Volleyball Court Dimensions and Net Height: Indoor, Beach, High School, College and Youth

A regulation indoor volleyball court measures 18 m x 9 m (59 ft x 29 ft 6 in), split by a center line into two 9 m x 9 m halves. Net height depends on who's playing: 2.43 m (7 ft 11 5/8 in) for men and boys, 2.24 m (7 ft 4 1/8 in) for women and girls, measured at the center of the net. Youth and beach volleyball use their own dimensions, detailed below.

Volleyball court dimensions

The indoor court used by FIVB, USA Volleyball, NCAA, and NFHS is 18 m x 9 m (59 ft x 29 ft 6 in). The center line splits the court into two 9 m x 9 m halves, one for each team. On each side of the center line, the attack line (commonly called the 10 ft line) is set 3 m (9 ft 10 in) away, marking the boundary for back-row attacks.

Around the court, a free zone of at least 3 m is required on all sides for players to move and dive safely. FIVB international competition calls for larger free zones: 5 m along the sidelines and 6.5 m behind the end lines. Ceiling clearance matters too: the minimum is 7 m (23 ft) for standard play, and 12.5 m for FIVB international events.

Volleyball net height by level

Net height is measured at the center of the net, where sag is greatest. The rules allow the net to sit up to 2 cm higher at the sidelines than at the center, since the net naturally rises slightly as it approaches the posts.

How tall is a men's volleyball net?

A men's volleyball net stands 2.43 m (7 ft 11 5/8 in) tall at the center. This height applies to men's play at the indoor, college (NCAA), high school (NFHS), and beach levels alike, since the fact sheet lists 2.43 m as the men's height across these settings.

How tall is a high school volleyball net?

Under NFHS rules, a high school volleyball net is 2.43 m (7 ft 11 5/8 in) for boys and 2.24 m (7 ft 4 1/8 in) for girls, matching the men's and women's indoor heights used at the college and international levels.

Youth volleyball net heights

USA Volleyball sets lower net heights for younger age groups so players can develop proper technique before moving to full adult height. For ages 10 and under, the net is 2.13 m (7 ft) for both girls and boys. Ages 11-12 also play at 2.13 m (7 ft). Ages 13-14 move up to 2.24 m for both girls and boys. At age 15 and over, players use adult heights (2.43 m for men/boys, 2.24 m for women/girls, per the standard indoor chart above).

Beach volleyball dimensions and net height

Beach volleyball, under FIVB and AVP rules, is played on a smaller court than indoor: 16 m x 8 m (52 ft 6 in x 26 ft 3 in). There is no attack line on beach courts. Net heights match indoor play: 2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women. A minimum free zone of 3 m surrounds the court, and the sand itself must be at least 40 cm deep. Posts are placed 0.5 to 1 m outside the sidelines and stand 2.55 m tall to keep the net properly tensioned.

Sitting volleyball

Sitting volleyball uses a much smaller court, 10 m x 6 m, with a low net: 1.15 m for men and 1.05 m for women. In all formats, the net itself is 1 m tall (39 in) and 9.5 to 10 m long. Antennas mark the outer edge of each sideline — thin 10 mm diameter rods, 1.8 m long, extending 80 cm above the top of the net to define the legal crossing space for the ball.

Planning your space

When laying out a volleyball court in a gym or backyard, start with the full 18 m x 9 m indoor footprint and then add the required free zone of at least 3 m on every side — this space is not optional, since players regularly move past the boundary lines to play balls or land safely after an attack. If you're building to FIVB international standards, plan for 5 m of clearance along the sidelines and 6.5 m behind each end line.

Overhead clearance matters as much as floor space. The fact sheet calls for a minimum ceiling height of 7 m (23 ft) for standard play, rising to 12.5 m for FIVB international competition. Before installing a net system in an existing gym, measure the lowest point of any obstruction — beams, lights, scoreboards — within the court and free zone area, not just above the net itself.

For beach courts, remember the sand depth requirement of at least 40 cm, and keep posts 0.5 to 1 m outside the sidelines rather than snug against the boundary lines, since posts positioned too close can interfere with play near the antennas.

How to measure and lay out a volleyball court (checklist)

• Confirm your level of play (indoor, beach, sitting, youth) before choosing dimensions — court size and net height both change by level.
• Mark the outer boundary first: 18 m x 9 m for indoor, 16 m x 8 m for beach, or 10 m x 6 m for sitting volleyball.
• Find the center line at the midpoint, dividing the court into two equal halves.
• For indoor courts, mark each attack line 3 m from the center line on both sides.
• Measure the free zone outward from every boundary line — minimum 3 m, or 5 m sidelines / 6.5 m end lines for FIVB international play.
• Set the net at the correct center height for your level (see tables above) and check it does not rise more than 2 cm higher at the sidelines.
• For beach courts, verify sand depth is at least 40 cm and set posts 0.5 to 1 m outside the sidelines at 2.55 m tall.
• Check overhead clearance against the minimum ceiling height for your level of play.

Sources

Dimensions and net heights referenced in this guide reflect rules published by FIVB, USA Volleyball, NCAA, and NFHS, the governing bodies responsible for international, collegiate, high school, and youth volleyball in the United States.

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Frequently asked questions

How tall is a men's volleyball net?

2.43 m (7 ft 11 5/8 in), measured at the center of the net.

How tall is a high school volleyball net?

Under NFHS rules, 2.43 m (7 ft 11 5/8 in) for boys and 2.24 m (7 ft 4 1/8 in) for girls.

What are standard volleyball court dimensions?

An indoor court is 18 m x 9 m (59 ft x 29 ft 6 in), divided into two 9 m x 9 m halves by the center line.

How far is the attack line from the net?

The attack line (10 ft line) is 3 m (9 ft 10 in) from the center line, not measured directly from the net.

How tall is a women's volleyball net?

2.24 m (7 ft 4 1/8 in), the same height used for girls in high school, college, indoor, and beach play.

What size is a beach volleyball court?

16 m x 8 m (52 ft 6 in x 26 ft 3 in), with no attack line and the same net heights as indoor play.

What net height is used for youth volleyball?

USA Volleyball sets 2.13 m (7 ft) for ages 10 and under and 11-12, and 2.24 m for ages 13-14; players 15 and over use adult heights.