Court diagram
Interactive tool
Tennis court area and clearance calculator
Choose a standard footprint or enter the space you have available. The calculator compares it with a regulation 78 × 36 ft doubles court.
Meets the ITF recommended international footprint.
- Total footprint
- 7,200 sq ft
- Clearance at each end
- 21 ft
- Clearance at each side
- 12 ft
- Playing court area
- 2,808 sq ft
Planning aid only. The ITF recommends 120 × 60 ft for international competition and 114 × 56 ft for recreational or club play; local construction and safety requirements may differ.
Photorealistic ITF plan. Select the plan to enlarge it; press Esc to close.
The diagram shows the same lined court used for singles and doubles. Measurements are taken to the outside edge of each line, as required by the ITF. The doubles alleys stay outside the singles sidelines; they count only during doubles play.
Detailed tennis court dimensions
| Measurement | Feet and inches | Metric | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court length | 78 ft | 23.77 m | Official |
| Singles width | 27 ft | 8.23 m | Official |
| Doubles width | 36 ft | 10.97 m | Official |
| Net to each baseline | 39 ft | 11.89 m | Official |
| Net to each service line | 21 ft | 6.40 m | Official |
| Singles alley width, each side | 4 ft 6 in | 1.37 m | Derived |
| Net height at center | 3 ft | 0.914 m | Official |
| Net height at posts or singles sticks | 3 ft 6 in | 1.07 m | Official |
| Center service line width | 2 in | 5 cm | Official |
| Other line widths | 1-2 in | 2.5-5 cm | Official |
| Maximum baseline width | 4 in | 10 cm | Official |
| Center mark length | 4 in | 10 cm | Official |
A full doubles court covers 2,808 sq ft (260.87 m²) inside the outer lines. The singles area is 2,106 sq ft (195.65 m²). Those figures describe the marked playing surface only. They do not include the space players need behind the baselines and beside the sidelines.
Singles and doubles layout
The court length never changes: singles and doubles both use the full 78 ft (23.77 m). Only the playable width changes. In singles, the inner sidelines form a 27 ft (8.23 m) court. In doubles, the outer sidelines widen it to 36 ft (10.97 m).
Each doubles alley is 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m) wide. A ball landing in an alley is out in singles but in during doubles, provided it touches or lands inside the outer sideline. The service boxes do not widen for doubles. The center service line still divides the 27 ft singles width, so each service box is 13 ft 6 in (4.115 m) wide and 21 ft (6.40 m) long.
What each court line does
- Baselines: The lines at the two ends of the court. A server stands behind a baseline and between the imaginary extensions of the center mark and the relevant sideline.
- Singles sidelines: The inner long lines. They set the playable width for singles.
- Doubles sidelines: The outer long lines. They set the playable width for doubles.
- Service lines: The lines 21 ft (6.40 m) from the net. Together with the singles sidelines and center service line, they form the four service boxes.
- Center service line: The line that splits the service area into deuce and ad courts. It is 2 in (5 cm) wide.
- Center marks: The short marks inside each baseline. Each is 4 in (10 cm) long and helps define where the server may stand.
Every line is part of the area it bounds. A ball that touches even the outside edge of the correct line is in. Court dimensions are therefore measured to the outside of the lines, not from their centers.
Net posts and singles sticks
For doubles, the center of each net post sits 3 ft (0.914 m) outside the doubles sideline. For singles played with a dedicated singles net, the posts sit the same distance outside the singles sidelines.
Many facilities use one doubles net for both formats. During singles, two singles sticks support that net at 3 ft 6 in (1.07 m). The center of each stick must be 3 ft (0.914 m) outside the singles sideline. The net then dips to 3 ft (0.914 m) at its center strap.
Clearance and total space
The ITF treats run-off space as a recommendation, not part of the 78 × 36 ft court itself. That distinction matters when planning a fence, wall, backstop, lighting column, or adjacent court.
| Use | Behind each baseline | Beside each sideline | Minimum overall footprint |
|---|---|---|---|
| International competition | 21 ft (6.40 m) | 12 ft (3.66 m) | 120 × 60 ft (36.57 × 18.29 m) |
| Recreational and club play | 18 ft (5.48 m) | 10 ft (3.05 m) | 114 × 56 ft (34.73 × 17.07 m) |
The international footprint is 7,200 sq ft (668.90 m²). The recreational or club footprint is 6,384 sq ft (593.09 m²). Real projects may need more room for drainage, fencing foundations, gates, player seating, accessibility routes, lighting, and local building requirements. Indoors, the ITF also recommends at least 29.6 ft (9.0 m) from the court surface to the ceiling, measured at the net.
