Padel Court Dimensions
Official WPT and FIP measurements for every part of a padel court: total area, wall heights, glass panel specs, service box layout, and net height — in metric and imperial.
Court Dimensions at a Glance
┌─────────────────────────── 20.00 m ───────────────────────────┐ │ │ 4.00 m │ ┌────────── 6.95 m ──────────┐ centre ┌── 6.95 m ──────┐ │ back │ │ NET │ service │ │ │ wall │ │ ──────────────────────── ─┤ line ├─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─│ │ │ │ 5.00 m │ 5.00 m │ │ 5.00 m │ │ │ 3.00 m │ └────────────┴───────────────┘ └──────────┴─────┘ │ side │ NET (0.88 m centre / 0.92 m posts) │ wall └───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ◄─────────────────────────── 10.00 m wide ──────────────────────►
Simplified top-down view. Dashed lines = service box dividers. All measurements per FIP regulations.
Official Padel Court Dimensions (FIP Standard)
The International Padel Federation (FIP) sets the technical specifications for all competition courts. The World Padel Tour (WPT), APT Padel Tour, and national federations all follow the same baseline standard.
A regulation court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, giving a total playing area of 200 m². The overall installation footprint — including the structural enclosure and a recommended 1-metre safety buffer — is approximately 22m × 12m.
Full dimensions table (metric & imperial)
| Measurement | Metric | Imperial | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total court length | 20.00 m | 65 ft 7 in | FIP minimum & standard |
| Total court width | 10.00 m | 32 ft 9 in | FIP minimum & standard |
| Playing area | 200 m² | 2,153 sq ft | Length × width |
| Back wall height | 4.00 m | 13 ft 1 in | Glass panels — full height |
| Side wall height (service zone) | 3.00 m | 9 ft 10 in | Solid glass section |
| Side fence height (above glass) | Variable (to 4m) | ~13 ft | Mesh fencing above solid glass |
| Service box length | 6.95 m | 22 ft 9 in | From net to service line |
| Service box width (each) | 5.00 m | 16 ft 4 in | Half the court width |
| Non-volley zone depth | 3.05 m | 10 ft | Between net and service line |
| Net height at posts | 0.92 m | 3 ft 0 in | At side posts |
| Net height at centre | 0.88 m | 2 ft 10 in | Slightly lower at midpoint |
| Net width | 10.00 m | 32 ft 9 in | Full court width |
Wall Heights: Back Walls vs Side Walls
The enclosure height varies by wall position and is fundamental to how the ball behaves during play. Back walls are taller than side walls, and the transition between solid wall and mesh fencing changes along the length of the court.
Back Walls
4.00 m (13 ft 1 in)
Material: Tempered safety glass — full height
The back walls are the tallest surfaces in the court. Balls that travel above 4m are out of bounds. The tall glass gives players the full rebound surface that defines padel strategy — the 'bandeja' and back-wall counter-attack are only possible because of this height.
FIP mandates 10mm minimum glass thickness for back walls.
Side Walls (service box zone)
3.00 m (9 ft 10 in) solid
Material: Tempered glass (lower) + mesh (upper to ~4m)
The solid glass section on side walls covers the service box area (first 6.95m from the net). Above 3m, mesh fencing takes over. This means balls can pass through at height near the net — which is an important tactical consideration.
The 3m/1m glass-to-mesh transition point is a key area for side-wall shots.
Behind the back wall: Some panoramic courts extend the back-wall glass to 6m+ for spectator visibility, but the playing area and in-bounds height remains 4m per FIP regulations. The extra glass is for aesthetics and sightlines only.
Glass Area Specifications
FIP specifies that back walls must use tempered (toughened) safety glass. The glass panels are the primary rebound surfaces and must meet minimum strength and safety standards.
| Specification | Requirement | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Glass type | Tempered (toughened) safety glass | Shatters into blunt granules, not sharp shards — mandatory for player safety |
| Minimum thickness | 10mm (12mm for panoramic) | Withstands repeated ball and player impact at competitive speeds |
| Back wall area per side | ~40 m² (4m × 10m) | Full back wall surface is glass from floor to top |
| Side glass area per half | ~20.85 m² (3m × 6.95m) | Glass covers the service box zone at 3m height |
| Total glass area (court) | ~120 m² | Both back walls + both service box side panels |
| Surface finish | Smooth, transparent, non-reflective preferred | Consistent rebound; reflective surfaces reduce visibility |
| Colour | Clear/transparent | Spectator visibility; player court awareness |
The mesh panels above the glass use galvanised steel — typically 5×5cm or 3×3cm mesh. Mesh absorbs more energy than glass, so balls rebound with less pace and at a slightly unpredictable angle. Experienced players target the glass-to-mesh transition deliberately. For more detail on materials, see the Padel Court Guide.
