Padel Court Dimensions:Complete Guide to Court Size, Zones, and Layout
The padel court is 20m x 10m, enclosed by glass walls and metal fencing. Here is everything you need to know: wall heights, net specifications, service boxes, court zones, and how padel compares to tennis and squash.
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The PadelRevive Team
Written by players, for players — built in Zanzibar · Updated May 2026
20x10m
Padel Court
7m
Back Wall Total Height
0.88m
Net Centre Height
In short: the padel court is 20x10m (200m2), enclosed with glass walls at the back and sides, metal fencing above and at the sides. The net sits at 0.88m in the centre. All padel courts worldwide must meet these World Padel Tour / FIP specifications — which means any court you play on, anywhere, has the same dimensions.
Court Overview: Dimensions and Playing Surface
The numbers every padel player and spectator should know
A padel court measures exactly 20 metres long by 10 metres wide. Total playing area: 200 square metres. The court is enclosed on all sides by a combination of glass walls and metal fencing, which is the defining structural feature of padel — not just a visual one. Balls that rebound off the walls after bouncing on the floor are still live, and playing off the glass is an active tactical choice rather than a hazard.
The playing surface is almost universally artificial grass (synthetic turf), either sand-filled or padded. This gives a moderate level of grip with a small amount of controlled slide — the surface is forgiving on joints compared to hard court tennis, which is one reason padel has been described as lower-impact for knees and hips. The artificial grass surface also affects bounce: balls stay lower and travel faster along the floor than on clay or grass tennis courts.
The court is divided across the centre by the net, with each half measuring 10m x 10m. A service line runs across each half parallel to the net at 6.95m from it. A centre service line divides each half of the court from the service line to the net, creating the service boxes. Outside the service line, running to the back glass, is the open back-court area with no further line divisions.
Court dimensions at a glance
Overall court: 20 metres long x 10 metres wide
Each half of the court: 10m x 10m
Service line: 6.95m from the net in each half
Total playing area: 200m2
Surface: artificial grass (sand-filled or padded synthetic turf)
Enclosure: glass walls and metal fencing on all sides
Balls remain live after bouncing off any wall — walls are part of the game
For reference: a tennis singles court is 23.77 metres long by 8.23 metres wide (195.6m2 playing area). A squash court is 9.75 metres long by 6.4 metres wide (62.4m2). Padel sits between the two in footprint, but the enclosed design makes it play very differently from either. The enclosure means you never lose a ball over the back — it returns to you from the glass.
Wall Heights: Back Glass and Side Fencing
The enclosure structure that defines padel and changes how every point is played
The back wall — running perpendicular to the direction of play behind each baseline — consists of two sections stacked vertically. At ground level: solid glass panels 3 metres high. Above the glass: metal wire fencing extending a further 4 metres, giving a total back wall height of 7 metres. The glass section is what creates the bounce-back play that defines padel; the wire mesh above prevents the ball from leaving the court on high lobs.
The side walls — running parallel to the direction of play along each side of the court — have a more complex structure. In the service box area (the central section of the court between the service line and the net zone), the side wall consists of 3 metres of glass with metal fencing above. In the back-court area (behind the service line toward each baseline), the side wall configuration transitions: typically 3m of glass near the baseline corner, with the precise structure varying by court manufacturer within FIP tolerances.
All glass used in FIP-compliant courts must be tempered safety glass. If the glass shatters (from a hard impact), it breaks into small blunt fragments rather than sharp shards. The glass panels are held in aluminium frames and must be free of significant reflections or distortions that would affect play. Courts intended for professional or high-level competition are inspected for compliance with these specifications.
What the wall heights mean for play
The 3m glass section is the primary play surface — this is where the ball bounces back at a predictable angle. The 4m fencing above is out of reach for all practical purposes; balls that reach the fencing section typically result in a lost point. Understanding the glass-to-fencing transition point is valuable when playing from the back court: shots that strike the fencing above 3m come back unpredictably and slowly.
A key rule that confuses beginners: the ball can be played off any wall, but it must first bounce off the floor before hitting a wall (except in one specific scenario — a ball that is played directly into the back glass without a bounce, which is called a “remate” or specific type of shot). This floor-first rule applies to normal play: your opponents hit a shot, it bounces on your half of the court, rebounds off the back glass, and you can play it back. What is not legal is volleying the ball directly into your own wall to use it as a bounce surface.
Service Boxes: Dimensions and Rules
Where the point begins — and why the serve is the most rule-specific shot in padel
The service boxes are the four rectangular zones created by the service line and centre service line in each half of the court. Each service box measures 5 metres wide (half the court width of 10m) by 6.95 metres deep (the distance from the net to the service line). Each pair of service boxes — left and right — sits on one side of the net.
When serving, the server stands behind the service line in their half of the court and must bounce the ball within their service box. The ball is then struck below waist height with an underarm or sidearm motion. The served ball must clear the net and land in the diagonally opposite service box — right-side serve goes to left-side box, left-side serve goes to right-side box.
The side wall rule for service is particularly important: after the served ball bounces in the correct service box, it may hit the side wall and remain in play — the receiver must still play it. However, if the served ball bounces in the service box and then immediately hits the side wall before the receiver has a reasonable chance to play it, this is a fault in some interpretations. The FIP rules specify that the served ball must bounce first in the service box, and the receiver returns from that point. If the ball touches the side fence or wire before bouncing in the service box, it is always a fault.
