First things first, let's nail down the exact size of a padel court. An official, regulation court is precisely 20 meters long by 10 meters wide. This specific rectangle is the international standard, creating a compact and lively arena for four players. To put it in perspective, it’s about a third of the size of a tennis court.
The Official Padel Court Dimensions
These precise measurements aren't just arbitrary numbers; they are the very soul of the game, defining its unique character. The International Padel Federation (FIP) mandates that a standard court must be 20 meters in length and 10 meters in width, for a total playing surface of 200 square meters. The FIP is strict on this, allowing only a tiny tolerance of ±0.5% to keep courts consistent worldwide.
This specific size creates an environment where quick reflexes and strategic wall play trump raw power. The shorter distance between players naturally leads to faster volleys and much longer, more engaging rallies than what you typically see in other racket sports. You can find more details on why these measurements are so critical in our guide on the essentials of padel court construction.
To help you get a clear picture of these core numbers, here’s a quick summary of the most important measurements for any regulation court.
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Official Padel Court Dimensions at a Glance
This table breaks down the fundamental measurements set by the International Padel Federation (FIP). Getting these right is the first step in building a court that plays exactly as it should.
| Element | Dimension |
|---|---|
| Court Length | 20 meters |
| Court Width | 10 meters |
| Net Height (Center) | 0.88 meters |
| Net Height (Ends) | 0.92 meters |
As you can see, these dimensions create a perfectly proportioned and accessible playing field, encouraging dynamic and strategic gameplay right from the start.
As the infographic highlights, the court's length is exactly double its width, creating a perfectly balanced playing area. The low net height is a key feature that encourages aggressive play at the net. Understanding these basic measurements is the essential first step for anyone looking to play, build, or simply get a deeper appreciation for the sport.
Now that we've covered the core foundation, let's dive into how every line, wall, and clearance area contributes to the game we all love.
Making Sense of the Court Lines and Layout
Once you get the basic padel court size down, the next thing to master is the web of lines painted across the surface. These aren't just for decoration; they're the rules of engagement, defining where you serve and where the initial action kicks off.
If you can picture a tennis court shrunk down, you're already halfway there.
The most obvious line runs right down the middle, parallel to the side walls, splitting each half of the court into two equal sections. This is your central service line, and its job is to create the left and right service boxes—just like in tennis.
Running perpendicular to that is the service line, which sits 6.95 meters back from the net. Where these two lines intersect, you get the four distinct service boxes. To start any point, the server has to land the ball in the service box that's diagonally opposite them.
A Closer Look at Padel Court Markings
To keep things fair and consistent no matter where you play, from a local club to a pro tournament, every single line has to be just right. This precision is what makes the game feel the same everywhere.
- Line Width: Every line on a padel court has to be exactly 5 cm wide. This standard width makes the boundaries clear and easy for everyone to see.
- Contrasting Color: The lines need to pop against the court surface. White is almost always the color of choice because it provides the best visibility.
- Service Box Dimensions: Each service box is a perfect rectangle measuring 6.95 meters by 5 meters. This is the target zone every legal serve must hit.
One of the biggest differences between padel and a sport like pickleball is that padel has no "kitchen" or "no-volley zone." Players are free to charge the net and hit volleys from anywhere, which is a huge reason the game is so fast-paced and aggressive.
Every part of this layout, from the overall court size down to the 5 cm lines, is designed to encourage dynamic, back-and-forth rallies. Getting a handle on these markings is the first step to mastering your positioning and overall game strategy.
The Walls: Padel's Not-So-Secret Weapon
In padel, the walls aren't just there to keep the ball in play—they are in play. This is probably the biggest and most exciting difference from tennis. When a ball hits a wall in tennis, the point is dead. But in padel? That's when the fun really starts. The walls become a strategic tool, letting you turn a tough defensive shot into a killer offensive play.
This is what gives padel its signature, fast-paced feel. You can let the ball ricochet off the back or side walls before you hit it back. This simple rule change leads to much longer, more thrilling rallies and really rewards players who can think outside the box. Learning to read the angles and bounces off the glass is one of the first big skills that separates a rookie from a seasoned player.
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Wall Heights and Materials
To keep the game fair and predictable, the walls of a padel court have to meet some pretty strict standards. The whole enclosure is a mix of solid panels (usually glass) and wire mesh, and each part has a specific job.
- Back Walls: These are the big walls behind each baseline, and they must stand 4 meters tall. The bottom 3 meters are typically solid tempered glass to give a clean, true bounce, with the top 1 meter finished with wire mesh.
- Side Walls: The side walls have a unique "stepped" design. They connect to the back walls at a height of 3 meters and then step down to 2 meters as they run towards the net.
The gold standard for modern courts is 10mm to 12mm tempered glass. It gives spectators a crystal-clear view and, more importantly, gives players that consistent, reliable bounce they need to pull off amazing shots during a heated rally.
The integrity of these structures is everything. The combination of glass and mesh creates the perfect arena for padel's strategic demands, where every bounce off a wall could be a game-changer. It's interesting to see how the principles of solid construction, like using durable fence panels mesh, are applied to create a safe and functional playing environment.
