Tennis is a world famous sport which is played on a rectangular court with a net in the middle. To plan, build and play safely, you should understand tennis court dimensions.
We have prepared this detailed & simple guide to explain everything you need to know about tennis court size. We will also tell you the right methods and tools to mark court accurately.
What are the Dimensions of a Tennis Court?
Tennis court dimensions give you a clear idea about how a standard tennis court is designed for safe play. You will find the same size on all tennis courts such as grass, clay, carpet or hard surfaces. Below we mentioned the singles tennis court dimensions.
Tennis Court Size in Feet
The total area needed to build a tennis court is approximately 7200 square feet.The maximum required space for tournament-level courts is 9100 square feet. If we talk about the overall playing area, it is 2106 square feet for a single tennis court.
- Length of a tennis court: The length of a tennis court lets you know the area you cover when you run from one end to another. You will find a standard tennis court 78 feet long.
- Width of a tennis court: The width of the tennis court varies according to type of matches. For a single court, the width is 27 feet.
Tennis Court Size in Meters
You can also measure a tennis playing zone in meters. A single tennis court has a standard length of 23.77 meters and its width is 8.23 meters. To build a court, you will need 668.9 square meters including clearance for safety. However, the total playing area is generally 195.7 square meters.
Tennis Court Marking – Dimensions of Tennis Court Areas
Different parts of the tennis court have specific standard dimensions. To mark court lines, you have to follow the rules set by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to keep play fair everywhere.
Service Boxes
Each service box on a tennis court is 21 feet (6.4 meters) long and 13.5 feet (4.1 meters) wide. It gives you around 283.5 square feet (26.3 square meters) to serve. You will see two service boxes on each side of the net.
They are divided by the center service line. Based on the score, you need to serve into the correct box. These sizes are the same for singles and doubles. However, the court width outside the boxes is wider for double courts.
Baseline and Sidelines
The lines you may notice at the back of the court are called baseline. It is 78 feet (23.77 meters) long. You have to draw this line 4 inches wide. Plus, the sidelines are marked on the sides with a robotic marking machine.
They are 27 feet (8.23 meters) wide apart and 2 inches wide. Basically, these lines show you the limits or boundaries of the playing area.
Tennis Court Net
You must install a net to cover the full width of the court. The tennis court net height is 42 inches (3 ft or 1.07 meters) at the posts. But, it is 36 inches (0.91 meters) high at the center. Cables are placed to hold the net tight on posts 3 feet (0.91 meters) outside the sidelines.
Center Mark
You will notice a small 4 inches (10 cm) long line at the middle of each baseline. It is called the center mark. It shows you the right side or alignment where you can serve.
Doubles Alley
The double alley is the extra space which you will see on the sides of the tennis court. Well, this section is only used in double matches. Each double alley is approximately 4.5 feet wide (1.37 m) and 39 feet (11.9 meters) long. The purpose of this area is to give the player more space for angles, so you can cover more ground during play.
T – Line
The spot where the service line and center line intersect each other and form a T shape, is known as T line. This line guides you to serve correctly with the right service box. When you serve, you need to make sure the ball must land inside the box on the correct side of the T-line.
Tennis Court Dimensions With Fence in Meters
If you include a fence around the tennis court, you have to count the whole area with a fence instead of only the court. The fence generally extends about 3 to 4 meters (10 to 13 feet) outside the court on all sides. Its height is approx. 3.6 to 4.3 meters (12 to 14 feet).
That means, the total fenced area adds roughly 6 to 8 meters (20 to 26 feet) to each side of the playing area. We can say that the full space for a standard tennis court is about 35 meters long and 18 to 20 meters wide.
Doubles Tennis Court Dimensions
A doubles tennis court is designed for two players on each side. It has more width than a singles court to give you more space to move and cover the court. The extra side areas in the play are called double alleys.
| Parts | Size (m) | Size (ft) | Size in Yards |
| Court Length | 23.77 | 78 | 26 |
| Court Width | 10.97 | 36 | 12 |
| Service Line from Net | 6.40 | 21 | 7 |
| Doubles Alley Width | 1.37 | 4.5 | 1.5 |
| Net Height at Center | 0.91 | 3 | 1 |
| Net Height at Posts | 1.07 | 3.5 | 1.17 |
| Overall Playing Area | 260.9 square meters | 2808 square feet (33% larger than a singles court) | 312 square yards |
Junior Tennis Court Dimensions
When you play as a junior, the tennis playing area size is reduced. Because, young players are shorter and have less strength. With a small court, you can move faster, reach the ball easily and hit with more control. Junior tennis courts are also known as mini tennis court size. Below we mentioned a mini tennis court size in meter and feet.
| Age Group | Court Length (meters / feet) | Court Width (meters / feet) | Type of Tennis Court |
| 4 – 6 years | 10.97 m and 36 in feet | 5.48 m or 18 ft | Red ball or mini tennis court |
| 7 to 10 years | 18.3 meters (60 feet) | 6.4 m /21 ft | Orange ball tennis court |
| 9 – 11 years | about 23.8 meters (78 feet) | 8.23 meters or 27 feet | Green ball half tennis court |
| 11+ years | 23.77 m / 78 feet | 10.97 meters (36 feet) | Full tennis court (adult size) |
How Wide are the Lines on a Tennis Court?
