Volleyball is a popular game that is played at different levels around the world. To make the play safe for players, the most important factor is the awareness of the volleyball court dimensions.
You must follow official standards such as FIVB and NCAA volleyball court dimensions. Therefore, we will guide you about correct volleyball court dimensions and how you can mark court lines.
What are the Dimensions of a Volleyball Court?
A volleyball court is a flat and rectangular area where you play volleyball. You will see the same layout in almost every place. The following are the standard dimensions of a volleyball court.
Volleyball Court Dimensions in Feet
Countries such as the United States, Canada (in many cases) and the United Kingdom commonly use feet for sports measurements. Below is the international size of the volleyball court in feet according to the NCAA.
| Volleyball Court Parts | Dimensions |
| Length | 59 feet |
| Width | 29.5 ft |
| Court Area | 1743 sq ft |
| Free Zone | 10 feet |
| Over All Free Zone | 50 to 80 feet |
| Total Area | 4000 sq ft |
Volleyball Court Dimensions in Meters
You can measure a volleyball court in meters. Because, it is also the standard in most countries. The following table will show you the official volleyball court measurements in meters.
| Main Aspect of Volleyball Court | Court Size |
| Width | 9 meter |
| Length | 18 m |
| Playing Area | 162 sq m |
| Free Zone | 3 meter |
| Total Court Area | 324 sq m |
| Full Free Zone | 16 to 21 meter |
How Big is a Volleyball Court?
Outdoor Volleyball Court Dimensions
You can build an outdoor volleyball court in any open and flat space such as your backyard, parks or a beach. It is great for group activities, more space to move freely and keeps you active. Below are the dimensions of the outdoor volleyball court.
| Part | Court Size | Dimensions |
| Length | 16 m | 52.5 |
| Width | 8 meter | 26.25 |
| Court Area | 128 sq m | 1,377 sq ft |
| Attack Line (from net) | 3 m | 9 feet 10 inches |
| Free Zone |
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| Total Area (with free zone) | 336 to 480 square meters | 3,870 to 5,100 square feet |
| Net Height (men) | 2.43 m | 7 ft 11.625 in. |
| Net Height (women) | 2.24 meter | 7 ft 4.25 in. |
| Sand Depth | 0.4 to 0.6 m | 16-24 inches |
Indoor Volleyball Court Dimensions
Indoor volleyball courts have a smooth and flat surface for better play. You can design these courts in gyms or sports halls. Following are the standard dimensions for an indoor volleyball court.
| Volleyball Area Names | Dimensions in Meter | Size in Feet |
| Width | 9 | 29.5 |
| Length | 18 | 59 |
| Court Zone | 162 sq m | 1743 sq m |
| Fee Zone |
|
|
| Total Area (with free zone) | 400 to 750 sq m | 4300-8000 sq ft |
| Net Height | 2.43 m | 7 ft 11.625 in |
| Ceiling Height |
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High School Volleyball Court Dimensions
The high school volleyball court is slightly smaller as compared to official international courts. The rules for high school volleyball courts are set by national school sports organizations. For example: the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) regulate court dimensions in the United States.
These courts are 60 feet long. The width is approx. 30 ft. You will have 1800 sq feet total volleyball playing area. Rules say, you must set a free zone 10 feet around the court. The net is 7 ft 11.6 in. high for boys. For girls, the net can be 7 ft 4.25 inches high.
Youth Volleyball Court Size
You will find these courts more minimal in size than high school and professional volleyball courts. These standards are set by youth volleyball organizations such as USA Volleyball (USAV).
| Age Group | Court Length | Court Width | Net Height |
| 10U (9-10 yrs) | 40 ft | 30 feet | 6 ft 6 in. (boys/girls) |
| Under 12 | 42-50 ft | 20 to 25 ft | 6 ft 7 inches-7 ft |
| 11 to 12 yrs | 46-52.5 ft | 29.5 feet | 7 ft |
| Under 14 | 50 feet | 25 (modified) | 6 ft 11 in. |
| Elementary / Grade School | 29.5 feet | 14.75 ft (half) | According to age |
| Middle School | 59 ft | 29.5 feet | 7 ft 4 in (girls) & 7 ft 11 in (boys) |
Recreational Volleyball Court Dimensions
You can build recreational volleyball courts for casual play and fun. They are generally smaller or flexible in size. We can tell you common definitions used for recreational courts. They are 60 feet long and have a width around 30 ft. You should leave safe space around the court nearly 8 to 10 feet.
The total area you need is around 4000 square feet. The net can be 8 feet for men and just over 7 feet for women. However, you can make adjustments in court size according to your requirements.
9 Man Volleyball
If we talk about 9-man volleyball, it is a special version of volleyball played in some cities. It is also called 9man or nineman.You can play with nine players on each side. The court is larger than the regular 6-player court of 59 feet by 29.5 feet. Its dimensions include:
| Volleyball Court Areas | Dimensions |
| Length of Court | 66 feet (20 m) |
| Court Width | 33 ft (10 meters) |
| Total Area | 2178 sq ft or 202.3 sq m |
| Free Zone | Minimum 10 feet (3 m) |
| Net Height | Approx. 7 ft 8.5 in. or 2.35 meters |
Beach Volleyball Court Size / Sand Volleyball Court Dimensions
A beach volleyball court is a smaller sand court that you can use for outdoor play. It is designed to give players enough space to move, jump and dive safely on the sand. The beach volleyball court size is 52.5 feet long and 26.25 feet wide.
