Although pickleball courts are being built around the world at an incredibly high rate, tennis courts are still widely utilized for pickleball. But can you play pickleball on a tennis court? Learn how to adjust a tennis court so you can play pickleball on a tennis court.
Can you play pickleball on a tennis court?
Yes, you can play pickleball on a tennis court, but it will not be a perfect fit. The dimensions of the pickleball court, opens in a new tab (and height of the net) are very different than the dimensions of a tennis court. A pickleball court is 20 x 44 feet while a tennis court measures 36 x 78 feet (doubles) and 27 x 78 feet (singles).
A tennis net measures 42 inches at the post and 36 inches in the center. A pickleball net should measure 36 inches at the post and 34 inches at the center.
Pickleball court dimensions and layout
The entire pickleball court is:
- 20 feet wide.
- 44 feet long.
The kitchen/non-volley zones are:
- 20 feet wide.
- 7 feet high.
Each service area is:
- 10 feet wide (from sideline to centerline).
- 15 feet long (from kitchen line to baseline).
The net is:
- Up to 22.5 feet wide.
- 36 inches high (at the sidelines).
- 34 inches high (at the center).
See the full pickleball court dimensions here.
How many pickleball courts will fit on a tennis court?
Although this is dependent on how much room you have around the tennis court, a general rule of thumb is that you can fit four pickleball courts on a single tennis court.
Another option is for two pickleball courts on one tennis court. You can put one pickleball court on one tennis court, but because of the net, this is the least manageable option.
1 pickleball court on 1 tennis court
2 pickleball courts on 1 tennis court
4 pickleball courts on 1 tennis court
How do you change a tennis court into a pickleball court?
Option #1: Lower the tennis net to the correct height and tape/chalk the necessary pickleball court lines on top of the tennis court
This option only works if the net is adjustable, and the owner of the net does not mind you lowering the net. Some tennis facilities do not want the net lowered, even if just temporarily. You will also be unable to hit an around the post shot with this setup.
After lowering the net, you have to tape down a pickleball court using a different color than the tennis lines.
Option #2: Use a portable pickleball net and tape the necessary pickleball lines
Usually players will play on one side of a tennis court, using the tennis net as a "backstop." Place the temporary net down with at least 30 feet on each side, then tape the lines down. The most common mistake using this method is not allowing adequate room AROUND the court.
How much space should there be around a pickleball court?
The USAPA, opens in a new tab suggests 10 feet of space (also called overrun) outside each boundary line. This will help prevent players running onto each others courts, and reduce the number of times you have to stop play for a ball rolling onto your court.
Build your own pickleball court at home
If you are looking to build your own pickleball court at home, you can paint or tape pickleball court lines onto any appropriate surface.
To do this, read the full instructions for building your own pickleball court here, including pickleball court dimensions, products you will need, costs, and more.
Making the transition from tennis to pickleball
If you are a tennis player and you are looking to make the transition to pickleball, you are not alone. There are many things you will need to know to begin playing pickleball, including the rules, how pickleball scoring works, the differences in equipment, and more.
Learn more about essential differences as a tennis playing who wants to learn to play pickleball.
