Badminton Court Dimensions: Explained (Singles vs. Doubles Diagram)

A doubles badminton court is 44 feet long and 20 feet wide (13.4 × 6.1 m). A singles court is 44 feet long and 17 feet wide (13.4 × 5.18 m).

Both formats use the same lines. This guide shows the singles vs doubles layout, what each line does, how much space you need around the court, and the net height.

---

Badminton Court Dimensions (Size in Feet & Meters)

What are the dimensions of a badminton court? A doubles court is 44 × 20 ft (13.4 × 6.1 m), which is 880 sq ft (81.7 m²). A singles court is 44 × 17 ft (13.4 × 5.18 m), which is 748 sq ft (69.4 m²). Dimensions.com lists the same figures.

Court feature	Feet	Meters
Court length (singles and doubles)	44 ft	13.4 m
Doubles width	20 ft	6.1 m
Singles width	17 ft	5.18 m
Doubles area	880 sq ft	81.7 m²
Singles area	748 sq ft	69.4 m²
Net height at center	5 ft	1.524 m
Net height at posts	5 ft 1 in	1.55 m
Short service line (from net)	6 ft 6 in	1.98 m
Doubles long service line (inside back line)	2 ft 6 in	0.76 m
Line width	1.6 in	40 mm

The net splits the court into two halves. Each half is 22 × 20 ft.

Three details trip people up:

• Lines count as part of the court. Measure to the outer edge of each line.
• The net posts stand on the doubles side lines, even in singles.
• Some websites swap the net heights. The official figures are 1.524 m at the center and 1.55 m at the posts. The net sags a little in the middle, so it is set lower there.

---

Singles vs. Doubles Badminton Court Diagram

Here is one half of the court, seen from above. The other half is a mirror image. The drawing is not to scale.

Just as badminton courts follow precise measurements for length and width, everyday products also come in standardized sizes. For another practical dimensions guide, explore standard beer can sizes and measurements, including heights, diameters, and capacities in ounces and milliliters.

        DOUBLES WIDTH: 20 ft (6.1 m)
   <------------------------------------->
        SINGLES WIDTH: 17 ft (5.18 m)
        <--------------------------->
 1.5ft |   8.5 ft    |   8.5 ft    | 1.5ft

 +-----+-------------+-------------+-----+  <- BACK BOUNDARY (singles long service line)
 |     |             |             |     |
 +-----+-------------+-------------+-----+  <- DOUBLES LONG SERVICE LINE (2 ft 6 in in)
 |     |             |             |     |
 |     |    RIGHT    |    LEFT     |     |
 |     |   SERVICE   |   SERVICE   |     |
 |     |    COURT    |    COURT    |     |
 |     |             |             |     |
 +-----+-------------+-------------+-----+  <- SHORT SERVICE LINE (6 ft 6 in from net)
 |     |             |             |     |
 +=====+=============+=============+=====+  <- NET
 outer      CENTER LINE runs down the middle      outer
 lane       of each service area                  lane

What is the difference between singles and doubles?

	Singles	Doubles
Width	17 ft (5.18 m)	20 ft (6.1 m)
Length	44 ft (13.4 m)	44 ft (13.4 m)
Area	748 sq ft	880 sq ft
Side lines used	Inner lines	Outer lines
Serve lands up to	Back boundary	Doubles long service line
Service box size	15.5 × 8.5 ft	13 × 10 ft

Singles drops a 1.5 ft lane on each side. It keeps the full 44 ft length. One marked court serves both formats, so it never needs re-marking.

---

Badminton Court Lines & Service Areas Explained

Each line has a job:

• Back boundary line: the far edge of play. In singles, it is also the long service line.
• Side lines: the outer pair is for doubles, and the inner pair is for singles.
• Short service line: a serve must land beyond it, 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) from the net.
• Doubles long service line: a doubles serve must land inside it, 2 ft 6 in (0.76 m) from the back boundary.
• Center line: it splits the area behind the short service line into a right and left service court.

Where does the serve land in singles vs doubles? In singles, the serve can go deep, all the way to the back boundary. In doubles, the serve must land short of the inner long service line. Doubles serves are therefore shorter and wider.

The serve goes diagonally. It starts from the right court when the server’s score is even. It starts from the left court when the score is odd.

Lines are 40 mm wide and white or yellow. A shuttle that lands on a line is in.

---

Badminton Court Space, Ceiling Height & Net Setup

The marked court is not the whole build. Players lunge past the lines, so you need room around it.

How much space do you need around a badminton court? Keep at least 2 ft (0.61 m) of clear space on every side. ChampCourts suggests three footprints:

Footprint	Size
Tight minimum	49 × 26 ft
Club standard	52 × 28 ft
Tournament	57 × 33 ft

How high should the ceiling be? Aim for 7 m (23 ft) of clear height for recreational play. National play uses 9 m, and BWF international events use 12 m. Nothing should hang over the court, including beams, fans and lights.

Net setup:

• Set the net at 5 ft at the center and 5 ft 1 in at the posts.
• Check the height now and then. Tension and temperature can make the net sag.
• The net is 6.1 m (20 ft) wide.

Marking checks:

• Use 40 mm lines. Wider tape distorts the service areas.
• Measure the diagonals. Both should be about 48 ft 4 in (14.723 m). If they differ, the court is not square.

Court surfaces are usually wood, synthetic or rubber, and the line sizes stay the same on all of them.

---

FAQs

What are the dimensions of a badminton court?

44 × 20 ft (13.4 × 6.1 m) for doubles. 44 × 17 ft (13.4 × 5.18 m) for singles.

Is a badminton court 20 feet by 44 feet?

Yes, for doubles. Singles is 17 ft wide, and both formats are 44 ft long.

Is pickleball court size the same as badminton?

Yes. A pickleball court is also 20 × 44 ft, the same as a doubles badminton court. The lines and nets differ:

• A pickleball net is 36 in at the sides and 34 in at the center. A badminton net is about 5 ft.
• Pickleball adds a 7 ft “kitchen” zone on each side of the net. Badminton has no kitchen.

Many gyms mark both sets of lines on one floor.

What are 5 rules in badminton?

1. Serve diagonally and low. The server hits the shuttle below the waist, starting in the right court on even scores.
2. Score on every rally. Games go to 21 points. You must win by 2, and 30 is the cap. The BWF has approved a 15-point system from January 2027, with 21-point play kept as an option.
3. Change ends after game one, after game two, and at 11 points in a third game.
4. A shuttle on the line is in. A shuttle that lands outside the lines is out.
5. Avoid faults. Hitting the shuttle twice in a row or touching the net are faults.

Conclusion

In short: the badminton court is 44 ft long, 20 ft wide for doubles and 17 ft wide for singles. Add 2 ft or more of clear space, a 5 ft net, and a 7 m ceiling, and the court is ready to play.