Why Padel Net Height is a Game-Changer
The glass walls might give padel its iconic look, but the net? That's the heart of the court. It’s the single element that dictates the pace, style, and difficulty of every single point you play. The official regulations are incredibly strict about the net's dimensions, and for good reason—it’s the great equalizer, making sure the challenge is the same for every player, on every court, every time.
The net has to stretch across the full 10-meter width of the court, pulled tight by a metal cable. Right in the middle, the net’s height is set at a precise 0.88 meters (that's about 34.6 inches). This is noticeably lower than a tennis net, and that’s a deliberate choice. It's designed to encourage the fast, aggressive volleys and quick-fire exchanges that make padel such an adrenaline rush.
The Subtle Rise at the Posts
Now, here’s a detail many players miss. As the net reaches the support posts at either side, the height creeps up just a little to 0.92 meters (around 36.2 inches). This tiny four-centimeter difference might not sound like much, but it’s a clever bit of design that completely changes how you approach your shots.
This gentle arc means the window for hitting a winner down the line is just a fraction smaller than hitting cross-court through the lower center. You’re forced to be more precise. To nail that clean winner straight down the line, you need a flatter, more controlled shot to clear that slightly higher section of the net.
Think of the net height as the game's built-in difficulty setting. It's low enough to spark exciting volleys but just high enough to punish sloppy shots, rewarding players who favor control and placement over just brute force.
These non-negotiable measurements are all about fairness and consistency. It doesn't matter if you're having a casual hit at your local club or battling it out in a pro tournament—the net is always the same. It's the fundamental challenge you have to overcome to get the ball in play and win the point.
Planning for Overhead and Side Clearance
It's a classic rookie mistake to only focus on the 20×10 meter playing area when planning a padel court. The reality is, the court's true footprint is much larger. You need to account for both vertical and horizontal clearance to build a safe, playable, and regulation-compliant court.
The single most important factor for an indoor setup is overhead clearance. High, arching lobs are the bread and butter of padel strategy. A low ceiling completely neuters that part of the game and can frankly ruin the entire experience.
Vertical and Horizontal Space Requirements
To give players enough room for those sky-high shots, the official recommendation is a minimum clear height of 6 meters (that’s about 20 feet) above the entire court surface. But if you want a genuinely great playing experience, 8 meters (around 26 feet) is the gold standard. It just gets the ceiling out of the way and lets people play freely.
- Side Clearance: You absolutely need at least 1.5 to 2 meters of clear space around the whole perimeter. Think of this as a safety buffer. It’s crucial for player access, maintenance, and simply preventing nasty collisions.
- Out-of-Court Play: Many modern courts are being built with openings that allow for those spectacular "out-of-court" plays, where a player dashes outside the structure to return a smash. If you’re planning for this, you'll need even more side clearance.
Neglecting proper clearance doesn't just limit gameplay; it creates a hazardous environment. A low ceiling can interfere with shots and lighting placement, while inadequate side space poses a direct safety risk to players.
The compact 200 square meter playing area is a huge reason the sport is exploding. It lets facilities pack more courts into a space compared to tennis, which is a massive win for club owners.
When you're diving into the planning phase, it helps to see how professional construction companies handle these details. You can explore their construction project portfolio to get a feel for how large-space facilities are put together. And if you're seriously considering building, our guide on finding the right people for the job is a must-read: https://padelrumors.pages.dev/news/padel-court-builders/.
Common Questions About Padel Court Size
As padel's popularity explodes, so do the questions about its unique glass cage. To clear things up, we’ve put together the most common questions we hear about padel court size and specs.
These details are the key to understanding why the game plays and feels the way it does.
What Is the Difference Between Padel and Tennis Court Sizes?
The first thing you’ll notice is the footprint. A padel court is a tidy 20 meters long by 10 meters wide. In contrast, a standard doubles tennis court is a much bigger beast at 23.77 meters long by 10.97 meters wide.
But the real game-changer is the enclosure. Padel courts are wrapped in glass and mesh walls that are very much in play, which creates a totally different strategic environment. This is a world away from the open-air design of a tennis court, where if the ball hits a wall or fence, the point is over. For a deeper dive into the specifics, you can check out the complete padel court setup.
Can You Build a Padel Court in a Smaller Size?
Sure, if you're just looking for some recreational fun in your backyard, you can technically build a court to whatever size you like.
However, if you want to play the game as it was designed—or ever host an official match—that 20×10 meter dimension is set in stone. Playing on a non-standard court completely messes with the game's strategy, how the ball bounces, and where players position themselves. It just wouldn't be true padel.
How Much Total Area Is Needed to Install a Court?
While the court's playing surface is exactly 200 square meters (20m x 10m), you'll need a bit more space for the whole setup. You have to factor in the foundation for the structure and leave some essential safety clearance around the outside.
As a solid rule of thumb, you should plan for a total area of at least 21 meters by 11 meters. And for indoor courts, this is critical: you need a minimum clear ceiling height of 6 to 8 meters to allow for those high, defensive lobs without hitting the roof.
Are Padel Courts a Different Size for Singles?
Nope, and this is another key difference from tennis. Padel uses the exact same 20×10 meter court for both singles and doubles.
While singles padel isn't as common, playing it on a full-sized court is an incredible workout. It's a true test of a player's speed, agility, and stamina. Having one person cover that entire area, including all the wall bounces, makes it one of the most physically demanding ways to enjoy the sport.