Service box rules
Service box dimensions: 5m wide x 6.95m deep in each half
Server must bounce the ball inside their own service box before striking
Ball must be struck below waist height — overhead serving is not permitted
Served ball must clear the net and land in the diagonally opposite box
Ball hitting side wire before landing in the service box = fault
Ball landing in the service box then hitting the side wall = in play
Two serve attempts per point — a double fault concedes the point
Net Specifications: Height, Length, and Posts
The net dimensions that are identical to tennis — and why that matters
The padel net stretches the full 10-metre width of the court. Net height at the centre: 0.88 metres. Net height at the posts: 0.92 metres. The slight sag in the centre is a standard feature of net construction under tension — the posts hold the net at 0.92m at each end, and the natural curve of the net under its own weight brings the centre to 0.88m. These are identical to tennis net specifications.
The net posts are positioned outside the court boundary on each side. This means the full 10m width of the court is playable from sideline to sideline — there is no post in the playing area. The bottom of the net must sit flush with the court surface with no gap that a ball could pass under. If a ball clips the net and lands in the correct area during a rally, it remains in play; if it clips the net during a serve, it is a let (serve is replayed).
Unlike tennis, padel players do not play along the areas adjacent to the net posts at the sides — those narrow zones near the posts are playable but tactically marginal. The net plays a standard role in padel: balls that fail to clear it are a fault if it occurs during the serve, and lose the point during a rally. There is no equivalent of the pickleball kitchen zone — you can volley immediately at the net in padel.
You know the feeling — you step onto a padel court for the first time and the enclosure feels smaller than you expected. Most players don’t realise how much the wall dimensions change the game tactically compared to tennis. What actually works is learning to use the back glass as your fifth player — the court geometry rewards players who understand its dimensions.
Court Zones: Net, Mid-Court, Back Court, and Callejon
How the 20x10m space divides into tactical areas that shape every point
The padel court divides naturally into three horizontal zones based on distance from the net, plus two side channels that have their own tactical identity.
Net zone (0-3m from the net): The dominant attacking position in padel. Players at the net control angles, intercept balls before they reach the back court, and generate volleys that opponents struggle to return from distance. The goal of most padel points is to win and hold the net zone while forcing opponents into the back court. When both pairs hold the net simultaneously, the rally becomes a rapid exchange of volleys and precise placement, with both sides looking for a gap or a lob to break the standoff.
Mid-court / transitional zone (3-7m from the net): The most dangerous place to be caught in padel. Too close to the net to play reliable back-court shots, and too far back to volley efficiently. Skilled opponents attack mid-court players with low balls aimed at the feet — shots that are nearly impossible to handle cleanly when you are not fully set at the net or back. Move through this zone quickly when transitioning between net and back court; never settle here.
Back court / glass zone (7-10m from the net, behind the service line): The defensive position. Players in the back court use lobs (globos) and low chiquitas to work back toward the net. The back glass is a major tactical element here: balls that reach the glass and rebound into the court are still live, and experienced players use the glass actively by playing shots that angle into the glass and redirect unpredictably. Watching where the ball strikes the glass relative to the 3m glass-to-fencing boundary is a key skill.
Callejon (the side channels): The narrow alleys running between the service boxes and the side walls on each side of the court. “Callejon” is the Spanish word for alley or narrow street. These channels are the primary target for the vibora — the aggressive topspin smash that sends the ball into the sideline-glass junction at an angle that exits sharply behind the opponent. Controlling the callejon with accurate smashes and angled volleys is a mark of intermediate to advanced padel play. Beginners often neglect the callejon entirely, playing everything down the middle.
A padel court is 20 metres long and 10 metres wide, giving a total playing area of 200 square metres. The court is divided across the centre by the net. Each half measures 10m x 10m. A service line at 6.95m from the net in each half creates the service boxes. The court is fully enclosed by glass walls and metal fencing on all sides.
How does a padel court compare to a tennis court?
A tennis singles court is 23.77 metres long by 8.23 metres wide (around 195.6m2). A padel court is 20m x 10m (200m2). They are similar in overall area, but completely different in design. A tennis court is open — balls that land outside the lines are out of play. A padel court is fully enclosed: balls that rebound off the walls after bouncing on the floor are still in play, which changes strategy fundamentally.
How high are padel court walls?
The back walls (behind each baseline) are 7 metres total: 3 metres of glass at the base, plus 4 metres of metal wire fencing above. The side walls in the service box zone are also 3 metres of glass with fencing above. The glass section is the active playing surface — balls that rebound off the lower glass section come back into play. Balls that reach the fencing above 3m are still technically in play but are rarely retrievable.
Is a padel court the same size everywhere?
Yes. All FIP (Federacion Internacional de Padel) approved courts must measure 20m x 10m. The wall heights, net dimensions, and service line positions are also standardised. This means any FIP-compliant padel court you play on anywhere in the world has the same dimensions. Some indoor training courts or club courts built before standardisation may vary slightly, but any court hosting organised competition must meet FIP specifications.
What is the net height in padel?
The padel net is 0.88 metres high at the centre and 0.92 metres at the posts. The slight sag in the middle is a standard feature of net construction. These measurements are identical to the tennis net specification. The net extends the full 10-metre width of the court. During a serve, if the ball clips the net and lands in the correct service box, it is a let (the serve is replayed). During a rally, a ball that clips the net remains in play.
What is the callejon in padel?
The callejon is the side channel — the narrow alley running between the service box and the side wall on each side of the court. The word is Spanish for a narrow street or alley. Tactically, the callejon is the primary target zone for the vibora (an aggressive topspin smash) because balls played into the sideline-glass junction exit at sharp, unpredictable angles. Controlling the callejon with accurate smashes and angled volleys is a mark of experienced padel play.
