Tennis court dimensions
A tennis court is 23.77 m long and 10.97 m wide for doubles (78 × 36 ft); the singles court inside it is 8.23 m (27 ft) wide. The service lines sit 6.40 m (21 ft) from the net, and the net is 0.914 m (3 ft) high in the middle and 1.07 m (3 ft 6 in) at the posts. With run-off, the LTA recommends 36.57 × 18.29 m (120 × 60 ft) for one court. Every line, the net and the space around the court are below, from the ITF Rules of Tennis 2026 and LTA guidance.
The court from above
The same court is marked for singles and doubles. The outer sidelines bound the doubles court; the inner ones bound the singles court and the service boxes. All measurements are taken to the outside of the lines.
Court and lines
| Measurement | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Length (baseline to baseline) ITF Rule 1 | 23.77 m | 78 ft |
| Width, doubles ITF Rule 1 | 10.97 m | 36 ft |
| Width, singles ITF Rule 1 | 8.23 m | 27 ft |
| Doubles alley (tramline) Follows from the two widths; ITF Appendix X marks it at 1.37 m | 1.37 m | 4 ft 6 in |
| Service line, distance from the net ITF Rule 1: drawn between the singles sidelines | 6.40 m | 21 ft |
| Service line to baseline Follows from ITF: 11.885 m − 6.40 m | 5.49 m | 18 ft |
| Service box Follows from ITF: the centre service line halves the singles width | 6.40 × 4.115 m | 21 × 13 ft 6 in |
| Centre mark on the baseline ITF Rule 1: drawn inside the court | 10 cm long | 4 in long |
| Centre service line and centre mark, width ITF Rule 1 | 5 cm | 2 in |
| Other lines, width ITF Rule 1: baselines may be up to 10 cm (4 in) | 2.5–5 cm | 1–2 in |
The ITF states every figure in feet first, with metres in brackets. All lines must be the same colour and clearly contrast with the surface.
Net, posts and singles sticks
A doubles net runs between posts set 0.914 m (3 ft) outside each doubles sideline. When singles is played on a doubles court with a doubles net, two singles sticks hold the net up at 1.07 m, 0.914 m outside each singles sideline; the net posts and the part of the net outside the sticks then count as permanent fixtures. The posts and sticks may not stand more than 2.5 cm (1 in) above the net cord.
| Measurement | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Net height at the centre ITF Rule 1: held down by a white strap | 0.914 m | 3 ft |
| Net height at the posts ITF Rule 1: the cord or cable passes over the posts at this height | 1.07 m | 3 ft 6 in |
| Net posts, centre from the doubles sideline ITF Rule 1: outside the court on each side | 0.914 m | 3 ft |
| Distance between net post centres ITF Appendix X: the 42 ft line that fixes the net | 12.80 m | 42 ft |
| Singles sticks, centre from the singles sideline ITF Rule 1: used when singles is played with a doubles net | 0.914 m | 3 ft |
| Singles net (singles-only court) ITF Appendix X | 10 m long | 33 ft long |
| Net posts, maximum size ITF Rule 1: square or diameter | 15 cm | 6 in |
| Singles sticks, maximum size ITF Rule 1: square or diameter | 7.5 cm | 3 in |
| Strap width (max) / band depth ITF Rule 1: band on each side of the net | 5 cm / 5–6.35 cm | 2 in / 2–2½ in |
Space around the court
The lines are only part of the footprint. The ITF gives recommended minimum distances from the lines to the fence or wall in a note to its court-marking appendix, for international and for club play. The LTA’s recommended and minimum figures match them, and the LTA adds a gap between neighbouring courts.
| Space | ITF (Appendix X) | LTA |
|---|---|---|
| Behind each baseline (run-back) | International 6.40 m (21 ft); club 5.48 m (18 ft) | Recommended 6.40 m; minimum 5.49 m |
| Beside each sideline (side run) | International 3.66 m (12 ft); club 3.05 m (10 ft) | Recommended 3.66 m; minimum 3.05 m |
| Between two courts | — | Recommended 4.27 m (14 ft); minimum 3.66 m (12 ft) |
| Clear height at the net | 9.0 m | 9 m (29 ft 6 in) for frame-and-fabric and air halls |
Area for one or more courts (LTA)
The LTA table adds the run-off to the 23.77 m length and puts the gap between courts side by side. Each extra court adds 15.24 m (50 ft) to the width at the recommended spacing, or 14.63 m (48 ft) at the minimum.
