If you’re new to tennis, understanding the size, layout, and parts of a tennis court will make a big difference. Knowing this will boost your confidence when you step onto the court and help you see how angles play a role in the game.

Are you thinking about building a tennis court or checking an existing one? You need to know the right sizes and measurements.

Whether you’re just starting to play tennis or planning to build a court, this guide covers everything related to tennis court dimensions you need to know about tennis court specifications, including lines, areas, and rules. Let’s dive in!

Exact Dimensions

A regulation tennis court for both doubles and singles play measures 78 feet in length and 36 feet in width, covering 2,808 square feet according to International Tennis Federation (ITF) standards. The singles court is narrower, measuring 78 feet by 27 feet, totaling 2,106 square feet.

To make it easier, here’s a table that shows the court dimensions with imperial and metric conversions. You can scroll or swipe left to right to see all the data.

Measurement	Feet	Inches	Yards	Meters
Length	78	936	26	23.774
Width	36	432	12	10.973
Surface Area	2,808	4,16,016	312	260.872

Please take note that all lines are considered to be in play as these measures relate to the painted outer limits of a court. Additionally, these dimensions represent the playing area of a tennis court and do not include the runoff space required on the sides or back for players to compete effectively.

Diagram & Layout

To help you understand the layout of a tennis court, here’s a diagram with measurements and labels that you can use as a reference while I explain each part of the court in the following sections.

For a full-screen 3D version of the tennis court diagram, please click here.

Overall Playing Surface Area

If you’ve ever stepped onto a tennis court, you’ve likely noticed the space to the sides and back, which allows players to move freely. This area is referred to as the run-off. 

The ITF recommends a minimum run-off for courts used in international competitions as well as for recreational or club play. For all court surfaces hard, clay, grass, and synthetic these measures are applicable.

International Competition Run-Off

Courts for international competition require larger minimum run-offs to accommodate benches, umpires, and all personnel. The recommended dimensions are as follows:

• Behind the Baseline: 21 feet (6.40 m)
• To the Side of the Court: 12 feet (3.66 m)

This results in the following overall court dimensions:

• Overall Court Length: 99 feet (30.18 m)
• Overall Court Width: 48 feet (14.63 m)
• Total Court Surface Area: 4,752 square feet (441.48 square meters)

Recreational or Club Play Run-Off

Club or recreational courts need less run-off because there is still enough space for players to move around without colliding with nearby backstops or fences. The recommended dimensions are:

• Behind the Baseline: 18 feet (5.48 m)
• To the Side of the Court: 10 feet (3.05 m)

This results in the following overall court dimensions:

• Overall Court Length: 96 feet (29.26 m)
• Overall Court Width: 46 feet (14.02 m)
• Total Court Surface Area: 4,416 square feet (410.26 square meters)

Since these are minimums, the amount of run-off can vary significantly from one court to another. For example, at Grand Slam tournaments, the run-off is usually substantially greater on display courts. Later in this guide, I’ll discuss the sizes of center courts at major tournaments, which influence pros’ strategies and tactics.

Vertical Space

Indoor courts require an additional consideration: sufficient overhead space to ensure the ball doesn’t hit the roof or ceiling during play. Similar to a court’s run-off, the ITF establishes minimum height requirements for competitive tournaments as well as for recreational or club play:

Type	Minimum Height Above Net	Minimum Height Above Baseline	Minimum Height Above Backstop
Recreational	29.6 ft	20 ft	16 ft
Tournament	40 ft	40 ft	40 ft

*Height is measured from the court surface.

Since these are minimum requirements, the ceiling height in different facilities may vary.

Floor Space Requirements

If you’re building a tennis court, it’s essential to ensure adequate space before starting the project, considering all the required components, including run-off and fencing. Here are the necessary measurements for the court surface:

International Competition:

• Overall Court Length: 99 ft (30.18 m)
• Overall Court Width: 48 ft (14.63 m)
• Total Court Surface Area: 4,752 sq ft (441.48 sq m)

Recreational or Club:

• Overall Court Length: 96 ft (29.26 m)
• Overall Court Width: 46 ft (14.02 m)
• Total Court Surface Area: 4,416 sq ft (410.26 sq m)

These measurements represent the minimum playing area, so you’ll need to add between 3 and 10 feet (0.91 – 3.05 m) on all sides to accommodate the fence or backstop.

