Tennis court (doubles) Official Size

A tennis court is 78 feet long and 36 feet wide for doubles, or 23.77 x 10.97 m. For singles the playing width drops to 27 ft (8.23 m) using the inner sidelines. Add the run-off space players need and the full fenced area is much larger.

This guide covers the exact court dimensions, every line and its distance, the net heights, how much total space a court needs, and how it compares to a basketball court.

Quick Answer: How Big Is a Tennis Court?

The marked court is 23.77 m long (both sides of the net) and 10.97 m wide for doubles, 8.23 m wide for singles. The net is 1.07 m (3 ft 6 in) high at the posts and 0.914 m (3 ft) at the centre. The service line is 6.40 m (21 ft) from the net.

Tennis Court Dimensions at a Glance

• Doubles court: 23.77 x 10.97 m / 78 x 36 ft, area about 260.8 m2
• Doubles alley: 1.37 m (4.5 ft) wide strip on each side, used only in doubles
• Service boxes: each 6.40 x 4.115 m (21 x 13.5 ft)
• No-man’s-land: the 5.49 m (18 ft) between the service line and the baseline
• Centre mark: a 100 mm tab on each baseline splitting the serving halves

What Does a Tennis Court Look Like in Size?

The marked court is a little longer than a cricket pitch is long and about the width of a residential lot. With the recommended run-off, the fenced area is about 36.6 x 18.3 m (120 x 60 ft), roughly a third of an American football field.

6 Everyday Comparisons for a Tennis Court

1. An NBA basketball court (28.65 x 15.24 m) is 4.9 m longer and 4.3 m wider than the marked tennis court.
2. A doubles badminton court (13.4 x 6.1 m) is well under half the size.
3. An Olympic swimming pool (50 x 25 m) is more than twice as long and over twice as wide.
4. A soccer field (105 x 68 m) would hold about 11 tennis courts.
5. A singles court vs a doubles court: the singles court is 2.74 m (9 ft) narrower, the width of the two alleys combined.
6. A standard tennis court fence area (36.6 x 18.3 m) is close to two-thirds of an NBA court’s width but 8 m longer.

Tennis Court Size in Different Units

How Much Space Does a Full Tennis Court Need?

The lines are only part of it. The ITF recommends 6.40 m (21 ft) of run-off behind each baseline and 3.66 m (12 ft) beyond each doubles sideline, giving a total playing enclosure of about 36.58 x 18.29 m (120 x 60 ft), roughly 669 m2. Club and recreational courts sometimes use tighter run-off, but less than about 5.5 m behind the baseline feels cramped.

Common Mistakes When Comparing Tennis Court Dimensions

1. Quoting only the doubles width. Singles matches use the inner sidelines, making the court 27 ft wide, not 36.
2. Forgetting run-off space. The marked court is 78 x 36 ft, but you need about 120 x 60 ft of land.
3. Assuming the net is one height. It is 3 ft 6 in at the posts and sags to 3 ft at the centre strap.
4. Thinking “no-man’s-land” is a marked zone. It is just the unlabelled area between the service line and the baseline.
5. Confusing service-box size with half the court. Each service box is 21 x 13.5 ft, not a quarter of the full court.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is a tennis court?

78 x 36 ft (23.77 x 10.97 m) for doubles; 27 ft wide for singles.

What is the difference between a singles and doubles court?

The doubles court is 9 ft (2.74 m) wider, using the outer sidelines and the two alleys.

How high is a tennis net?

3 ft 6 in (1.07 m) at the posts, 3 ft (0.914 m) at the centre.

How far is the service line from the net?

21 ft (6.40 m).

How much total space does a tennis court need?

About 120 x 60 ft (36.6 x 18.3 m) including run-off.

How big is a service box?

21 x 13.5 ft (6.40 x 4.115 m).

Final Takeaway

A tennis court is 78 x 36 ft (23.77 x 10.97 m) for doubles and 27 ft wide for singles, with a net 3 ft 6 in high at the posts and 3 ft at the centre. Once you add the recommended run-off, the fenced area is about 120 x 60 ft, and the marked court is a little smaller than an NBA basketball court.