| Courts side by side | Recommended | Minimum |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 36.57 × 18.29 m120 × 60 ft | 34.75 × 17.07 m114 × 56 ft |
| 2 | 36.57 × 33.53 m120 × 110 ft | 34.75 × 31.70 m114 × 104 ft |
| 3 | 36.57 × 48.77 m120 × 160 ft | 34.75 × 46.33 m114 × 152 ft |
| 4 | 36.57 × 64.01 m120 × 210 ft | 34.75 × 60.96 m114 × 200 ft |
Source: LTA recommended court dimensions (the table continues to six courts). Feet converted from the LTA metric figures.
Indoor courts: height and run-off
The ITF recommends at least 9.0 m from the court surface to the ceiling, measured at the net. The LTA sets out what it needs from the two common types of indoor structure:
| Requirement | Frame and fabric | Air hall |
|---|---|---|
| Run-back | 6.40 m | 7 m |
| Side run | 3.66 m | 4 m |
| Between courts | 4.27 m | 4.27 m |
| Clear height at the net line | 9 m | 9 m |
| Clear height at the baseline | 5.75 m | — |
| Clear height at the back of the run-back | 4 m | 7.80 m |
Source: LTA, dimensions required for an indoor tennis court structure. In feet: 9 m is 29 ft 6 in, 5.75 m is 18 ft 10 in, 4 m is 13 ft 1 in and 7.80 m is 25 ft 7 in.
Mini tennis: red and orange courts
For 10-and-under competition, the ITF allows two smaller courts. Red courts are for players up to 8 with the red (stage 3) ball, orange courts for players aged 8 to 10 with the orange (stage 2) ball, and advanced 9- and 10-year-olds play green-ball tennis on the full court.
| Court | Size | Net at the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Red court | 10.97–12.80 m long × 4.27–6.10 m wide36–42 × 14–20 ft | 0.800–0.838 m (31.5–33 in) |
| Orange court | 17.68–18.29 m long × 6.10–8.23 m wide58–60 × 20–27 ft | 0.800–0.914 m (31.5–36 in) |
| Green ball | Full-size court78 × 27/36 ft | 0.914 m (3 ft) |
Source: ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Appendix VIII.
Marking out a court
The ITF method starts from the net. Mark a straight 12.80 m (42 ft) line where the net will be and its centre. From the points where it crosses the doubles sidelines (5.48 m from the centre), run two tapes: 16.18 m (53 ft 1 in) for the half-court diagonal and 11.89 m (39 ft) for the sideline. Where they meet is a corner of the court. Check that the baseline between the two corners measures 10.97 m (36 ft), then mark the service lines 6.40 m from the net and repeat on the other side. Where a sanctioning body approves extra “blended lines”, the ITF sets how they must look: a lighter shade in the same colour family as the surface, 1.0–1.5 cm narrower than standard lines, and stopping 8 cm short of the white playing lines.
Where the sources differ
- Club run-back: 5.48 or 5.49 m. The ITF writes 18 ft as 5.48 m, the LTA as 5.49 m. 18 ft is 5.486 m, so both are rounding of the same distance.
- Indoor height in feet. The ITF writes the 9.0 m net-line height as “29.6 feet”. 9.0 m is 29.53 ft, or 29 ft 6 in, which is how the LTA writes it.
- Air halls need more room. The LTA asks for a 7 m run-back and 4 m side run in an air hall, against 6.40 m and 3.66 m in a frame-and-fabric building, and a higher clearance at the back of the run-back (7.80 m against 4 m).
Running the courts once they are built
Playmore runs bookings and payments for tennis clubs. See how it works for tennis clubs.
Sources (checked October 2026)
- ITF: Rules of Tennis 2026 (Rule 1; Appendices VIII, IX and X)
- ITF: 2026 amendments to the Rules of Tennis
- LTA: What are the LTA recommended court dimensions?
- LTA: What are the dimensions required for an indoor tennis court structure?
The ITF run-off figures are recommendations; your national federation and funder decide what a new court must meet. Check the current documents and your court builder’s drawings before building.
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