A tennis court measures 23.77 m in length and 8.23 m in width for singles, or 10.97 m for doubles. The net is 0.914 m high at the center and 1.07 m at the posts.
This is set by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in Rule 1 of its 2026 Rules of Tennis. They apply equally to a club or a competition: what changes is the clearance space around the court.
Court measurements, one by one
These are all the measurements of a tennis court, according to Rule 1 and Appendix X of the International Tennis Federation's rules:
| Measurement | Meters | ITF Rule/Appendix |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 23.77 m | Rule 1 |
| Singles width | 8.23 m | Rule 1 |
| Doubles width | 10.97 m | Rule 1 |
| Doubles alley, each side | 1.37 m | Appendices IX and X |
| From net to each baseline | 11.89 m | Appendix X |
| From net to service line | 6.40 m | Rule 1 |
| Service box | 6.40 × 4.11 m | Rule 1 and Appendix X |
| Net height at the center | 0.914 m | Rule 1 |
| Net height at the posts | 1.07 m | Rule 1 |
| Center of each post, outside the doubles line | 0.914 m | Rule 1 |
| From post to post | 12.80 m | Appendix X |
| Width of the lines | 2.5 to 5 cm; baselines up to 10 cm | Rule 1 |
| Width of center service line and center mark | 5 cm | Rule 1 |
| Length of center mark | 10 cm | Rule 1 |
For comparison: a padel court measures 20 × 10 m internally, according to the rules of the International Padel Federation (FIP).
The ITF classifies surfaces by speed into five categories (Appendix I), but the measurements do not change: they are the same for clay, hard, or grass courts.
How high is the tennis net?
The tennis net is 0.914 m high at the center and 1.07 m at the posts, according to Rule 1 of the International Tennis Federation.
It hangs from a rope or metal cable with a maximum diameter of 0.8 cm, running from post to post. At the center, it is held down by a white strap that is at most 5 cm wide. A white band, 5 to 6.35 cm on each side, covers the rope and the top edge of the net.
The net must fill the entire space between the posts, with a mesh small enough that the ball cannot pass through.
If you measure it at your club, do so in the center: it must be 0.914 m, held by the strap.
Where do the posts and singles sticks go?
The center of each post is placed 0.914 m outside the doubles line, according to Rule 1 of the International Tennis Federation. There are 12.80 m from post to post (Appendix X).
In singles, the net is set up in one of two ways:
- with a singles net, and the posts 0.914 m outside the singles line;
- with the doubles net, held at 1.07 m by two singles sticks, also 0.914 m outside that line.
The posts can be at most 15 cm square or in diameter, and the sticks 7.5 cm. Neither can extend more than 2.5 cm above the top of the net rope.
A detail with an effect on play: in singles, a serve that hits the stick and then lands in the correct box is a fault (Rule 19).
How wide are the court lines?
The lines of a tennis court are between 2.5 and 5 cm wide, according to Rule 1 of the International Tennis Federation. There are three exceptions: the baselines can be up to 10 cm, and the center service line and the center mark are exactly 5 cm.
The 10 cm center mark extends inward from the center of each baseline and separates the two halves from which one serves.
Measurements are taken from the outside of the lines: the line is part of the court, and a ball that touches it counts as in (Rule 12).
What changes between a singles court and a doubles court?
Only the width: the doubles court adds a 1.37 m alley on each side, increasing from 8.23 to 10.97 m. The length, net, and service boxes are the same, according to Rule 1 of the International Tennis Federation.
It is standard practice to mark both widths on the same court: Appendix X uses the combined singles and doubles court as the standard.
Service boxes do not grow in doubles. Service lines are drawn only between the singles sidelines, and the serve must land in the diagonally opposite box (Rules 1 and 17). The alley comes into play after the return.
How much space is needed around the court?
For club and recreational play, the International Tennis Federation recommends leaving at least 5.48 m behind each baseline and 3.05 m on each side. For international competition, 6.40 m and 3.66 m. This is found in Appendix X of their rules.
| Club and recreational play | International competition | |
|---|---|---|
| Behind each baseline | 5.48 m | 6.40 m |
| On each side | 3.05 m | 3.66 m |
| Total space, court plus margins | 34.73 × 17.07 m | 36.57 × 18.29 m |
| Total surface area | approx. 593 m² | approx. 669 m² |
The court is the same in both cases, occupying about 261 m² in doubles and 196 m² in singles. What changes from a club to an international tournament is the margin for running behind and to the sides. These are recommendations: the ITF provides them "as a guide."
Minimum ceiling height: 9.0 m, measured above the net from the ground to the ceiling. This is the minimum recommended by the ITF for an indoor court (Appendix X).
Why are the court measurements such odd numbers?
Because the International Tennis Federation rules are written in feet and inches, and the meters are the conversion. In feet, they are all round numbers:
| Measurement | Feet | Meters |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 78 | 23.77 |
| Singles width | 27 | 8.23 |
| Doubles width | 36 | 10.97 |
| From net to service line | 21 | 6.40 |
| Net at the center | 3 | 0.914 |
| Net at the posts | 3½ | 1.07 |
That is why you see 23.77 and not 24: they are exactly 78 feet.
What are the dimensions for children's mini-tennis courts?
There are two mini-tennis courts for children up to 10 years old, each played with its own ball: the red dot and the orange dot. The red court measures 10.97 to 12.80 m long and 4.27 to 6.10 m wide; the orange, 17.68 to 18.29 m long and 6.10 to 8.23 m wide.
These are set by the International Tennis Federation in Appendix VIII of its rules for 10-and-under competition. Each goes with its own net and ball:
| Court | Length | Width | Net at center | Ball | ITF recommended age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 10.97 to 12.80 m | 4.27 to 6.10 m | 0.800 to 0.838 m | red dot (stage 3) | up to 8 years |
| Orange | 17.68 to 18.29 m | 6.10 to 8.23 m | 0.800 to 0.914 m | orange dot (stage 2) | 8 to 10 years |
| Green | 23.77 m | 8.23 or 10.97 m | 0.914 m | green dot (stage 1) | advanced, 9 to 10 years |
Be careful if you consult the Spanish version of the rules: next to the 0.838 m for the red court net, it says "27 feet," which is a typo. The English text says 33 inches, and that is the authority according to the ITF itself.
Each stage also involves a specific racket length in the same appendix. This is explained, along with size by height, in our tennis rackets section. And the red, orange, and green dot balls, in tennis balls.
With each stage, the court, net, ball, and racket change simultaneously: that is why it is important to know which one the child plays with before buying.
Sport and Trend · Figures taken from the 2026 Rules of Tennis of the International Tennis Federation (Rule 1 and appendices I, VIII, IX, and X) and the 2026 Rules of Padel of the International Padel Federation, checked one by one in the original English and Spanish PDFs on September 28, 2026. Nothing has been measured on the court, and a member of the team reviews it before publication.