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A regulation tennis court is 78 ft long and 27 ft wide for singles or 36 ft wide for doubles, under both ITF and USTA rules. The net stands 3 ft 6 in (42 in) high at the posts and 3 ft (36 in) high at the center. For a full build, the USTA recommends a total playing area of 120 ft x 60 ft so players have room to run behind the baselines and beyond the sidelines.
The playing lines of a tennis court are the same at every level of adult competition, from a club league to a professional tour event. The court is 78 ft long from baseline to baseline. Width depends on whether you are playing singles or doubles.
A singles court is 27 ft wide. A doubles court is 36 ft wide. The extra width comes from the doubles alleys, which are 4.5 ft wide on each side and run the full length of the court between the singles sideline and the doubles sideline.
Almost every permanent court is lined for doubles, with the singles sidelines painted inside the doubles sidelines. That lets one court host both formats without any change to the surface. The only adjustment for singles play is the placement of singles sticks, which we cover in the net section below.
| Court type | Length | Width | Net height |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regulation singles (ITF, USTA) | 78 ft | 27 ft | 42 in at posts, 36 in at center |
| Regulation doubles (ITF, USTA) | 78 ft | 36 ft | 42 in at posts, 36 in at center |
| USTA 60-ft youth court (ages 9-10) | 60 ft | 21 ft singles / 27 ft doubles | 36 in |
| USTA 36-ft youth court (ages 8 and under) | 36 ft | 18 ft | 33 in |
The surface area of one regulation doubles court is 2,808 sq ft. That figure covers only the lined court. It does not include the run-off space behind the baselines or beside the sidelines, which is where most of the real estate in a court project goes. See "Planning your space" below for the full footprint.
The interior lines define the service area and are the same on singles and doubles courts. Every one of them is measured from either the net or the baseline, so a layout crew only needs a few reference points to reproduce the whole court.
The service line runs parallel to the net, 21 ft from the net on each side. Between the service line and the net, the center service line splits the area into two service boxes. Each service box is 13.5 ft wide and 21 ft long.
The center service line runs from the net to the service line on both sides of the court. The space between the service line and the baseline has no interior lines and is usually called the backcourt.
The center mark is a short line, 4 in long, drawn inward from the middle of each baseline. It shows where the center service line would meet the baseline if it continued, and it tells the server which side of center to stand on for each point.
Line width is regulated because lines are part of the court and a ball touching a line is in. The baseline may be up to 4 in wide. All other lines must be 1 to 2 in wide. Painting the baseline wider makes it easier to see from across the court, which is why many facilities use the full allowance there.
| Line or mark | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Baseline to baseline (court length) | 78 ft |
| Singles sideline to singles sideline | 27 ft |
| Doubles sideline to doubles sideline | 36 ft |
| Doubles alley width (each side) | 4.5 ft |
| Net to service line (each side) | 21 ft |
| Service box | 13.5 ft wide x 21 ft long |
| Center mark length | 4 in |
| Baseline width | Up to 4 in |
| All other line widths | 1 to 2 in |
Tennis net height is measured at two points, and both matter. At the posts the net is 3 ft 6 in (42 in) high. At the center the net is 3 ft (36 in) high. The dip in the middle is created by a center strap, which anchors the net to the court surface and holds it at the lower height.
The center strap is the part most often out of adjustment. Nets stretch, straps loosen, and a net that reads 36 in at the center on installation day can creep upward over a season. Checking center height with a measuring stick before matches is standard practice at tournament sites, and it is a good habit for any facility.
Net posts sit with their centers 3 ft outside the doubles sideline on each side. Posts may be no more than 6 in square or 6 in in diameter. The net for a doubles court is 42 ft long, which spans the 36 ft court width plus the distance out to the posts on each side.
Because the post position is fixed relative to the doubles sideline, the footings for permanent posts have to be located before the surface is poured or paved. Getting them wrong means either a net that does not reach or posts that sit inside the alley.
When singles is played on a doubles court, the net is supported by singles sticks placed 3 ft outside the singles sideline on each side. The sticks hold the net at 3 ft 6 in (42 in) at that point, the same height as at the posts, so the net profile over the narrower singles court matches what it would be on a dedicated singles court. Recreational players often skip singles sticks, but they are required in sanctioned singles matches.
| Net specification | Regulation (ITF, USTA) | USTA 60-ft youth | USTA 36-ft youth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height at posts | 3 ft 6 in (42 in) | Varies by league | Varies by league |
| Height at center | 3 ft (36 in), held by center strap | 36 in | 33 in |
| Post position | 3 ft outside doubles sideline (center of post) | Varies by league | Varies by league |
| Maximum post size | 6 in square or 6 in diameter | Varies by league | Varies by league |
| Net length (doubles) | 42 ft | Varies by league | Varies by league |
| Singles sticks | 3 ft outside singles sideline | Varies by league | Varies by league |
The USTA 10 and Under program scales the court to the player. Smaller courts and lower nets let children rally and learn tactics rather than chase balls they cannot reach. The two formats below are the ones you will see at schools, parks and clubs running junior programs.
