Are you thinking of building a tennis court and want to know whether or not you have the space required? Not only do you have to take into account the actual playing surface but also the space around the court too.

Here we’ll look at the official dimensions of a tennis court along with the overall area that you’ll need. We’ll also give you a lot of other crucial info, so let’s get started!

How Large is a Tennis Court?

Most tennis courts are 78 feet (23.77m) long and 36 feet (10.97m) across, however, the singles playing area is just 27 feet (8.23) wide. The singles court is narrower than the doubles court but all professional courts will include both singles and doubles markings.

Unlike other sports, you also need to consider the playing area around the court too. You need to have sufficient space for players to move. Therefore, if you want to build a tennis court, you need to have a lot more space than the above dimensions.

Recommended Overall Court Playing Surface Dimensions for Tennis

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) recommends that the court be surrounded by an additional 8-10 feet of space on all sides but it’s best to have a little more than that for safety. This area is known as the “safety zone” and helps to prevent injuries to players and spectators.

When added to the size of the court, this means that the complete playing area is recommended to be 120 feet (36.58m) long and 60 feet (18.29m) wide. This gives you 12 feet of space on either side of the court and 21 feet behind the baseline. While this is ideal, you can get away with a minimum of 114 feet long (34.8m) and 56 feet (17.1m) wide but it shouldn’t be any smaller than that.

The recommended dimensions for a tennis court are based on extensive research and provide the optimal playing surface for the game. When choosing a court surface, it is important to consider the recommended dimensions to create a safe and enjoyable playing environment.

Are All Tennis Courts the Same Size?

The two most common sizes are regulation size and junior size. A regulation tennis court is 78 feet long and 36 feet wide, while a junior tennis court is 59 feet (18m) long and 21 feet (6.4m) wide.

If you want to build an adult court, then you should stick to the standard dimensions. The professional players play on the same-sized court that an amateur does. The only difference in court size is when it comes to juniors.

The smaller size of the junior court makes it more suitable for younger players or those with limited space. In addition, many recreational facilities have miniature tennis courts, which are even smaller than junior courts.

These courts are typically used for teaching young children the basics of the game. While all tennis courts vary in size, they all share one common feature, the net that is 3 feet high at the center and 3 feet 6 inches high at the sidelines. This standardized net height ensures that the game can be played anywhere, regardless of court size.

Do Indoor Courts Need a Specific Height?

For an indoor recreational tennis court, you need a minimum of 20 feet (6.1m) of space from the floor to the ceiling at the baseline and 29.5 feet (9m) at the net. This is to allow for proper ball clearance and player safety.

If your indoor tennis court is going to be used for competitive matches, then it must meet the size requirements of the ITF and be a little higher. For tournament level, the court needs to have a minimum of 40 feet (12.2m) of clearance at both the baseline and net.

When choosing the size of your indoor tennis court, it is important to consider not only the required dimensions but also the desired level of play. If you want to be able to practice your game without worrying about hitting the roof, then you might want to consider increasing the size of your court.

Can I Build a Singles Court Instead of a Double?

Building a singles court instead of a doubles court is a great way to save money and space. You won’t need the same amount of materials as the singles area is 25% smaller than a doubles court. A doubles court is 2,808 square feet, while a singles court measures 2,106 square feet.

In addition, you will be able to build your singles court in less time than it would take to build a doubles court. If you are short on space, a singles court is also a great option. It can be easily built in smaller areas like a backyard or driveway.

That being said, if you’re going to all the effort of building a tennis court, then it makes sense to stretch your time and budget a little further to get the full doubles court. There is a good chance that if you build just a single area, you may regret it in the future.

If space doesn’t allow you to build a doubles court, though, building a single court is a much better idea than having no court at all!

Final Thoughts

Whether it is a court at your local tennis center or the center court at Wimbledon, all adult courts need to be the same size of 78 feet long and 36 feet wide. What can change from one venue to the next is the space around the court.

If you’re wondering whether or not a tennis court will fit in your area, you need to take into account the area needed outside the playing surface. Hopefully, this has given you all the info you need to satisfy your curiosity or for you to start planning your new tennis court!