Padel court dimensions
Every measurement of a padel court from the FIP Rules of Padel, in metres and in feet: the court, the net, the lines, the walls, the doors and the clear height. Then what the rules leave out: how much space a court really takes in a building.
Padel court size: 20 × 10 m
The FIP rules define the court by its inside measurements: 10 m wide by 20 m long, with a 0.5 % tolerance. That is the playing area, 200 m² or about 2,150 sq ft, inside the glass and the mesh. The two halves must be exactly symmetrical.
| Element | FIP rule |
|---|---|
| Inner court | 10 m (32 ft 10 in) wide × 20 m (65 ft 7 in) long, inside measurements, with a 0.5 % tolerance |
| Service lines | Parallel to the net, 6.95 m (22 ft 10 in) from it on each side, which leaves 3.05 m (10 ft) to the back wall |
| Central service line | Divides the area between the net and each service line in half, and extends at least 20 cm (8 in) beyond the service line |
| Line width | All lines 5 cm (2 in) wide, preferably white or black |
| Net | 10 m (32 ft 10 in) long, 0.88 m (2 ft 11 in) high at the centre, rising to 0.92 m (3 ft) at the ends, with a maximum tolerance of 0.005 m |
| Net posts | Maximum height 1.05 m (3 ft 5 in); the outer side of each post in line with the side limit of the court |
| Clear height | At least 6 m (19 ft 8 in) throughout the court, with nothing (such as lights) in that space; 8 m (26 ft 3 in) suggested for new facilities |
| Orientation outdoors | Long axis north–south recommended, with variation allowed between north-north-east and north-north-west |
Feet and inches are rounded to the nearest inch; the rules are written in metres, and builders work to the metric figure.
Padel court walls, mesh and doors
The court must be completely enclosed. All dimensions are from the inside of the court, and the mesh is always in line with the inner face of the wall.
| Element | FIP rule |
|---|---|
| Back walls (ends) | 4 m (13 ft 1 in) in total: the first 3 m (9 ft 10 in) wall (glass, brick or another solid material) and the last 1 m (3 ft 3 in) metal mesh |
| Side walls, stepped (variant 1) | At each end a first step 3 m (9 ft 10 in) high × 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long and a second step 2 m (6 ft 7 in) high × 2 m (6 ft 7 in) long; mesh completes the enclosure up to 3 m (9 ft 10 in) over the central 6 m (19 ft 8 in) and up to 4 m (13 ft 1 in) at both ends |
| Side walls, glass without a step (variant 2) | At each end a wall 3 m (9 ft 10 in) high × 4 m (13 ft 1 in) long, with no step; mesh completes the enclosure, up to 4 m (13 ft 1 in) high over the end 2 m (6 ft 7 in) |
| Mesh | Square, electro-welded; the diagonal of each hole between 5 and 7.08 cm; wire recommended between 2 and 3 mm, 4 mm at most |
| Doors and openings, one per side | Access on one or both sides, symmetrical about the centre. With one opening per side: at least 1.05 × 2.00 m (3 ft 5 in × 6 ft 7 in), at most 2.20 × 2.20 m (7 ft 3 in × 7 ft 3 in) |
| Doors and openings, two per side | At least 0.72 × 2.00 m (2 ft 4 in × 6 ft 7 in), at most 1.10 × 2.20 m (3 ft 7 in × 7 ft 3 in); door handles on the outside, not protruding inside |
| Out-of-court play | Two openings per side, and no obstacles outside the court in an area at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) wide (4 m recommended) and 4 m (13 ft 1 in) long on either side, and at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) high |
| Lighting | The underside of the lights at least 6 m (19 ft 8 in) above the ground; 8 m (26 ft 3 in) suggested for new facilities when the lights are within the court; at least 1,000 lux vertical for TV |
| Surface | Cement, synthetic material or artificial grass; level within 3 mm under a 3 m straight edge; on surfaces without drainage, a cross-fall of 1 % at most from the centre to the edges |
On glass, the LTA guidance asks for 12 mm toughened glass for outdoor courts, which can be reduced to 10 mm for indoor courts. The FIP refers glass and surfaces to its court homologation annex.
