A padel court is a 10 × 20 m rectangle closed in by glass and metal mesh. The numbers below come from the Rules of Padel of the International Padel Federation (FIP), in force since 1 January 2026, with feet next to the metres. They help whether you are planning a court, checking a venue for an event or simply wondering why the ball behaves the way it does.
Padel court size at a glance
An official padel court measures 10 m wide by 20 m long (32.8 × 65.6 ft), measured inside the walls, with a tolerance of 0.5%. The net splits it into two halves of 10 × 10 m. The service lines are 6.95 m (22.8 ft) from the net, and the court needs at least 6 m (19.7 ft) of clear height.
Top view
Side wall, stepped (variant 1)
Side wall, Crystal (variant 2)
- Glass or solid wall
- Metal mesh
- Net: 0.88 m (2.9 ft) at the centre, 0.92 m (3.0 ft) at the posts
- Lines 5 cm (2 in) wide
| Part of the court | Metres | Feet |
|---|---|---|
| Playing area (inside the walls) | 10 × 20 m | 32.8 × 65.6 ft |
| Net to service line | 6.95 m | 22.8 ft |
| Service line to back wall | 3.05 m | 10.0 ft |
| Net height, centre / ends | 0.88 m / 0.92 m | 34.6 in / 36.2 in |
| Back wall | 3 m wall + 1 m mesh = 4 m | 13.1 ft |
| Clear height above the court | at least 6 m, 8 m suggested for new courts | 19.7 ft / 26.2 ft |
| Line width | 5 cm | 2 in |
The 3.05 m between the service line and the back wall is simply 10 m minus 6.95 m; the rulebook gives the distance from the net.
Lines and service boxes
A padel court has very few lines. On each side a service line runs parallel to the net at 6.95 m (22.8 ft), and a central service line splits the area between the net and the service line into two service boxes. All lines are 5 cm (2 in) wide, and both halves of the court must be exactly symmetrical.
- Central service line: it extends at least 20 cm (8 in) beyond the service line.
- Colour: FIP prefers white or black lines, for contrast with the floor.
- No sidelines or baselines: the walls are the limits of the court. Lines only matter on the serve, and a serve that lands on a line is good.
Net height and posts
The padel net is 10 m (32.8 ft) long, 0.88 m (34.6 in) high at the centre and 0.92 m (36.2 in) at the ends, with a maximum tolerance of 5 mm. It hangs on a metal cable no thicker than 1 cm, and the two posts may be at most 1.05 m (41.3 in) high.
- The outer side of each post lines up with the side limit of the court, at the opening, the entrance or the mesh.
- Posts may be round or square, with rounded edges.
- A white band of 5.0 to 6.3 cm covers the top of the net. With an extra advertising strip, the band may not be wider than 11 cm.
- The net must reach the floor and the posts with no gaps, but it should not be tight.
Walls: glass, mesh and the two side designs
A padel court must be completely enclosed. The back walls are 4 m (13.1 ft) high: the first 3 m are glass or another solid material, and the top metre is metal mesh. For the sides, the FIP rules allow two designs, both measured from the inside of the court: a stepped wall and a "Crystal" wall without a step.
| Stepped side wall (variant 1) | Crystal side wall (variant 2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Wall next to the back wall | 2 m long, 3 m high | 4 m long, 3 m high |
| Step | then 2 m long, 2 m high | no step |
| Metal mesh | up to 4 m at the ends, up to 3 m in the middle | up to 4 m over the outer 2 m (the middle is usually 3 m; FIP gives no figure) |
The walls may be glass, brick or another material, as long as the surface is hard, smooth and gives the ball an even bounce. Glass must be tempered and meet the FIP homologation annex. The metal mesh is made of welded rhomboids with a diagonal of 5 to 7.08 cm, and the wire is 2 to 3 mm thick (4 mm at most), always flush with the inner face of the walls.
Clear height above the court
The FIP rules require at least 6 m (19.7 ft) of clear height over the whole court, with nothing such as light fittings in that space. For new facilities they suggest 8 m (26.2 ft). Indoors, the ceiling, beams and light fittings all have to stay above that height.
National federations can set their own limits for their competitions. The French Tennis Federation (FFT) has applied these rules since 1 September 2024, measured at the centre of the court:
- Under 6 m: no FFT competition.
- 6 to 6.99 m: only FFT tournaments from P25 to P250.
- 7 m or more: all FFT competitions.
If you organise or enter events in another country, check the rules of that country's federation.
Surface and floor
The court surface may be concrete, synthetic material or artificial grass, as long as the ball bounces evenly. The FIP rules prefer green, blue or terracotta, in a single colour for the whole floor that is clearly different from the walls. The floor must be level within 3 mm under a 3 m straightedge.