The 36-ft court is 36 ft long and 18 ft wide, with a net 33 in high. It is usually laid out with temporary lines and a portable net rather than as a permanent court, which keeps a facility flexible as its youngest players move up.
The 60-ft court is 60 ft long. It is 21 ft wide for singles and 27 ft wide for doubles, with a net 36 in high. Many facilities paint 60-ft lines in a contrasting color on a regulation court so the same surface serves both age groups. Note that the 60-ft doubles width of 27 ft is the same figure as the regulation singles width, which is why blended-line layouts can reuse the existing singles sidelines.
The lined court is only part of the footprint. Players need room behind the baseline to return deep balls and room beside the court to chase wide ones. Fencing, lighting poles and benches also need to sit outside the run-off area, not inside it.
The USTA recommends a total playing area of 120 ft x 60 ft for one court. That allows 21 ft behind each baseline and 12 ft on each side beyond the doubles sidelines. Tournament and high school facilities should plan on this full area if the site allows, and it is the figure to use when you are comparing quotes from surfacing contractors.
Where the site is tight, the minimum for club play is commonly 114 ft x 56 ft. Going below that compromises play at the baseline and along the sidelines and makes the court feel cramped. If you cannot reach the minimum, it is often better to build a youth court well than a full court poorly.
| Space plan | Overall length | Overall width | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| USTA recommended playing area | 120 ft | 60 ft | Competition, schools, clubs with room |
| Common club minimum | 114 ft | 56 ft | Recreational and club play on tight sites |
| Lined doubles court only | 78 ft | 36 ft | Not playable without run-off space |
Lay the long axis of the court north-south. With that orientation, neither player faces directly into a low sun during morning or late-afternoon play. This is the standard recommendation for outdoor courts and is worth following even when it complicates the site plan.
Fence lines, light poles and windscreen posts belong outside the 120 ft x 60 ft (or 114 ft x 56 ft) playing area. Net post footings sit with the post centers 3 ft outside the doubles sideline, so locate the concrete footings at that spot before the surface goes down. Fence heights and lighting levels vary by league and are outside the scope of this guide.
A regulation tennis court can host up to 4 pickleball courts, each 20 ft x 44 ft, using temporary nets. Blended lines or removable tape mark the pickleball courts, and portable pickleball nets set up in minutes. This is the most common way schools and parks add pickleball without giving up tennis, and it is a strong argument for keeping the full run-off area when you plan the site.
Laying out a court is a matter of establishing the net line, then measuring everything from it. Two people, a long tape and a way to check square are enough for a temporary layout. Permanent courts should be laid out by the surfacing contractor, but the checklist below lets you verify their work.
The dimensions in this guide come from the ITF Rules of Tennis, which set the court and net specifications used worldwide, and from the USTA, which adopts the ITF court and publishes the recommended total playing area and the 10 and Under youth court sizes. Pickleball court dimensions follow USA Pickleball. Requirements for fencing, lighting and surfacing vary by league and facility and are not covered here.
Ready to build or refresh a court? Browse tennis post systems and net sets for posts, nets and center straps, tennis and pickleball equipment for portable nets and youth court gear, and court net and barrier systems for divider nets and perimeter protection around the court.
A regulation court is 78 ft long. It is 27 ft wide for singles and 36 ft wide for doubles. With the USTA recommended run-off, the total playing area is 120 ft x 60 ft.
The net is 3 ft 6 in (42 in) high at the posts and 3 ft (36 in) high at the center, where a center strap holds it down.
Each doubles alley is 4.5 ft wide. The alleys on both sides take the court from the 27 ft singles width to the 36 ft doubles width.
The service line is 21 ft from the net on each side. Each service box is 13.5 ft wide x 21 ft long, split by the center service line.
The USTA recommends 120 ft x 60 ft, which gives 21 ft behind each baseline and 12 ft on each side. The common club minimum is 114 ft x 56 ft.
The USTA 36-ft court for ages 8 and under is 36 ft x 18 ft with a 33 in net. The 60-ft court for ages 9-10 is 60 ft long, 21 ft wide for singles and 27 ft for doubles, with a 36 in net.
Up to 4 pickleball courts, each 20 ft x 44 ft, fit on one tennis court using temporary nets.
