Badminton is one of the most played indoor racket sports in the world — and getting the court dimensions right is essential for fair play, proper training, and home court setup. Whether you’re building a backyard court or setting up an indoor badminton facility, knowing the exact badminton court dimensions is the first step.
What Are the Badminton Court Dimensions?
A standard badminton court is a rectangle measuring 44 feet (13.4 meters) long — identical for both singles and doubles play.
Length = 44 feet = 13.4 meters = 528 inches Doubles Width = 20 feet = 6.1 meters = 240 inches Singles Width = 17 feet = 5.18 meters = 204 inches Net Height (Posts) = 5 feet 1 inch = 1.55 meters Net Height (Center) = 5 feet = 1.524 meters
| Measurement | Feet | Meters | Inches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Length | 44 ft | 13.4 m | 528 in |
| Doubles Width | 20 ft | 6.1 m | 240 in |
| Singles Width | 17 ft | 5.18 m | 204 in |
| Net Height (Posts) | 5 ft 1 in | 1.55 m | 61 in |
| Net Height (Center) | 5 ft | 1.524 m | 60 in |
| Line Width | 1.57 in | 40 mm | 1.57 in |
How Big Is A Badminton Court?
A standard badminton court covers a total area of 880 square feet (81.74 square meters) for doubles play. The court is divided into two equal halves by the net — each side measuring 22 feet (6.7 meters) deep from the net to the back boundary line.
The BWF (Badminton World Federation) governs all official court dimension standards used in international competition, the Olympics, and professional tournaments worldwide. Every professional court — from the All England Open to the Olympic Games — follows these exact measurements.
Badminton Court Size
The most important distinction in badminton court dimensions is the difference between singles and doubles play — the length stays the same but the width and service areas change significantly.
Singles Court
The singles badminton court uses a narrower 17-foot (5.18 m) width — the two outer side tramlines on each side are out of bounds during play. The long service line for singles sits 2.5 feet (0.76 m) inside the back boundary line — making the valid service area slightly shorter than in doubles.
Doubles Court
The doubles badminton court uses the full 20-foot (6.1 m) width — all four tramlines are in play throughout the match. The long service line for doubles is the back boundary line itself — meaning the full court length is in play for rallies but not for serves.
Badminton Court Lines and Markings
Court lines are a critical part of badminton court dimensions — every line has a specific purpose and standard width.
All court lines measure 1.57 inches (40 mm) wide and are included within the measurements of the court — meaning lines are part of the playing area, not additions to it.
Short Service Line — Runs parallel to the net at 6.5 feet (1.98 m) from the net on each side. No serve may land short of this line in either singles or doubles play.
Long Service Line (Doubles) — The back boundary line itself. Serves must land between the short service line and the back boundary line.
Long Service Line (Singles) — Located 2.5 feet (0.76 m) inside the back boundary line. Creates a shorter valid service zone specifically for singles matches.
Center Line — Divides each side of the court into left and right service courts — running from the short service line to the back boundary line on each half.
Badminton Net Height and Placement
The badminton net is placed at the exact center of the court — spanning the full 20-foot (6.1 m) doubles width.
The net stands 5 feet 1 inch (1.55 m) tall at the posts and dips slightly to 5 feet (1.524 m) at the center — a 1-inch difference created by the natural tension of the net cord. This slight sag is a standard part of BWF specifications and is present on every official court worldwide.
The net posts must be positioned on the doubles sidelines regardless of whether a singles or doubles match is being played — the post position never changes between formats.
Space Requirements for Your Badminton Court
A regulation badminton court measures 44 by 20 feet — but the total space required for safe play is significantly larger.
BWF recommends a minimum clearance of 4 feet (1.22 m) on all sides of the court — bringing the total recommended space to approximately 52 by 28 feet (15.85 by 8.53 m) for a single court setup. For competitive and club-level play, a clearance of 6 feet (1.83 m) on each side is preferred.
Ceiling height is equally critical for indoor badminton courts. A minimum clearance of 20 feet (6.1 m) above the court surface is required for competitive play — allowing shuttlecocks to reach peak trajectory without obstruction. For casual backyard or recreational play, a minimum of 16 feet (4.88 m) is generally acceptable.
Badminton Court vs Pickleball Court
A common question is whether a pickleball court is the same size as a badminton court — they are similar but not identical.
| Court | Length | Width | Net Height (Center) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badminton (Doubles) | 44 ft | 20 ft | 5 ft |
| Badminton (Singles) | 44 ft | 17 ft | 5 ft |
| Pickleball | 44 ft | 20 ft | 34 in |
Pickleball and badminton courts share the exact same length and doubles width — both measure 44 feet long and 20 feet wide.
The key difference is net height — a pickleball net sits at just 34 inches (2.83 ft) at the center, significantly lower than the 5-foot badminton net. Many recreational players convert badminton courts to pickleball courts simply by lowering the net.
Question’s
Is a badminton court 20 feet by 44 feet?
Yes — a doubles badminton court is exactly 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. A singles court uses the same length but a narrower 17-foot width.
What are the dimensions of a badminton court?
A standard badminton court is 44 feet (13.4 m) long — 20 feet (6.1 m) wide for doubles and 17 feet (5.18 m) wide for singles.
Is a pickleball court the same size as a badminton court?
Yes in length and doubles width — both measure 44 by 20 feet. The difference is net height — pickleball uses a 34-inch net versus badminton’s 5-foot net.
How much space do you need for a home badminton court?
A home badminton court requires at least 52 by 28 feet of total space — the regulation 44 by 20-foot court plus a minimum 4-foot clearance on all sides.
What are the 10 main rules of badminton?
The core BWF rules include: serving diagonally, serving below the waist, the shuttlecock must not touch the ground during a rally, players cannot touch the net, each side gets one serve per rally, matches are best of three games to 21 points, and a 2-point lead is required to win each game.
How much space is needed for a badminton court?
A minimum of 52 by 28 feet is recommended for recreational play — with 20-foot ceiling clearance for indoor courts following BWF standards.
Conclusion
A standard badminton court measures 44 feet long, 20 feet wide for doubles, and 17 feet wide for singles — with a net height of 5 feet at the center and 5 feet 1 inch at the posts. All lines are 1.57 inches (40 mm) wide and included within the official court boundaries.
Whether you’re setting up a home backyard court or building a professional indoor facility, following the exact BWF badminton court dimensions ensures fair play, proper training, and a court that meets international standards.
Hi, I’m Burhan Ali, the admin and author of PD Measurement. I write simple and clear blogs about PD measurement, measuring tools, and accurate sizing guides. My goal is to help readers understand measurements easily and make better decisions with confidence.
