Insights · Court dimensions
Tennis Court Dimensions
A tennis court is 23.77 m (78 ft) long and 10.97 m (36 ft) wide for doubles; the singles court is 8.23 m (27 ft) wide. The service lines are 6.40 m (21 ft) from the net, which is 0.914 m (3 ft) high at the centre and 1.07 m (3 ft 6 in) at the posts. For international play the ITF recommends at least 6.40 m behind each baseline and 3.66 m beside each sideline (ITF Rules of Tennis 2026) — a plot of about 36.6 × 18.3 m, by our arithmetic.
Key dimensions at a glance
| Element | Metric | Imperial | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court length | 23.77 m | 78 ft | Rule 1 |
| Width, doubles | 10.97 m | 36 ft | Rule 1 |
| Width, singles | 8.23 m | 27 ft | Rule 1 |
| Doubles alley, each side | 1.37 m | 4 ft 6 in | derived |
| Service line from the net | 6.40 m | 21 ft | Rule 1 |
| Baseline to service line | 5.485 m | 18 ft | derived |
| Net height, centre | 0.914 m | 3 ft | Rule 1 |
| Net height, posts | 1.07 m | 3 ft 6 in | Rule 1 |
| Net posts outside the doubles court | 0.914 m | 3 ft | Rule 1 |
| Centre service line and centre mark | 5 cm wide; mark 10 cm long | 2 in; 4 in | Rule 1 |
| Other lines | 2.5–5 cm (baselines up to 10 cm) | 1–2 in (up to 4 in) | Rule 1 |
| Half-court diagonal (net line to far baseline corner), doubles / singles | 16.18 m / 14.46 m | 53 ft 1 in / 47 ft 5 in | Appendix X |
The ITF states both units. Court dimensions run to the outside of the lines.
How the court is marked
The court is a rectangle divided across the middle by the net. Baselines close each end and sidelines each side; the singles sidelines sit 1.37 m inside the doubles sidelines. The service lines run between the singles sidelines, 6.40 m from the net, and the centre service line joins them, dividing the four service boxes. A 10 cm centre mark on each baseline shows where to serve from.
To check the setting-out, use the half-court diagonals the ITF gives — from the net line to the far baseline corner: 16.18 m for doubles and 14.46 m for singles. Measure to the outside of the lines throughout.
Net and posts
The net is suspended from a cord no thicker than 0.8 cm, between posts whose centres are 0.914 m outside the doubles court. It is 1.07 m high at the posts and 0.914 m at the centre, where a strap no wider than 5 cm holds it down. For singles on a doubles court, singles sticks 0.914 m outside the singles sideline hold the net at 1.07 m.
Run-back, run-off and the plot
| Recommended minimum | International | Recreational & club |
|---|---|---|
| Behind each baseline (run-back) | 6.40 m (21 ft) | 5.48 m (18 ft) |
| Beside each sideline (run-off) | 3.66 m (12 ft) | 3.05 m (10 ft) |
| Overall plot per court | 36.57 × 18.29 m (120 × 60 ft) | 34.73 × 17.07 m (114 × 56 ft) |
The run-back and run-off are the ITF’s recommended minimums (Appendix X); the plot sizes are our arithmetic from them. For indoor courts the ITF recommends at least 9.0 m from the court surface to the ceiling, measured at the net. The Rules do not set spacing between side-by-side courts — that is a decision for the layout, usually governed by fencing, lighting and the side run-off each court needs.
Figures that circulate but are wrong
- “The net is 3 ft 6 in at the centre.” It is 3 ft at the centre and 3 ft 6 in at the posts.
- “The posts sit on the doubles sideline.” Post centres are 3 ft (0.914 m) outside it.
- “6.40 m and 3.66 m are mandatory.” They are the ITF’s recommended minimums for international play. Club courts are recommended at 5.48 m and 3.05 m.
- “Measure to the centre of the lines.” Measure to the outside of the lines.
What this means for a tennis facility
The court is fixed; the decisions are orientation (low sun along the court is the problem), surface and its maintenance burden, the multi-court layout, lighting and the academy provision around the courts.
We plan tennis courts, clubs and academies from these ITF figures. See Tennis Court Design and our Aquatics, Tennis & Squash Academy concept.
Sources
- ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 (Rule 1; Appendices IX and X)
- ITF 2026 Amendments to the Rules of Tennis (no change to Rule 1)
Figures checked against these documents on 2 Oct 2026. Where a figure is our own arithmetic from official values, the text says so.
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