On surfaces without drainage, the floor may slope at most 1% from the centre towards the outer edges, so rainwater can run off. Synthetic and artificial grass surfaces also have to meet the FIP court homologation annex.
Doors and the out-of-court zone
Courts have openings on one or both sides, placed symmetrically about the centre, with or without doors. With one opening per side it must be at least 1.05 × 2.0 m and at most 2.20 × 2.20 m. With two openings per side, each must be at least 0.72 × 2.00 m and at most 1.10 × 2.20 m. Door handles must sit on the outside.
Playing the ball outside the court is only allowed when each side has two openings and a clear area outside them:
- at least 3 m wide (4 m recommended) and 4 m long on each side, and at least 3 m high, with no obstacles;
- padding at least 2 cm thick on the sides and top of each opening and on the net posts;
- light poles outside that area. If a pole stands in it, play outside the court is not allowed.
What happens when the ball leaves the court during a point is covered in our padel rules guide, in the guides section.
Ball and racket specifications
The court is only half the story: the ball and racket are also defined in the FIP rules. A padel ball is a rubber ball 6.35 to 6.77 cm across and weighing 56.0 to 59.4 g. Dropped from 2.54 m onto a hard surface, a new ball must bounce 135 to 145 cm. Above 1,000 m altitude a ball with a lower bounce may be used.
| Racket | FIP limit |
|---|---|
| Total length | 45.5 cm (17.9 in) |
| Width | 26 cm (10.2 in) |
| Thickness | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Handle length | 20 cm (7.9 in) |
| Holes in the central area | 9 to 13 mm across |
| Wrist cord | compulsory, at most 35 cm long |
The FIP rules set no weight limit for the racket.
Padel court vs tennis court
A padel court is smaller than a tennis court and is fully enclosed. Padel covers 10 × 20 m, or 200 m². Under the ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, a tennis court is 23.77 m (78 ft) long and 8.23 m (27 ft) wide for singles or 10.97 m (36 ft) for doubles, about 261 m² for doubles before the run-off around it.
| Padel (FIP 2026) | Tennis (ITF 2026) | |
|---|---|---|
| Court | 10 × 20 m | 8.23 × 23.77 m singles, 10.97 × 23.77 m doubles |
| Net at the centre | 0.88 m | 0.914 m (3 ft) |
| Net at the posts | 0.92 m | 1.07 m (3.5 ft) |
| Service line from the net | 6.95 m | 6.40 m |
| Walls | glass and mesh, in play | none |
| Ball diameter | 6.35–6.77 cm | 6.54–6.86 cm |
| Racket length | up to 45.5 cm | up to 73.7 cm |
A padel court is 0.97 m narrower than a tennis doubles court and 3.77 m shorter. The other big difference is that in padel the walls are part of the game.
Want to play on one? In the PFM – Play For More app you can book padel courts at clubs that use PFM, find padel players at your level and create or join open matches. Get the app or see the clubs that use PFM.
Sources
- Rules of Padel (review of application 01.01.2026), International Padel Federation (FIP)
- Rules of padel, International Padel Federation (FIP)
- ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, International Tennis Federation (ITF)
- Guide de la compétition padel 2026, chapitre I : règles générales, Fédération Française de Tennis (FFT), copy published by the Ligue de Normandie de tennis
Frequently asked questions
- How big is a padel court?
- Inside the walls a padel court measures 10 m by 20 m (32.8 by 65.6 ft), with a 0.5% tolerance. The net splits it into two halves of 10 by 10 m, and the service lines are 6.95 m (22.8 ft) from the net on each side.
- How high is a padel net?
- The net is 0.88 m (34.6 in) high at the centre and 0.92 m (36.2 in) at the ends, with a tolerance of 5 mm. The posts may be at most 1.05 m high.
- How high are the walls of a padel court?
- The back walls are 4 m (13.1 ft) high: 3 m of glass or solid wall with 1 m of metal mesh on top. The side walls are 3 m high next to the back wall, and metal mesh completes the sides up to 3 or 4 m, depending on the design.
- How much ceiling height does a padel court need?
- The FIP rules require at least 6 m (19.7 ft) of clear height over the whole court, with nothing such as lights in that space, and suggest 8 m (26.2 ft) for new facilities. National federations can ask for more: the French federation allows all its competitions only on courts with at least 7 m at the centre.
- Is a padel court smaller than a tennis court?
- Yes. A padel court covers 200 m², while a tennis doubles court is 10.97 by 23.77 m, about 261 m², before the space around it. Padel fits in less floor area, but it has to be fully enclosed by walls.
