A Guide to Sports Court Sizes

If you are investing in designing and creating a sports court, you need to understand the required court sizes to determine the space and materials you need. We work with clients to build shade structures for sports courts, so we know the relevant dimensions and are sharing the information with you to help.

Basketball court

Basketball is a popular sport in Australia due to the work of organisations like Basketball Australia that promote and develop the sport. This popularity means there is an ongoing need for basketball courts in the country.

If you aim to enhance your community by building a basketball court, you will start by determining the size of a basketball court, ensuring you have sufficient space for the project.

A full-size basketball court is 28 x 15 metres. If you have less space, you can consider creating a half-court, which should measure 20 x 20 metres. The run-off area around the playing surface can vary, but the recommended size is at least two metres along each side of the court.

Tennis court

Australia is well-known as the home of a prestigious tennis Grand Glam event, the Australian Open, and the sport is played by many people, not just professionals. Research suggests that more than 1.4 million Australians play the game.

Anyone creating a space for people to play tennis must understand the size of a tennis court, as defined in the International Tennis Federation’s (ITF’s) Rules of Tennis. On most occasions, tennis courts are built to the correct dimensions for doubles matches with line markings to indicate the playing area for singles matches.

The recommended minimum size for an international standard doubles tennis court is 23.77 x 10.97 metres. For singles matches, the dimensions are 23.77 x 8.23. You also have to consider run-off. This run-off should be a minimum of 5.48 metres behind each baseline and 3.05 metres at each side of the court. To put this into context, the sizes for tennis courts (to play doubles and singles matches), including runoff are as follows:

•  International courts recommended size - 40.2 x 20.1 metres.
•  International courts minimum size - 36.6 x 18.3 metres.

Recreational courts minimum size – 34.8 x 17.1 metres. 

Netball court

The origins of netball in Australia began in 1927, and today, organisations like Netball Australia help the sport continue growing. If you want to play a part in this by creating a space where people can play, you will want to know the size of a netball court. 

The size of the playing court is 30.5 x 15.25 metres. It’s divided into three equal areas, a centre third, and two goal thirds. Each of these areas is 10.167 metres wide. During court surfacing, the line dividing each area is marked out, together with all other necessary delineation. The minimum runoff at the sides of the court is 3.05 metres. 

Pickleball court

Pickleball was created in the US in 1965, but its popularity has only increased in Australia in the last eight years. Now, you will often see the game played at tennis clubs across the country as tennis courts are converted to multi-purpose use. 

Whether converting a tennis court or creating a new facility, you must understand pickleball court dimensions. The size of a pickleball court is 13.4 x 6.1 metres. Considering the recommended runoffs, the area required increases to 18.5 x 9.1 metres. 

These dimensions mean that four pickleball courts can fit into the space occupied by one tennis court. In some areas, this type of conversion is becoming increasingly popular. 

Covering outdoor sports courts 

The information we have provided allows you to determine the amount of space needed to build a court for basketball, tennis, netball, or pickleball. If you are building a court, you can consider enlisting the services of a court designer to ensure the final result is successful.

We can design coverings for outdoor courts that protect them from extreme weather conditions. A shade cover also makes your sports court a more pleasant place for people to play and reduces the likelihood of the weather stopping play.

Simply contact us to discuss your sports court shade structure requirements, and we will work with you to ensure your finished court is an attractive, safe, and comfortable space for people to use.