Tennis Court Dimensions: Singles, Doubles, Net and Total Space
Regulation tennis court measurements in feet and meters, from the baseline to the service boxes and the net, plus the land a court really needs.
A regulation tennis court is 78 ft long and 36 ft wide (23.77 × 10.97 m) for doubles. The singles court uses the same length but is 27 ft (8.23 m) wide. The net is 3 ft (0.914 m) high at the center, and with recommended run-off the whole plot is about 120 × 60 ft (36.6 × 18.3 m).
- Doubles court
- 78 × 36 ft
- Singles court
- 78 × 27 ft
- Net at center
- 3 ft (0.914 m)
- Full plot
- 120 × 60 ft
On this page
Tennis court dimensions in feet and meters
The ITF defines the court in feet and inches; the metric values are conversions, which is why they are not round numbers. These measurements are to the outside edges of the lines, so the lines themselves are in.
| Measurement | Feet | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| Court length (baseline to baseline) | 78 ft | 23.77 m |
| Doubles width | 36 ft | 10.97 m |
| Singles width | 27 ft | 8.23 m |
| Net to baseline | 39 ft | 11.89 m |
| Net to service line | 21 ft | 6.40 m |
| Service line to baseline | 18 ft | 5.49 m |
| Service box | 21 × 13 ft 6 in | 6.40 × 4.115 m |
| Doubles alley width | 4 ft 6 in | 1.37 m |
| Center mark | 4 in long | 10 cm |
Lines are 1 to 2 in (2.5 to 5 cm) wide, except the baseline, which may be up to 4 in (10 cm), and the center service line, which is 2 in (5 cm). All lines must be the same color and contrast with the surface.
Singles vs doubles court
Both games use the same baselines, service lines and service boxes. The only difference is the 4 ft 6 in alley on each side, which is in play for doubles rallies but not for doubles serves. A serve must land in the service box, which is bounded by the singles sideline in both formats.
- Singles court area: 78 × 27 ft = 2,106 sq ft (195.6 m²).
- Doubles court area: 78 × 36 ft = 2,808 sq ft (260.9 m²), one third larger.
- Diagonal: 85 ft 11 in (26.2 m) for doubles and 82 ft 6½ in (25.2 m) for singles. Use these to check the court is square when marking it out.
Tennis net height and posts
The center strap that holds the net at 3 ft is no more than 2 in (5 cm) wide. Check the height with a measuring stick at the strap; the net sags back up quickly if the strap anchor is loose. On a singles-only court, the posts stand 3 ft outside the singles sideline and the net is 33 ft (10.06 m) long.
How much space a tennis court needs
The lines are less than 40% of the area. Players chase balls well behind the baseline and outside the alleys, so the ITF recommends minimum run-off distances. These, not the court lines, decide whether a court fits on a lot.
| Standard | Behind each baseline | Beside each sideline | Total plot | Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tournament / ITF recommended | 21 ft (6.40 m) | 12 ft (3.66 m) | 120 × 60 ft (36.6 × 18.3 m) | 7,200 sq ft (669 m²) |
| Club and recreational minimum | 18 ft (5.48 m) | 10 ft (3.05 m) | 114 × 56 ft (34.7 × 17.1 m) | 6,384 sq ft (593 m²) |
When several courts sit side by side inside one fence, the space between adjacent courts is usually 12 ft (3.66 m) for club courts and up to 18 ft for tournament courts. Two club courts in one enclosure therefore take about 108 × 120 ft: 36 + 36 ft of court, 12 ft between and 12 ft on each outside edge.
Outdoor courts are normally laid out with the long axis running roughly north to south. That keeps a low morning or evening sun out of the players' eyes on most shots. Fences are usually 10 to 12 ft tall to stop balls leaving the plot.
Tennis court sizes for kids
Children under 10 learn on shorter courts with slower red, orange and green balls. The USTA and ITF use these court sizes:
| Stage | Ages | Court | Metric |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red ball | 8 and under | 36 × 18 ft | 11 × 5.5 m |
| Orange ball | 8–10 | 60 × 21 ft (singles) | 18.3 × 6.4 m |
| Green ball | 9–12 | 78 × 27 ft full court | 23.77 × 8.23 m |
A red-ball court fits across the width of a full tennis court, so one regulation court can hold several red courts with temporary lines and mini nets. Orange courts sit inside the full court's singles sidelines with the baselines moved in.
Tennis compared with other racket courts
Many clubs now share space between tennis, pickleball and padel. A tennis court is far larger than either.
| Sport | Court (ft) | Court (m) | Area vs tennis doubles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennis (doubles) | 78 × 36 | 23.77 × 10.97 | 100% |
| Padel | 65.6 × 32.8 | 20 × 10 | 77% |
| Badminton (doubles) | 44 × 20 | 13.40 × 6.10 | 31% |
| Pickleball | 44 × 20 | 13.41 × 6.10 | 31% |
Pickleball and badminton share the same 44 × 20 ft outline but use different nets: pickleball's is 34 in at the center and 36 in at the posts, badminton's is 5 ft (1.524 m) at the center and 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) at the posts. Sizes for other courts, fields and equipment are in the sports sizes hub, and indoor court lines are compared in the basketball court dimensions guide.
Building a backyard court
- Full court: plan on at least 114 × 56 ft of level ground, plus room for fence posts and drainage. Few suburban lots have it.
- Practice court: a half-length court (39 ft from net to baseline plus 12 to 18 ft behind) with a rebound wall or net gives realistic groundstrokes in about half the space.
- Multi-use slab: a 60 × 30 ft slab holds a pickleball court, or a half-court for basketball (see the hoop size guide) with tennis practice lines.
- Slope: outdoor hard courts are built with a slight cross-fall of about 1% (roughly 1 in over 8 ft) for drainage. A visibly sloped yard will need grading before the base goes down.
Frequently asked questions
What size is a regulation tennis court?
The ITF Rules of Tennis set the court at 78 × 27 ft (23.77 × 8.23 m) for singles and 78 × 36 ft (23.77 × 10.97 m) for doubles. The same dimensions apply on grass, clay and hard courts, and at every level from club play to Grand Slams.
How high is a tennis net?
3 ft (0.914 m) at the center, held down by a strap, and 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) at the posts. The posts stand 3 ft outside the doubles sideline, so the net is 42 ft (12.8 m) long.
Is the net the same for singles and doubles?
The height is the same. When a doubles net is used for a singles match, singles sticks 3 ft 6 in tall are placed 3 ft outside each singles sideline, so the net is at the correct height at the singles court's edge.
How many pickleball courts fit on a tennis court?
Four, if you use the whole fenced plot. A pickleball court is 20 × 44 ft and needs a 30 × 60 ft space with run-off, and four of those fill a 60 × 120 ft tennis plot. Painting two pickleball courts within one tennis court's lines is the more common conversion.
How much does a tennis court cover in square feet?
The doubles court lines enclose 2,808 sq ft (261 m²). With tournament run-off the plot is 7,200 sq ft (669 m²), and a minimum recreational plot is about 6,384 sq ft (593 m²).