Padel Court Dimensions: Size, Lines, Net & Walls Explained
Short answer: an official doubles padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide inside the enclosure, giving a 200 m² playing area. A net splits it into two 10 × 10 m halves. The service lines sit 6.95 m from the net, the net is 0.88 m high in the centre and 0.92 m at the ends, and the free height above the court must be at least 6 m. For new facilities, the International Padel Federation (FIP) suggests 8 m.
Those figures are more than construction details. They explain why the glass is part of the rally, why the lob matters and why a pair cannot defend the court like a tennis baseline. This guide uses the FIP rules reviewed for 1 January 2026 and translates the measurements into practical decisions for players.
Official padel court dimensions at a glance
| Part | Official measurement | What a player should notice |
|---|---|---|
| Internal playing area | 20 × 10 m | The enclosure is the boundary; there are no doubles alleys. |
| Each half | 10 × 10 m | Each pair shares a square half before moving forward or back. |
| Service line | 6.95 m from the net | It leaves 3.05 m between the line and the back wall. |
| Line width | 5 cm | The lines are part of the areas they define. |
| Net height | 0.88 m centre; 0.92 m ends | The lowest crossing point is through the middle. |
| End enclosure | 3 m wall plus 1 m mesh | Back-wall rebounds occur below the upper fence. |
| Free height | Minimum 6 m; 8 m suggested for new courts | Low ceilings can limit high lobs even when the court footprint is correct. |
The FIP allows a 0.5% tolerance in the 20 × 10 m internal dimensions. The figures above describe the standard doubles court used in official play.
How the lines divide the court
The net cuts the court into two equal halves. On each side, a service line runs parallel to the net at 6.95 m. A central service line then divides the area between net and service line into two service boxes. It extends at least 20 cm beyond the service line towards the back wall.
There is no tennis-style baseline painted near the back and no separate singles sideline. The rear boundary is the wall itself. During a serve, the server stands behind the service line, between the central line and the side wall, then plays diagonally into the opposite service box. Our padel serve guide explains the motion and legal bounce in detail.
The 6.95 m service-line position also creates a useful reference: there is 3.05 m from that line to the rear wall. That is why a returner often stands near the line but still has room to let a deep serve bounce and reach the glass.
Glass, solid walls and mesh are part of the design
At each end, the enclosure reaches 4 m: the first 3 m is wall material—commonly glass—with 1 m of metal mesh above it. The side enclosures combine wall sections and mesh in one of the layouts accepted by the FIP. A court does not need to be glass on every square metre; what matters is that the enclosure meets the rule dimensions and produces a regular rebound where the wall is used for play.
For players, the surface change matters. A ball rebounding from glass or another approved wall is relatively readable; contact with mesh is usually less predictable. Learn to identify the seam before the first point. If you are new to rebounds, start with our guide to playing the ball after the glass.
Why the 20 × 10 m layout changes tactics
The court belongs to the pair, not to two fixed halves
A 10 m width does not mean each player must guard an exact 5 m lane. Partners shift together according to the ball. When one player moves wide, the other closes the middle; when both reach the net, they form a compact line rather than covering one side each. The measurements give the framework, while doubles court positioning shows how the pair moves inside it.
The back wall rewards patience
The 3.05 m strip behind the service line gives defenders room to allow selected deep balls to pass, rebound and slow. Stepping forward too early removes that space; retreating onto the glass leaves little room for a controlled swing. Good defence uses the depth rather than treating the rear wall as an obstacle.
Height makes the lob a spatial decision
The rulebook's minimum clear height is 6 m, with 8 m suggested for new courts. A legal lob still has to avoid roof beams, lights and other objects. Before a match indoors, look up and note the clear zones. Then use height and depth together; our padel lob guide covers targets and drills.
Net dimensions and what they mean
The net is 10 m long, stretching across the full width. It is slightly lower in the centre than at the posts: 0.88 m versus a maximum of 0.92 m. A tightly fitted cable keeps the top level within that profile, and the posts may not extend above 1.05 m.
The four-centimetre height difference is small, so it should not dictate every shot. The larger tactical advantage of playing through the centre is that it can reduce the opponents' angles and create uncertainty between partners. At the same time, a cross-court ball has more diagonal distance available. Choose the target for the situation, not merely because the centre of the net is lower.
Access openings and out-of-court play
Court access is placed on the sides near the net. The rules specify acceptable opening arrangements and dimensions. If out-of-court play is authorised, the area outside each side must also provide a clear safety zone: at least 3 m wide, 4 m long and 3 m high, with 4 m width recommended.
Do not assume that leaving through the opening is allowed at every venue or in every competition. Check the local match conditions and inspect the run-out area before play. Doors, benches, bags or another court can make an otherwise spectacular chase unsafe.
Indoor and outdoor courts use the same footprint
The standard internal size remains 20 × 10 m whether the court is indoors or outdoors. The differences are around it: ceiling clearance indoors, and weather exposure, drainage and wind outdoors. Surface colour, lighting and the exact approved turf system can vary without changing the official playing dimensions.
For players, the practical pre-match check is simple: look at the ceiling, identify glass-to-mesh transitions, note the access openings and test how the surface and walls respond during the warm-up. The court may share the same measurements as yesterday's venue while still playing differently.
Is a singles padel court the same size?
The FIP standard is a 10 × 20 m court for doubles, and official padel is built around two-player teams. Some venues install narrower courts—often described as 6 × 20 m—for one-on-one recreational play. Those are venue variants, not the standard FIP competition court. If a booking page says “singles”, check the actual width rather than assuming the normal doubles layout.
Padel court versus tennis court
The most important difference is not a rough size comparison; it is the boundary system. A padel court is compact and enclosed, so a ball can remain in play after touching an approved wall following its bounce. Tennis uses open run-off space and painted baselines and sidelines as the main boundary. That is why tennis positioning does not transfer directly: padel players regularly move between the net and a playable back enclosure.
Five things to check on an unfamiliar court
- Look up: locate beams, lights and the usable ceiling height.
- Trace the enclosure: note where glass or solid wall changes to mesh.
- Check access: confirm whether out-of-court play is permitted and safe.
- Read the surface: use the warm-up to judge bounce and grip.
- Use the lines: orient yourself from the service line and central line before the first serve.
Knowing the layout removes avoidable uncertainty, but it does not replace awareness of partners and opponents. The padel etiquette guide covers safe ball retrieval, warm-ups and first-match habits.
Frequently asked questions
How many square metres is a padel court?
The internal playing area is 200 m²: 20 m by 10 m. A facility needs additional space for structure, access and any required safety zones.
How far is the service line from the net?
It is 6.95 m from the net on each side, leaving 3.05 m to the back wall.
How high are the walls?
The end enclosure is 4 m high in total: 3 m of wall with 1 m of metal mesh above. Side configurations vary within the approved designs.
How high is a padel net?
It is 0.88 m in the centre and no more than 0.92 m at the ends.
What ceiling height does padel need?
The unobstructed minimum is 6 m. The FIP suggests 8 m for new facilities.
Learn the space, then choose equipment
Court knowledge helps you make better decisions with any racket: when to use the wall, where to lob and how to move as a pair. Once those basics feel familiar, compare the currently available options in the Cobra Padel racket collection. Choose for manageable weight, balance and playing style—not for a court-dimension myth.