Source: International Padel Federation (FIP), Rules of Padel, review in force from 1 January 2026 (published December 2025), sections Dimensions, Net, Enclosures, Ground surface, Access, Safety area, Illumination and Orientation; glass from LTA Padel, padel construction (2025).
How much space a padel court needs
The FIP rules measure the court, not the building around it. The LTA guidance adds the surroundings: an 8 m × 2 m opening on the sides of the court for player access, and a 1.5 m gap between each court, which does not include an outer play area. The layouts on this site use those rules:
- Access zone: 8 × 2 m (26 ft 3 in × 6 ft 7 in) kept clear at the side opening, centred on the net.
- Between courts: 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in), and the same to the walls.
- Route to the exit: 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in) clear from every court to the entrance.
- Clear height: at least 6 m over the whole court, as the FIP rules ask.
With those rules, this is the floor area each court takes in a clear-span building with 8 m clear height and one entrance on a long side, from our layouts:
| Building | Dimensions | Courts | m² per court | Sq ft per court |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15,000 sq ft | 29.5 × 47 m | 4 | 347 | 3,700 |
| 20,000 sq ft | 34 × 54.5 m | 4 | 463 | 5,000 |
| 25,000 sq ft | 38 × 61 m | 6 | 386 | 4,200 |
| 30,000 sq ft | 41.5 × 67 m | 8 | 348 | 3,700 |
| 40,000 sq ft | 48 × 77.5 m | 12 | 310 | 3,300 |
So a mid-size building of 30,000 sq ft works out at about 348 m² (3,700 sq ft) per court, not 200 m². The smallest building in our list that fits one court is 18.5 × 30 m, and an ITF tennis court area (18.5 × 36.5 m) fits 1: see padel courts on a tennis court.
The figures come from the layout engine, not from a rule of thumb. The shape of the building, its columns and doors change them: with the same floor area a court more or less can fit.
Frequently asked questions
What are the dimensions of a padel court?
Under the FIP Rules of Padel, the court is a rectangle 10 m wide by 20 m long, measured inside, with a 0.5 % tolerance: 200 m². The net divides it in half and the service lines run 6.95 m from the net, 3.05 m from the back wall.
How big is a padel court in feet?
20 × 10 m is about 65 ft 7 in × 32 ft 10 in, or roughly 2,150 sq ft of playing area. In a building, with the access zone and the LTA clearances, it takes far more: about 3,700 sq ft per court in a 30,000 sq ft warehouse.
How high is a padel net?
0.88 m (2 ft 11 in) at the centre, rising to 0.92 m (3 ft) at the ends, with posts no higher than 1.05 m (3 ft 5 in).
What ceiling height does a padel court need?
At least 6 m (19 ft 8 in) clear throughout the court, with no lights or other elements in that space; for new facilities the FIP suggests 8 m (26 ft 3 in). Measure under the lowest thing over the court, not at the ridge.
How much space do you need for a padel court?
More than 20 × 10 m. With the LTA's 8 × 2 m access zone at the side opening, 1.5 m between courts and to the walls, and a 1.2 m route to the exit, our layouts give 310 to 463 m² per court (about 3,300 to 5,000 sq ft) in buildings of 15,000 to 40,000 sq ft. The smallest building in our list that fits one court is 18.5 × 30 m (6,000 sq ft).
How tall are the walls of a padel court?
The back walls are 4 m in total: 3 m of wall and 1 m of mesh. The side walls step down from 3 m and 2 m of wall at the ends to mesh in the middle, or, in the glass variant, are 3 m of wall over the end 4 m, with mesh completing the enclosure.
Is there a singles padel court size?
The FIP Rules of Padel do not define one: they describe the 20 × 10 m court. The planner can add 20 × 6 m (65 ft 7 in × 19 ft 8 in) singles courts where a doubles court does not fit, but that size is not in the FIP rules.
Read on: how many padel courts fit in a warehouse · padel court planner · padel court calculator · how to open a padel club
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