Youth tennis court sizes
Full-size dimensions are not the only court sizes allowed under the ITF rules. Appendix VIII permits shorter courts for 10-and-under competition so the playing area fits the players and the lower-compression ball.
| Stage | Length | Width | Net height at center |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 36-42 ft (10.97-12.80 m) | 14-20 ft (4.27-6.10 m) | 31.5-33 in (0.800-0.838 m) |
| Orange | 58-60 ft (17.68-18.29 m) | 20-27 ft (6.10-8.23 m) | 31.5-36 in (0.800-0.914 m) |
| Green | 78 ft (23.77 m) | 27 ft singles; 36 ft doubles | Standard full-size net |
These are competition options for young players, not alternate adult court standards. A green-ball match uses the full-size court. Red and orange courts may be marked temporarily or added as blended lines where the sanctioning body permits them.
Do clay, grass, and hard courts have different dimensions?
No. The official length, width, line positions, and net heights are the same on clay, grass, and hard courts. The surface changes ball speed, bounce, traction, construction, and maintenance, but not the geometry in Rule 1. Tournament operators can use the maximum permitted baseline width or choose line widths within the official range. Wimbledon, for example, uses 50 mm lines and 100 mm baselines on its grass courts.
How the rectangular court became standard
Modern lawn tennis did not begin on the neat rectangle used today. In 1873, Major Walter Clopton Wingfield patented a boxed lawn game called Sphairistike. Its court narrowed at the net, giving it an hourglass shape. The kit made the game portable, but clubs soon started revising the layout.
The All England Club held the first Wimbledon Championship in 1877 and wrote a new code for the event. Its rectangular singles court measured 26 yards by 9 yards: the same 78 ft by 27 ft used now. The early net was much higher at the posts, at 5 ft, and stood 3 ft 3 in at the center. The service lines were 26 ft from the net rather than today’s 21 ft.
The basic rectangle lasted while the equipment and line positions settled. By 1882, the net height at the posts had been reduced to the current 3 ft 6 in. The 21 ft service-line distance and 3 ft center height became part of the familiar layout. Doubles added 4 ft 6 in alleys on both sides, taking the total width from 27 ft to 36 ft without changing the singles court.
That continuity is easy to miss. A grass court at Wimbledon, a public hard court in the United States, and a clay court used for an ITF event share the same main measurements. What changes most between venues is the surface and the amount of run-off space around the lines, not the rectangle itself.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a regulation tennis court?
A regulation court is 78 ft (23.77 m) long. It is 27 ft (8.23 m) wide for singles and 36 ft (10.97 m) wide for doubles.
How much land is needed for one tennis court?
Using ITF minimum clearance guidance, plan for at least 120 × 60 ft (36.57 × 18.29 m) for international competition or 114 × 56 ft (34.73 × 17.07 m) for recreational and club play. Construction and access needs can require a larger site.
How far is the service line from the net?
Each service line is 21 ft (6.40 m) from the net. The service box extends from the net to that line.
How wide is a doubles alley?
Each doubles alley is 4 ft 6 in (1.37 m) wide. Together, the two alleys add 9 ft (2.74 m) to the 27 ft singles width.
Are tennis court lines included in the measurement?
Yes. The ITF measures every court dimension to the outside edge of the relevant line. A ball touching a boundary line is in.
Official sources
- International Tennis Federation, 2026 Rules of Tennis, Rule 1 and Appendices VIII-X. Verified July 26, 2026.
- International Tennis Federation, History of Tennis Courts. Accessed July 26, 2026.
- The Wimbledon Compendium 2022, history of the 1877 court and early rules. Accessed July 26, 2026.
- Wimbledon grass courts, current line widths and court measurements. Accessed July 26, 2026.
Explore more tennis guides
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