Padel court dimensions: official size and the space you need

Official padel court dimensions

The rules of the International Padel Federation (FIP) set the doubles court as a rectangle 20 m long by 10 m wide, giving 200 m² of playing area measured inside the enclosure. The net splits the court into two equal halves of 10 x 10 m.

Getting these measurements right to the centimetre is not a minor detail: a court outside tolerance cannot be approved, and it changes how the game plays, especially off the walls. That is why every court we make is built to the FIP standard and is FIP-approved.

Net, lines and enclosure

• Net: 88 cm high in the centre and 92 cm at the ends, according to the FIP.
• Service lines: parallel to the net and 6.95 m from it. A perpendicular centre line splits each service area into two boxes.
• Enclosure: back walls and side walls combine tempered glass and steel mesh. The walls are part of play, so their height and layout are regulated too.

On our courts the glass is 12 mm tempered safety glass and the mesh is anti-injury 4 mm wire with no sharp ends, so the enclosure is safe as well as compliant.

How much land you need per court

The 20 x 10 m is the playing area, not the plot. We recommend a margin of 1 to 2 m on every side, which brings the footprint to roughly 12 x 22 m per court. That perimeter is used to:

• Support the perimeter structure and its anchors.
• Open the access doors comfortably and walk around the court.
• Fit lighting columns and make maintenance easier.

Planning several courts

Plan walkways between courts, access to the clubhouse and waiting areas from the outset. A good layout plan makes far better use of the land than lining courts up without a strategy. Many UK clubs are also converting underused tennis courts; the existing footprint can often hold more than one padel court, but the exact layout depends on margins, access and lighting, so it is worth checking against a drawing.

Orientation outdoors

For outdoor courts, the long axis is usually set north to south so the low morning and evening sun does not dazzle players.

Covered and indoor courts

If the court will be under a roof, the key figure is height: we recommend a clear height of 7 to 8 m above the playing surface so lobs do not hit beams or light fittings. Check column positions and ventilation in the building too before finalising the design.

What about the singles court?

The singles court keeps the 20 m length but narrows the width to 6 m. It is a good solution for academies, hotels or homes with limited space; take a look at our Single model.

From drawing to site

With the measurements clear, the next step is the base: the slab must be slightly larger than the court to receive the frame. We explain it in detail in our guide to the padel court concrete base and in how to build a padel court step by step. If you already have the land, send us its dimensions and we will prepare a quote with the layout that fits best.