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

Quick answer: A volleyball net is 2.43 m (243 cm, 7 ft 11 5/8 in) high for men, boys and co-ed play and 2.24 m (224 cm, 7 ft 4 1/8 in) high for women and girls, measured at the center of the net. A regulation indoor 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. Youth, beach and sitting 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 (243 cm, 7 ft 11 5/8 in) tall at the center. This height applies to men's play at the indoor, college (NCAA), high school (boys), and beach levels alike.

How tall is a high school volleyball net?

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, the same heights USA Volleyball sets for players 15/18 and under (rule 2.1.1); school matches are played under the NFHS volleyball rules book. These match 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 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) for girls and 2.13 m (7 ft) for 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 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 and no center line on beach courts. Net heights match indoor play: 2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women. A free zone of at least 3 m surrounds the court (5 to 6 m in FIVB, World and Official Competitions). The sand must be levelled and free of rocks and shells, and for FIVB, World and Official Competitions it must be at least 40 cm deep. Posts are placed 0.70 to 1.00 m outside each sideline (exactly 1 m in FIVB, World and Official Competitions) and are 2.55 m high.

Beach (sand) volleyball court dimensions in feet

Beach volleyball net height by age

FIVB beach rules allow a lower net for younger players. The heights are the same for girls and boys:

Building a sand volleyball court

• Plan the footprint with the free zone, not just the court: 16 x 8 m of play plus at least 3 m on every side is 22 x 14 m (72 ft 2 in x 45 ft 11 in).
• Use levelled sand that is free of rocks, shells and anything else that can cut players. FIVB requires at least 40 cm (15 3/4 in) of fine, loosely compacted sand for its own competitions, which is a useful target for a permanent court.
• Set the posts 0.70 to 1.00 m outside each sideline. They should be rounded, smooth, padded and fixed to the ground without guy wires.
• Mark the court with 5 cm (2 in) ribbons in a color that contrasts with the sand, with soft, flexible anchors. Lines sit inside the 16 x 8 m court dimensions.
• Measure net height at the center of the court; the height over the two sidelines must be the same and no more than 2 cm over the official height.

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. FIVB rule 1.1 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 0.70 to 1.00 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 0.70 to 1.00 m outside the sidelines at 2.55 m tall.
• Check overhead clearance against the minimum ceiling height for your level of play.

Sources

Court size, free zone and ceiling height: FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025–2028, rule 1.1 (18 x 9 m court, 3 m minimum free zone, 7 m minimum clear height; 5 m / 6.5 m free zone and 12.5 m clear height for FIVB, World and Official Competitions). Net height: the same rules, rule 2.1.1 (2.43 m for men, 2.24 m for women).

Beach volleyball court, sand, free zone, posts and beach net heights (including age groups): FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules 2025–2028, rules 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 2.1 and 2.5.

College women's volleyball: NCAA Women's Volleyball Rules (court 18 m x 9 m; net 2.24 m, or 7 ft 4 1/8 in, measured at the center of the court). Domestic, youth and high school play follow USA Volleyball rules and the NFHS volleyball rules book. Youth and age-group net heights: USA Volleyball Indoor Rules 2025-2027, rule 2.1.1 (age-group table: 1.98 m girls / 2.13 m boys for 10 and under, 2.13 m for 11/12, 2.24 m for 13/14, 2.24 m girls / 2.43 m boys for 15/18 and under).

Shop the gear

Ready to set up your court? Browse our volleyball nets for replacement and standalone net options, our competition volleyball net system for regulation indoor play, our outdoor volleyball net system built for beach and backyard courts, and our volleyball end and center standards for durable, properly rated post systems. For gym setups, add volleyball post padding, net storage racks and equipment and post storage carts. For serving and passing drills, see our volleyball machines from Sports Attack.

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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?

2.43 m (7 ft 11 5/8 in) for boys and 2.24 m (7 ft 4 1/8 in) for girls, the same as USA Volleyball's 15/18 and under heights.

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) under FIVB beach rules, with no attack line and the same adult net heights as indoor play, plus a free zone of at least 3 m on every side.

What net height is used for youth volleyball?

USA Volleyball sets 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) for girls 10 and under, 2.13 m (7 ft) for boys 10 and under and for all players 11-12, and 2.24 m for ages 13-14; players 15 and over use adult heights.

How tall is a beach volleyball net?

Under FIVB beach rules the net is 2.43 m (7 ft 11 5/8 in) for men and 2.24 m (7 ft 4 1/8 in) for women. Youth nets drop to 2.24 m for 16 and under, 2.12 m (6 ft 11 1/2 in) for 14 and under and 2.00 m (6 ft 6 3/4 in) for 12 and under.

Is a beach volleyball net the same height as indoor?

Yes for adults: FIVB indoor and beach rules both set 2.43 m for men and 2.24 m for women. The beach court is smaller, 16 x 8 m instead of 18 x 9 m.

What is volleyball net height in cm?

243 cm for men and 224 cm for women, measured at the center of the net. USA Volleyball youth nets are 198 cm for girls 10 and under, 213 cm for boys 10 and under and for ages 11-12, and 224 cm for ages 13-14.