A regulation badminton court is 44 ft long (13.40 m). It is 20 ft wide (6.10 m) for doubles and 17 ft wide (5.18 m) for singles. The same painted court supports both formats, but the side boundaries and the rear service boundary change. That is the detail most likely to be missed when a court is laid out from memory.
Court diagram
Quick answer
BWF Law 1 sets a 44 × 20 ft court for doubles and a 44 × 17 ft court for singles. Lines are 40 mm wide and count as part of the court. The short service line is 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) from the net. The net is 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) high at the posts and 5 ft (1.524 m) high at the center.
Court dimensions at a glance
| Feature | Imperial | Metric | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full court length | 44 ft | 13.40 m | Official |
| Doubles court width | 20 ft | 6.10 m | Official |
| Singles court width | 17 ft | 5.18 m | Official |
| Singles alley each side | 1 ft 6 in | 460 mm | Derived |
| Short service line from net | 6 ft 6 in | 1.98 m | Official |
| Doubles long service line from back boundary | 2 ft 6 in | 760 mm | Official |
| Line width | 1 1/2 in | 40 mm | Official |
| Net height at posts | 5 ft 1 in | 1.55 m | Official |
| Net height at center | 5 ft | 1.524 m | Official |
The dimensions above describe the marked playing court. They do not include wall clearance, run-off space, officials’ positions, or spectator circulation. Plan those items with the venue and competition requirements rather than treating the painted rectangle as the full footprint.
Singles court vs. doubles court
The court length does not change. In singles, the inner side lines are the boundaries, producing a 17 ft wide court. In doubles, the outer side lines are used, producing a 20 ft wide court. The 18 in strips between them are often called doubles alleys.
The back boundary works differently during service. A singles serve can land as deep as the back boundary line. In doubles, the long service line is the rear limit for a serve, but the back boundary returns to play during the rally. The outer doubles side line is used for both the serve and the rally.
Service courts and lines
The center line divides each half into left and right service courts. The short service line runs parallel to the net, 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) away. A legal serve must travel diagonally into the opponent’s matching service court and pass the short service line.
For doubles, add the long service line 2 ft 6 in (760 mm) inside each back boundary. It runs the full width between the doubles side lines. This is the line that makes a deep doubles serve fault even though the same shuttle could remain in during the next exchange.
Net, posts, and line treatment
The posts are 5 ft 1 in (1.55 m) high and sit on the doubles side lines, even for singles. The net is 5 ft (1.524 m) high at the center. It must be stretched firmly between the posts; there should be no gap between the net and the posts.
All lines are 40 mm wide. BWF treats them as part of the area they define, so a shuttle touching a line is in. Set out the lines from a measured centerline and use the rulebook’s reference dimensions before finalizing paint. A neat-looking rectangle can still be wrong if dimensions are measured to the wrong edge.
Court area
| Format | Playing area | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Doubles | 880 sq ft 81.74 m² |
44 ft × 20 ft |
| Singles | 748 sq ft 69.49 m² |
44 ft × 17 ft |
These are derived areas inside the nominal court dimensions. They are useful for estimating flooring or paint coverage, but they are not a substitute for a facility plan.
How to mark a badminton court
- Choose the BWF layout and confirm the playing surface is level and unobstructed.
- Mark the 44 ft center length and establish the net line at its midpoint.
- Set the outside doubles rectangle to 20 ft wide, then add the inner singles side lines to create the 17 ft width.
- Mark the short service lines 6 ft 6 in from the net on both halves.
- Mark the center lines from the short service lines to the back boundary.
- Add the doubles long service lines 2 ft 6 in inside each back boundary.
- Check the 40 mm line width, net-post locations, and net heights before play.
Common layout errors
The usual mistakes are using the outer side lines for singles, treating the doubles long service line as a rally boundary, and measuring the net from the wrong point. Another frequent problem is copying a recreational court with arbitrary clearance into a competition setting. The BWF court dimensions are exact; the surrounding space needs its own venue-specific review.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a badminton court in feet?
A BWF court is 44 ft long. It is 20 ft wide for doubles and 17 ft wide for singles.
How big is a badminton court in meters?
The court is 13.40 m long, 6.10 m wide for doubles, and 5.18 m wide for singles.
Are the lines in or out in badminton?
They are in. A shuttle that lands on a boundary line is considered in, and the 40 mm line width forms part of the court area.
How high is a badminton net?
The net is 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in) high at the posts and 1.524 m (5 ft) high at the center.
Why does the doubles service court look shorter?
The doubles long service line is 760 mm (2 ft 6 in) inside the back boundary. It applies to a serve only. During a rally, the back boundary line is in.
Official source
Badminton World Federation, Laws of Badminton, Law 1: The Court.
Verified July 28, 2026. Check the current BWF Laws of Badminton before construction, certification, or tournament setup.