A standard badminton court measures 13.41 meters long by 6.1 meters wide (44 feet by 20 feet) for doubles play, while singles matches narrow the playing surface to 5.18 meters (17 feet wide). Knowing these exact measurements keeps you compliant with official rules whether you're laying down court tape in a gymnasium or setting up posts in a backyard.
Getting the layout right requires precision. Misjudging boundary lines or hanging the net at the wrong height alters trajectory, changes line-call disputes, and ruins casual matches or club play. Let's break down every measurement, line, and clearance zone you need to know.
Official Badminton Court Dimensions: Singles vs Doubles
The BWF (Badminton World Federation) governs official court measurements. The floor area is rectangular, marked with white or yellow lines that stand out against the floor surface.
For singles, the court is narrower. For doubles, the full outer width of the court comes into play. Both formats share the exact same length.
- Total Length: 13.41 meters (44 feet) from the back baseline to the baseline at the opposite end.
- Doubles Width: 6.1 meters (20 feet) wide, bounded by the outer side lines.
- Singles Width: 5.18 meters (17 feet) wide, bounded by the inner side lines.
- Total Area (Doubles): 81.8 square meters (880 square feet).
- Total Area (Singles): 69.4 square meters (747 square feet).
Think of the doubles court as the master boundary. The singles court simply pulls the side boundaries inward by 0.46 meters (1.5 feet) on each side. The baseline and the short service line remain identical for both game types, but the long service line shifts during doubles serving rules.
Line Markings and Service Areas Explained
Every line on a badminton court plays a specific role during service and rallies. All lines should be 40 millimeters wide and typically painted in white or yellow so they're easily visible.
The court splits directly down the middle across the net by the center line, dividing each side into left and right service courts.
- Short Service Line: Located 1.98 meters (6 feet 6 inches) from the net. The shuttle must land on or past this line during a valid serve.
- Center Line: Divides the service court area from the short service line to the back boundary line.
- Long Service Line (Doubles): Sits 0.76 meters (2.5 feet) inside the back boundary line. In doubles, serves cannot travel past this line.
- Back Boundary Line (Singles and Doubles baseline): The absolute outermost back edge of the court.
If you're painting a multipurpose gym floor, use high-contrast tape or paint. A faded line leads to heated arguments over whether a fast smash was in or out.
Net Height, Posts, and Clearance Requirements
The net acts as the central hurdle of the game, and its height is tightly regulated. Unlike tennis, where the net sags slightly in the middle, a badminton net pulls taut across the center.
- Center Height: Exactly 1.55 meters (5 feet 1 inch) from the floor to the top of the net tape.
- Post Height: 1.55 meters (5 feet 1 inch) high at the sidelines. The posts must stand directly on the side boundary lines, even in singles play where the inner lines define the court width.
- Net Width: 7.6 meters (25 feet) long and 760 millimeters (2.5 feet) deep.
- Overhead Clearance: Indoor facilities should maintain a minimum ceiling height of 9 meters (30 feet) clear of rafters, lights, or hanging fixtures to accommodate high clears.
If the net sags in the middle during a match, players suffer from inconsistent net shots. Always use the center strap tensioner to keep it locked at 1.55 meters.
Surrounding Free Space and Safety Zones
You can't cram a badminton court right up against a brick wall. Fast-paced rallies require players to lunge, dive, and run off the court surface to retrieve drop shots and smashes.
- Side Safety Buffer: Keep at least 1.0 meter (3.3 feet) of clear, unobstructed space along both sidelines.
- End Safety Buffer: Maintain at least 2.0 meters (6.5 feet) of clear space behind each baseline.
- Multi-Court Spacing: If you're setting up multiple courts side-by-side in a community center, leave a minimum of 2.0 meters between adjacent sidelines to prevent mid-rally collisions.
Common Measurement Mistakes to Avoid
Setting up a court manually leads to frequent errors. Avoid these pitfalls when laying out your lines:
- Confusing Singles and Doubles Widths: Forgetting to narrow the court for singles play leads to unfair rallies where defending side lines are too wide.
- Ignoring Squareness: Measuring only the lengths without checking diagonal corner-to-corner measurements results in a crooked court. The diagonal from one corner to the opposite corner should measure exactly 14.73 meters (48.33 feet) for a standard rectangular shape.
- Wrong Net Height Measurement: Measuring from the floor to the bottom of the net instead of the top tape will throw off your entire net game.
- Neglecting Lighting and Drafts: Setting up outdoors without wind protection or indoors with poor overhead glare makes competitive play impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between singles and doubles court width?
Singles courts are 5.18 meters (17 feet) wide, using the inner side lines. Doubles courts are 6.1 meters (20 feet) wide, using the outer side lines. This extra width gives the second defending player room to cover wide shots.
How high is the badminton net in the center?
The net sits precisely 1.55 meters (5 feet 1 inch) high at the center and directly above the side posts. There should be zero gap between the ends of the net and the posts.
Can you play official badminton on a backyard lawn?
Yes, for casual play, but grass lawns make exact line marking difficult and uneven terrain can cause ankle injuries. Official tournaments require a flat, non-slip indoor wooden or synthetic court surface.
What is the diagonal measurement of a badminton court?
The corner-to-corner diagonal of a standard 13.41m by 6.1m doubles court measures 14.73 meters. Checking this diagonal during setup ensures your court layout forms a precise rectangle rather than a parallelogram.