Further, you need at least 10 feet of free space on all sides. But official events may require up to 20 feet and 41 feet of overhead space.
- You should set the sand 16 to 24 inches deep and free from rocks.
- The total playing area is 1377 square feet.
- There is no need to paint the attack line in beach volleyball like indoor courts.
Beach Volleyball Court Size in Meters
Beach volleyball courts use meters for measurement, because the metric system is standard in most countries. With these dimensions, you can maintain the same court size for professional and Olympic competitions.
Court Length: 16 meters
Court Width: 8 meters
Free Zone Around Court: At least 3 meters
How Tall is a Beach Volleyball Net?
FIVB and NCAA set different net heights for men and women for the beach volleyball court. Because, it follows official rules for safe and fair play. The net height is almost 8 feet for men and a slightly over 7 feet for women.
Net height For Men: 2.43 meters
Net height For Women: 2.24 meters
Volleyball Court Lines
Volleyball court markings are important to guide players and referees. The court size and net height differ slightly for men and women, but the main lines remain the same in position and purpose. You should paint proper markings for both indoor and beach volleyball at professional & high school levels.
| Volleyball Court Markings | Dimensions |
| Sidelines | Length: 18 m (59 feet)
Sidelines: 9 meters apart Free zone from sidelines: 3 to 5 meters |
| Baselines | The court is 29.5 feet (9 meters) wide from one baseline to the other. Also, 3-6.5 meters behind the baseline |
| Center Line | Center line is 9 meters (29.5 ft) long and is 0.1 meter (4 in) wide |
| Attack Line | You can mark the attack line 9 meters (29.5 ft) long and 3 meters (9 ft 10 in) from the net |
| Service Line | It is located in the same position as the baseline. This line 9 meters (29.5 ft) long and 0.05 meters (2 in) wide |
| Penalty Area | Penalty area is 1 meter by 1 meter square inside the control area |
How To Mark a Volleyball Court?
- To paint the court lines, you need to measure the full court area. Then, mark the dimensions of lines which I mentioned above.
- You can place temporary volleyball court marking tape along all lines, so you can check measurements and positions.
- The floor or sand area must be clear and dry.
- Now, fill a line marking machine with marking paint and apply it along the lines for straight markings.
- You should apply high-quality marking paint to cover the full width of each line.
- After you apply the paint, let it dry completely and remove temporary tape if used.
Volleyball Court Size Net Height
You will find a barrier in the middle of the volleyball court, it is called net of court. You should install a net to divide the court into two equal sides.
Volleyball Court Net Height
How tall is a volleyball net? The net height refers to the height of the net above the playing surface. You must set it differently for men, women and youth to match their level. The standard height for a net is 8 feet (2.43 meters). It is 7 feet (2.24 meters) or more for the women’s game. However, it can be up to 0.75 inches (2 cm) higher at the sides.
Volleyball Court Net Length
You should place the volleyball net across the court from one side to the other. It must fit the official court width. Mostly, the net is 32 feet (9.75 m) long. You can extend it 1 foot (0.3 m) beyond each sideline to cover the full width of the court.
Volleyball Net Pole
Volleyball net poles are 8 feet 4 inches (2.55 meters) tall. You have to place them at 3 feet (0.91 meters) outside the sidelines, so poles can stay stable. Furthermore, you will find adjustable mechanisms to set the net height for men and women according to official rules.
Volleyball Net Antenna
The volleyball net antenna is the flexible fiberglass rods. These rods are 5 feet 11 inches (1.8 meters) long and 0.4 inches (10 mm) thick. With the installation of a net antenna, you can mark the vertical boundaries of the court above the net.
Final Note
Overall, you have to make sure your volleyball court meets the correct dimensions mentioned above. We recommend you always use long lasting paint and mark accurate lines for fair game.
If you want to ask further questions about the dimensions of volleyball court, you can send us a message.
FAQs
How Many Players on a Volleyball Court?
A standard volleyball court has 6 players on each team during a match. Hence, it makes a total of 12 players on the court. In some variations such as 9-man volleyball, you can play with 9 players per team.
How Many Square Feet is a Volleyball Court?
A standard volleyball court is 1743 sq ft. With a 10-foot free zone, the total space you will need is approx. 4000 sq ft. But the recreational, youth and beach courts are slightly smaller or larger, which depend on the type of play.
What is Perimeter Defense in Volleyball?
It is a strategy where you position players around the outer edges of the court to cover attacks from opponents. In this way, you can block spikes and dig hard-hit balls. That’s why it is an important tactic for both indoor and beach volleyball.
What is the Purpose of MSF PRO™ Technology For Volleyball Courts?
MSF PRO™ technology used to improve volleyball courts for safety and performance. You should use it to reduce injuries and get better traction. So, you can maintain a consistent and high-quality playing surface for all types of volleyball courts.
What Material is Used For a Volleyball Court Surface?
To build a volleyball court surface, you can use different types of materials. These include wood, rubber, PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) and synthetic acrylic. For outdoor volleyball courts, sand and outdoor mats are the ideal options.