Service Box Layout
The service box is the area from the net to the service line on each side. Understanding its dimensions is essential for serve placement, serve return positioning, and the “non-volley zone” rule.
Service box length
6.95 m
22 ft 9 in
Distance from the net to the service line on each side of the court. The serve must land inside this zone.
Service box width (each)
5.00 m
16 ft 4 in
Each service box is half the court width. A centre service line divides the box into left and right courts.
Non-volley zone depth
3.05 m
10 ft
The zone immediately either side of the net. Volleys may not be played here on the serve return.
The service line runs across the full 10-metre width at 6.95m from the net. A centre service line then bisects this zone from the net to the service line, creating four service boxes (two per side: ad and deuce courts).
On serve, the ball must bounce in the diagonal service box (same as tennis). The serve is always underhand, and the ball must cross the net and bounce before the service line. If the ball strikes the glass or mesh after bouncing in the service box, it is still in play — a key difference from tennis.
Net Height & Specifications
The padel net is one of the lowest in any racket sport. Its reduced height encourages aggressive net play and lob-counter combinations that define modern padel tactics.
Net Dimensions
How Padel Net Compares
The 4cm centre sag is by design — the net is under slight tension, so the centre dips naturally. This is standard across all racket sports. The padel net is notably lower than a tennis net at the posts, which enables the attacking net positions that are central to padel doubles tactics.
Padel Court Dimensions vs Tennis Court
The padel court is significantly smaller than a tennis court and is always fully enclosed. One full tennis court footprint can typically fit two padel courts side by side — which is why tennis clubs across Europe have converted spare courts to padel.
| Padel Court | Tennis (Singles) | Tennis (Doubles) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 20.0 m | 23.77 m | 23.77 m |
| Width | 10.0 m | 8.23 m | 10.97 m |
| Playing area | 200 m² | 195.6 m² | 260.8 m² |
| Net height (centre) | 88 cm | 91.4 cm | 91.4 cm |
| Net height (posts) | 92 cm | 107 cm | 107 cm |
| Enclosure / walls | Essential — glass + mesh | None | None |
| Always doubles | Yes (4 players) | No | No |
| Walls in play | Yes | No | No |
| Serve type | Underhand only | Overhand or underhand | Overhand or underhand |
Despite similar total area to a singles tennis court, a padel court plays very differently: the enclosed glass walls add a third dimension to every rally. Players can use the back and side glass as a tactical surface, returning balls that would be unreachable on an open court. For a full comparison of the sports, see What is Padel?
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Padel Court Dimensions: FAQ
How big is a padel court?
A standard padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide (65 ft 7 in × 32 ft 9 in), with a total playing area of 200 m². The total footprint including the enclosure structure and safety margin is approximately 22m × 12m.
What is the net height on a padel court?
The padel net is 92 cm high at the posts and 88 cm at the centre. It runs the full 10-metre width of the court. The centre sag of 4cm is by design — consistent with all racket sport net construction.
Can I build a padel court in my garden?
You need at minimum 20m × 10m of clear flat space for the court itself, plus a 1–2m safety margin on all sides — making the practical minimum footprint around 22m × 12m. Most residential gardens aren't large enough. Rural plots and purpose-built outdoor facilities can accommodate one court.
How does a padel court differ from a squash court?
A padel court is roughly 10× larger than a squash court (9.75m × 6.4m). Squash is played indoors in a fully enclosed room with 4 solid walls and no net. Padel uses glass back walls, mesh side fencing, and a net across the middle. The sports share some wall-play tactics but are otherwise completely different.
What surface is used for padel courts?
FIP-standard padel courts use artificial grass (astroturf) with sand infill on a concrete or asphalt base. The turf is typically 10–12mm pile height in green or blue. Sand infill stabilises the fibres and ensures consistent ball bounce. Some facilities use acrylic hard-court surfaces, but artificial grass is the international competition standard.
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