Here’s the minimum space you’ll need to set up a tennis court:

International Competition:

• Overall Court Length: 102 ft (30.18 m)
• Overall Court Width: 51 ft (14.63 m)
• Total Court Surface Area: 5,202 sq ft

Recreational or Club:

• Overall Court Length: 99 ft (29.26 m)
• Overall Court Width: 49 ft (14.02 m)
• Total Court Surface Area: 4,851 sq ft 

Of course, you can add as much space as you’d like to accommodate other needs, such as a covered bench or sitting area. 

Lines

As a new tennis player, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the lines of a tennis court, as this will help you follow instructions while learning how to play and understand conversations or broadcasts.

Before diving in, note that the ITF sets specific width requirements for all tennis court lines:

• Center Service Line: 2 inches (5 cm) wide
• Center Mark: 2 inches (5 cm) wide
• Baseline: Up to 4 inches (10 cm), but no less than 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• All Other Lines: Between 1 inch (2.5 cm) and 2 inches (5 cm)

Additionally, all measurements on the court are taken outside of the lines.

Baseline

The baseline, which runs parallel to the net, marks the farthest boundary at the back of the court on each side, measuring 36 ft (10.97 m) for doubles and 27 ft (8.23 m) for singles. During play, players typically hit most of their groundstrokes (forehands and backhands) from this line and stand at approximately this depth to return a serve.

Any shots that go over the baseline are considered out of bounds.

Center Mark

The baseline is divided in half by the center mark, which is 4 in (10.16 cm) long and runs perpendicular to the net. It shows the point you can’t cross when serving in the deuce court (right side) and the ad court (left side). This mark serves as a useful reference, as coaches often advise players to return to the center of the baseline after hitting a groundstroke.

Service Line

The service line 27 ft (8.23 m) wide runs parallel to the net and marks the approximate halfway point between the net and the baseline. It also indicates the end of the service boxes but extends only to the singles sidelines. Any serve that goes over this line on the court is declared out.

Center Service Line

The center service line 42 ft (12.80 m) long runs perpendicular to the net and connects with the midpoint of the service line on both sides of the court, creating two equal-sized service boxes on each side. Each side of the net is a total of 21 feet (6.40 meters) in length.

Singles Sidelines

The singles sidelines, which are 39 feet (11.89 meters) long and extend perpendicular to the net, indicate the court’s side borders exclusively for singles play. These lines are essential for determining whether a shot is in or out during a match.

Doubles Sidelines

The doubles sideline 39 ft (11.89 m) long extend perpendicular to the net, defining the side boundaries for doubles matches. These lines are positioned four and a half feet outside the singles sidelines, creating additional space for team play.

Areas

The lines of a tennis court outline different areas and boxes, which I’ll explain below.

Service Boxes

The intersection of the service line and the center service line creates two equal-sized boxes: the deuce box (right) and the ad box (left), measuring 21 ft x 13.5 ft (283.5 sq ft) or 6.4 m x 4.05 m (26.34 sq m). A player must serve the ball into one of these boxes to initiate a point, which is how they earned their names.

Doubles Alley

The area between the singles and doubles sidelines, known as the doubles alley, measures 39 ft x 4.5 ft (175.5 sq ft) or 11.89 m x 1.37 m (16.30 sq m). This space is only in play during doubles matches; singles players completely disregard it.

Back Court (No Man’s Land)

The backcourt, also known as “no man’s land,” measures 18 ft x 27 ft (486 sq ft) or 5.49 m x 8.23 m (45.15 sq m). Between the baseline and the service line on the tennis court is this large area. Coaches often advise players not to stay in this zone, as it’s too far from the net for solid volleys and too close for effective groundstrokes. Players typically pass through no man’s land while hitting approach shots or moving toward the net for volleys, but they don’t remain there long.

Additional Elements

While the court surface serves as the foundation for competition, several additional features are necessary to play the game. Here are the essential elements that complement a tennis court.

Net

The net, measuring 42 ft long and 3.5 ft high at the posts (3 ft at the center), or 12.8 m long and 1.07 m high (0.91 m at the center), divides the tennis court in half and serves as the main obstacle during play. A 2-inch-wide white strap runs through the center, regulating the net’s height and anchoring it to the ground to keep it taut. 

Tennis nets should have a mesh with 1 3/4-inch squares to prevent the ball from passing through while maintaining clear visibility for players. The top of the net is covered by a 2.5-inch-wide white band, which secures the net chord to the mesh, allowing it to hang freely.

