Like other racket sports, badminton courts follow precise official measurements and markings. Whether you’re setting up a home court or just curious about the rules, here’s a complete, accurate breakdown of badminton court dimensions and layout, based on official Badminton World Federation (BWF) regulations.
Badminton Court Layout
A standard badminton court is rectangular, typically finished in a matte green or blue surface to reduce glare. Boundary lines divide the court into different zones:
- Center Line: Runs perpendicular to the net through the midpoint of the court, dividing the service area into right and left halves.
- Sidelines: Four lines run parallel to the center line, two on each side of the court. The inner sidelines mark the singles court boundary; the outer sidelines mark the doubles court boundary.
- Short Service Line: Located 1.98m (6.5 ft) from the net on each side, marking the minimum distance a serve must travel to be legal.
- Long Service Line: Marks the maximum serving distance — a serve landing beyond this line is out. This line differs slightly between singles and doubles play.
- Back Boundary Line: Runs parallel to the net at each end of the court. In singles, this line also serves as the long service line; in doubles, the long service line sits slightly inside the back boundary line, since doubles serves must land in a shorter service box.
Court lines are typically painted white or yellow for visibility and are a uniform 40mm (about 1.57 inches) wide, per BWF regulations.
Standard Badminton Court Dimensions
Singles and doubles courts share the same length but differ in width.
Doubles Court
The doubles court measures 13.4m (44 ft) long and 6.1m (20 ft) wide, giving a diagonal of approximately 14.73m (48.3 ft) — a useful reference for confirming the court is properly squared when marking it out.
Singles Court
The singles court is the same length — 13.4m (44 ft) — but narrower, at 5.18m (17 ft) wide, with a diagonal of approximately 14.38m (47.2 ft).
The official BWF rules don’t specify a minimum ceiling height, but a court is considered unsuitable for play if a shuttlecock can hit the ceiling on a full-height serve or clear. Competitive tournament venues commonly aim for a clear height of around 9m (about 30 ft) or more above the court, while recreational or home courts are often lower — commonly in the range of 7–8m (about 23–26 ft) — which is workable for casual play, if a bit restrictive for the highest shots.
Service and Reception Areas
These zones determine where a serve must land to be legal, and they differ by format:
- Singles: Bounded by the center line, the inner sideline, the short service line, and the back boundary line (which doubles as the long service line for singles).
- Doubles: Bounded by the center line, the outer sideline, the short service line, and the (shorter) long service line specific to doubles.
Net and Post Specifications
The net posts must stand 1.55m (5.08 ft) tall and remain rigid when the net is fully tensioned. For both singles and doubles play, the posts are placed along the outer (doubles) sidelines — even during singles matches — and shouldn’t extend past the inner boundary lines.
The net itself measures 760mm (about 2.5 ft) from top to bottom and stretches a minimum of 6.1m (20 ft) across — matching the doubles court width. It’s mounted so the top of the net sits 1.55m (5.08 ft) high at the posts and 1.524m (5 ft) at the center, creating a very slight dip in the middle. There should be no gap between the top of the net and the posts; any excess netting can be wrapped around the posts to close the gap.
Understanding official court dimensions helps you set up a proper playing space, correctly judge in/out calls, and understand why singles and doubles use slightly different boundaries. If you’re building a home or club court, working from these official BWF measurements will keep it regulation-compliant for real match play. (Once your court is ready, check out our guides on 7 basic badminton techniques every player should know and how to choose the right badminton racket to get the most out of it.)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard size of a badminton court?
A doubles badminton court measures 13.4m x 6.1m (44 ft x 20 ft). A singles court is the same length but narrower, at 13.4m x 5.18m (44 ft x 17 ft).
How high is a badminton net?
The net sits 1.55m (5.08 ft) high at the posts and 1.524m (5 ft) at the center of the court, creating a slight dip in the middle.
Why are singles and doubles badminton courts different widths?
Doubles courts use the outer sidelines for a wider playing area to accommodate two players per side, while singles courts use the narrower inner sidelines, since only one player covers the court on each side.
Is there a minimum ceiling height for a badminton court?
Official BWF rules don't specify an exact minimum, but a court isn't suitable for play if a shuttlecock can hit the ceiling during a high serve or clear. Competitive venues typically aim for at least 9m (about 30 ft) of clearance.
How wide are the lines on a badminton court?
All lines on a regulation badminton court are 40mm (about 1.57 inches) wide, typically painted in white or yellow for visibility.
References
- Badminton World Federation (BWF) — Statutes, Section 4.1: Laws of Badminton (bwfbadminton.com).
- USA Badminton — official court and equipment specifications (usabadminton.org).