Singles and doubles widths, the service boxes, both net heights and the ITF’s own run-back guidance for club and international play — quoted from Rule 1 and Appendix IX.
| Measurement | Imperial | Metric | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court length | 78 ft | 23.77 m | Rule 1 |
| Doubles court width | 36 ft | 10.97 m | Rule 1 |
| Singles court width | 27 ft | 8.23 m | Rule 1 |
| Serviceline from the net | 21 ft | 6.40 m | Drawn between the singles sidelines, each side of the net (Rule 1) |
| Service box width | 13 ft 6 in | 4.11 m | derived Half the 27 ft singles width, split by the centre serviceline |
| Doubles alley width | 4 ft 6 in | 1.37 m | derived Half the difference between the doubles and singles widths; Appendix IX marks the inner sideline 4′6″ in from each corner |
| Baseline to net | 39 ft | 11.885 m | derived Half the court length |
| Centre mark | 4 in long, 2 in wide | 10 cm long, 5 cm wide | Drawn inside the court, parallel to the singles sidelines (Rule 1) |
| Line widths | 1–2 in; baselines up to 4 in | 2.5–5 cm; baselines up to 10 cm | Centre serviceline and centre mark are 2 in (5 cm) (Rule 1) |
| Measurement | Imperial | Metric | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height at the centre | 3 ft | 0.914 m | Held down by a strap (Rule 1) |
| Net post height | 3 ft 6 in | 1.07 m | Rule 1 |
| Net posts outside the court | 3 ft | 0.914 m | Post centres, outside the doubles sidelines. For singles with singles sticks, 3 ft outside the singles court (Rule 1) |
| Net line length, post to post | 42 ft | 12.80 m | The setting-out line in Appendix IX |
| Net post size (max) | 6 in | 15 cm | Square or diameter (Rule 1) |
| Singles stick size (max) | 3 in | 7.5 cm | Square or diameter, set 3 ft outside the singles court (Rule 1) |
| Band and strap | Band 2–2½ in deep; strap max 2 in wide | Band 5–6.35 cm; strap max 5 cm | Cord or cable max ⅓ in (0.8 cm) diameter (Rule 1) |
| Measurement | Imperial | Metric | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behind the baseline — club play | 18 ft | 5.48 m | ITF recommended minimum to the backstop, recreational and club (Appendix IX) |
| Beside the sideline — club play | 10 ft | 3.05 m | ITF recommended minimum to the sidestop (Appendix IX) |
| Behind the baseline — international | 21 ft | 6.40 m | ITF recommended minimum for international competition (Appendix IX) |
| Beside the sideline — international | 12 ft | 3.66 m | ITF recommended minimum for international competition (Appendix IX) |
| Clear height at the net | 29.6 ft | 9.0 m | ITF recommended minimum, court surface to ceiling (Appendix IX) |
Every figure on this page was read out of the documents above. Rows marked derived are arithmetic on two published figures — the working is in the note beside them. We publish nothing we have not checked.
Measure the clear space you have — fence to fence, wall to wall — and we’ll check it against the published minimums above, in both orientations. Nothing is sent anywhere; the maths happens in your browser.
Indoors, the ITF recommends a minimum of 9.0 m (29.6 ft) from the court surface to the ceiling, measured at the net.
A tennis court is 78 feet (23.77 m) long. It is 27 feet (8.23 m) wide for singles and 36 feet (10.97 m) wide for doubles. The servicelines are 21 feet (6.40 m) from the net on each side, and the net is 3 feet (0.914 m) high at the centre and 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m) at the posts. All of that is Rule 1 of the ITF Rules of Tennis.
The ITF recommends a minimum of 18 feet (5.48 m) behind each baseline and 10 feet (3.05 m) beside each sideline for recreational and club play, which works out at roughly 114 by 56 feet of total area. For international competition it recommends 21 feet and 12 feet, or about 120 by 60 feet.
Each doubles alley — the tramline — is 4 feet 6 inches (1.37 m) wide. That is half the difference between the 36 foot doubles court and the 27 foot singles court, and Appendix IX has you mark the inner sideline 4′6″ in from each baseline corner.
The net hangs from a cord strung between two posts 3 feet 6 inches (1.07 m) high and is pulled down to 3 feet (0.914 m) at the centre by a strap. The dip is deliberate: it rewards hitting through the middle of the court, which is also the longest part of the court diagonally.
Only the width. Both are 78 feet long; the singles court is 27 feet wide and the doubles court is 36 feet, the difference being the two 4 foot 6 inch alleys. The service boxes are identical in both — they are always drawn between the singles sidelines.
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