Tips: Keep a retractable measuring tape or net checker in your tennis bag to measure the net’s height before playing. With so many variables in tennis, players should aim to control what they can whenever they step onto the court. 

Net Posts

Net posts, which are 3.5 feet tall and no wider than 6 inches (1.07 meters tall and no wider than 15.24 cm), hold up the net and make sure it stays at the proper height on both sides of the court. They should be three feet outside the doubles sideline and directly in line with the center of the court. Singles net posts, set three feet outside the singles sideline, may be used in particular scenarios. The width of the posts must not exceed six inches.

Singles Sticks

Singles sticks, which are 3.5 ft tall and no more than 3 in wide (1.07 m tall and no more than 7.62 cm wide), hold the net at the required height for singles matches when using a doubles net. Many courts skip singles sticks due to the inconvenience and risk of theft, leading to high school and college matches often being played without them. 

However, professional tournaments always use singles sticks to maintain the regulation net height. If you frequently play on public courts and want to ensure the correct net height, consider investing in portable singles sticks that easily collapse for convenience.

Fencing

To keep tennis balls within the playing area, fencing around a tennis court should be 8 feet tall (2.438 meters) for residential courts and 10 feet tall for club or park courts (3.048 meters). Taller fences help prevent balls from causing damage or injuring people nearby.

Space Between Adjacent Courts

When constructing multiple tennis courts side by side, it’s common to forgo fencing to save space and costs. However, always maintain a minimum distance of 12 ft (3.658 m) between courts. Aim for a spacing of 24 feet (7.315 meters) for best playing conditions.

Grand Slam Sizes

The four Grand Slam events (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open) are the highest level of tennis popularity.

If you’ve ever watched these tournaments on TV, you likely saw center-court coverage featuring the highest-ranked players and most prominent names in the sport. These areas are known as “show courts,” and they can hold the most fans. The court itself is the same size—78 feet long by 36 feet wide, or 2,808 square feet—but the run-off area around it is much higher for several reasons.

First, the additional space accommodates umpires, ball personnel, benches, coolers, and other essentials. Aesthetically, a larger court fits better within a grand stadium. Moreover, this extra area benefits players, allowing them to stand further back to return serves or run wide to chase down balls.

However, each Grand Slam center court has unique measurements. For each tournament court, see the details below.

Tournament	Court	Side Run-Off	Back Run-Off	Total Length	Total Width	Total Area
Australian Open	78 ft x 36 ft	25 ft	32.97 ft	143.94 ft	86 ft	12,378.84 sq ft
French Open	78 ft x 36 ft	21.03 ft	31.99 ft	141.98 ft	78.06 ft	11,082.959 sq ft
Wimbledon	78 ft x 36 ft	22.01 ft	27 ft	132 ft	80.02 ft	10,562.64 sq ft
US Open	78 ft x 36 ft	25 ft	27 ft	132 ft	78 ft	10,296 sq ft

*US Open left court run-off (umpire side)
**US Open right court run-off

Consequently, the Australian Open boasts the largest tennis court among the majors, while the US Open features the smallest. Interestingly, the US Open also has the highest seating capacity of all four tournaments, accommodating 23,771 fans.

Kids’ Court Dimensions

Instructors use smaller courts to enhance the learning experience for children. In the United States, this program is known as 10 and Under Tennis, while other countries, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, refer to it as Youth Tennis or Hot Shots.

All these programs aim to engage kids in tennis by adapting court sizes and equipment to their age, enabling them to learn quickly and enjoy the game.

10 and Under Tennis features three color-coded levels that correspond to a child’s age: red, orange, green, and yellow. For instance, the red stage is designed for children eight years old and younger.

The court sizes for each level are listed below.

Stage	Singles	Doubles
Red	36 ft x 18 ft	n/a
Orange	60 ft x 21 ft	60 ft x 27 ft
Green	78 ft x 27 ft	78 ft x 36 ft
Yellow	78 ft x 27 ft	78 ft x 36 ft

Keep in mind the importance of run-off space, ensuring there’s enough room around the court for kids to move freely. With that in place, parents can easily set up a court for their kids right on the driveway. All it takes is a kids’ tennis net and some chalk to mark the lines, and you’re ready to create a fun, kid-friendly tennis court at home.

Conclusion

That’s a wrap! You’ve now got all the key details about tennis court dimensions and layout. Whether you’re just starting or dreaming of building your court, this guide gives you a strong foundation to work from. If you have any questions or need more info, just drop a comment below I’m here to help you every step of the way!