Court Dimensions & Layout Planner

Court Dimensions Compared: Pickleball, Tennis, Padel, and Badminton

The four major racket sports vary dramatically in court size, space requirements, and layout. Understanding these differences matters whether you are building new courts, converting existing ones, or figuring out how many courts fit in your gym or outdoor facility.

Pickleball and badminton share the same footprint at 20 feet wide by 44 feet long. The similarities end there. Badminton nets sit at 5 feet, pickleball nets at 34 inches, and badminton demands at least 30 feet of ceiling clearance because of the shuttlecock's high arc. Pickleball has no specific ceiling requirement for outdoor play. This shared footprint makes it practical to dual-mark a court for both sports using different line colors.

Tennis courts are the largest at 36 feet wide by 78 feet long for doubles. The standard tennis court pad measures 60 by 120 feet, which provides enough run-back and side clearance for competitive play. That 60 x 120 foot pad is the reference point for pickleball court conversions. Two pickleball courts fit comfortably with generous buffers, three fit with shared sidelines, and four fit in a tighter quad layout.

Padel courts measure 10 by 20 meters (roughly 33 by 66 feet) and are unique because they are enclosed by glass and mesh walls. The walls are part of the game, not just boundaries. This means padel courts do not need the extensive buffer zones that tennis and pickleball require, but they do need purpose-built construction with foundations, structural framing, and tempered glass panels.

Net heights vary across all four sports. Pickleball has the lowest net at 34 inches center. Padel sits close at 34.6 inches. Tennis nets are 3 feet at center. Badminton has the highest net at 5 feet, designed for underhand serves and the steep attack angles unique to the sport.

Choosing the Right Court for Your Space

For existing indoor gyms, pickleball and badminton are the most space-efficient options. Both fit on a standard gymnasium floor with room to spare. For outdoor facilities with more room, tennis courts offer the most versatility since they double as pickleball conversion space. Padel requires dedicated construction but is the fastest-growing racket sport globally and commands premium booking rates.

Use the interactive diagrams above to explore each sport's official measurements, zone breakdowns, and recommended buffer areas. Every measurement on this page comes from the governing body for that sport: USA Pickleball, the ITF, FIP, and BWF.