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) sets the rules for tennis court line widths. You can use a JACKWIN field painter for accurate markings width. You should follow the rules, so you can see the boundaries clearly and play the game correctly.
- Baselines are up to 4 inches (10 cm) wide.
- The service line should be 2 inches (5 cm) in width.
- Other tennis court markings such as singles sidelines, doubles sidelines & center service line are 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) wide.
Indoor Tennis Court Dimensions
An indoor tennis court is a court which you can build inside a building or covered area. For indoor tennis courts, you usually have to follow the same dimensions as outdoor courts. You must use marking tape to draw clear and straight lines if you do it manually.
Because indoor courts use the International Tennis Federation (ITF) rules for length, width, area and line sizes. Additionally, Australian tennis court dimensions follow ITF standards for indoor and outdoor courts.
What is the Minimum Size For a Tennis Court?
The minimum area you need for a tennis court also includes extra space around the court. You must plan a court which is enough for you to move safely. Tournament courts mostly require more space for officials and spectators than following dimensions.
- Minimum Length: 36.58 meters (120 feet)
- Minimum Range of Width: 18.29 meters (60 feet)
Tennis Court Size For Home
If you want to design a tennis court in your home, you no need to obey any standard or professional size guidelines. You can choose a small layout according to your yards and budget. However, we provide you recommended dimensions for home courts.
- Length: 23.77 meters (78 feet)
- Width: 10.97 meters (36 feet)
For full court, you may need 36.6 m × 18.3 m (120 ft × 60 ft) area in total. You can choose a smaller court if your yard is limited. Below size works well for practice and casual play.
- Length: 18.3 to 21.3 meters (60 to 70 feet)
- Width: 7.6 to 9.1 meters (25 to 30 feet)
Tennis Court Lighting Standards
In the table below, you can explore tennis court lighting rules based on widely accepted industry practices.
| Common Parameter | Tennis Court Light Specifications |
| Number of Poles | 6 to 8 poles |
| Height of Light Pole | In the range of 6 to 12 meters (20 to 40 feet) |
| Light power per fixture | 200W to 500W LED (you should prefer LED lights) |
| Pole placement | You must install light evenly around the edges of the court |
| Angle of Light | You should tilt the lights downward |
| Recommended lumens | 56000 lumens for recreational and 280,000 lumens for professional courts |
| Ratio of light uniformity | You have to make sure the light uniformity is not less than 0.7 |
Paint Tennis Court
When you paint a tennis court, it makes the lines and surface easy for you to see and play on. You should use the right type of marking paint for your court surface. Commonly used paint types are:
- Acrylic paint
- Epoxy paint
- Polyurethane paint
- Latex paint
How To Paint Tennis Court?
- In the first step, you have to remove dirt and repair/fill the surface if you notice any cracks on the court.
- Then draw a marking layout with the help of chalk or marking tape. It’s also important to apply the primer coat, so paint can stick well.
- After that, apply the main paint coat with a tennis court line marking machine or sprayer/roller.
- You should allow the paint to dry completely before you use the court for the game.
Wrapping It Up
Now you can see proper court size and markings offer you fair game and consistency across all levels of the tennis tournaments. For more safety, you can leave at least 12 feet of space around the court, so players move easily. If you still have any confusion, we are ready to help you. Contact us now!
FAQs
How Many Square Feet is a Tennis Court?
As you know, a standard tennis court is 78 feet long and 36 feet wide. So, overall it gives you a total playing area of 2808 square feet for double play. For singles, the width is 27 feet and the total area is 2106 square feet.
How Many Padel Courts Fit on a Tennis Court?
A standard padel court is 20 × 10 meters, while a tennis court is 23.77 × 10.97 meters. In one tennis court, you can fit about 1 to 1.3 padel courts. But it depends on space availability. Usually, you can fit one full-size padel court comfortably inside a tennis court area.
How Many Tennis Courts in an Acre?
You can fit roughly 16 tennis courts in one acre, but this depends on court size and space. Because, this estimate includes the court area. That’s why extra space for walkways may reduce the number.
Is Padel Tennis in the Olympics?
Padel tennis is not an Olympic sport yet. Also, it will not be in the Paris 2024 or Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognizes padel and it may debut in the Brisbane 2032 Olympics if it fulfills participation and governance rules.
What is the Best Surface For a Tennis Court?
It highly depends on how you like to play. For example: hard courts are fast and easy to maintain. Clay courts are slower and gentle on your joints. Further, grass courts are fast and smooth but need more care. Hence, you can choose the surface that fits your playing style.
What is the Cheapest Way To Build a Tennis Court?
The most affordable method to build a tennis court is to use an asphalt or concrete base with an acrylic surface. This gives you a durable and low-maintenance court at a reasonable cost. You can also skip extra lighting or upgrade the fence.
