall you already have the lines; all you need is a net, the kitchen marked out and the right ball for the surface.
Shop pickleball at Central Tennis — paddles, indoor and outdoor balls, and court shoes, with expert advice in store. Setting up a club or school session and not sure what to order? Talk to our team.
