A standard tennis court measures 78 feet long. Its width is 27 feet for singles and 36 feet for doubles, with the extra width made up of the two doubles alleys. Those playing dimensions are the same for recreational and professional tennis, and for hard, clay, and grass courts.
Knowing the measurements helps you understand court markings, choose a suitable space for a home court, or make sense of why a singles match can feel so different from doubles. The lines define the playing area, but a usable court also needs room beyond them for players to chase shots safely.
Standard Tennis Court Dimensions
The court is a rectangle measuring 78 feet from baseline to baseline. The full doubles court is 36 feet wide, while the singles sidelines sit 4.5 feet inside the doubles sidelines on each side.
| Measurement | Feet and inches | Metric |
|---|---|---|
| Court length | 78 feet | 23.77 m |
| Doubles court width | 36 feet | 10.97 m |
| Singles court width | 27 feet | 8.23 m |
| Width of each doubles alley | 4.5 feet | 1.37 m |
| Net height at center | 3 feet | 0.914 m |
| Net height at posts | 3 feet 6 inches | 1.07 m |
These are the standard marked-court measurements. They do not include the space outside the lines, which matters for movement, safety, and court construction.
How to Read the Court Lines
The baselines mark the ends of the court. Players serve from behind a baseline and rally within the appropriate sidelines. In singles, a shot must land inside the narrower singles sidelines. In doubles, the outer doubles sidelines are in play during rallies.
The service lines are 21 feet from the net, one on each side. A center service line divides the area between the net and each service line into two service boxes. Each box is 21 feet long and 13.5 feet wide. On a serve, the ball must land in the diagonally opposite box.
That diagonal target explains a useful piece of court geometry: a wide serve travels across more court than a serve aimed down the middle. It can pull a receiver away from the center, but it also gives the server a wider angle to manage. Players often weigh that trade-off when choosing a serve direction.
The small center mark on each baseline shows where the center line meets the baseline. It helps players line up their serving position and is also used to divide the baseline for serving rules.
Singles and Doubles: What Changes?
The court does not get longer for doubles. Instead, doubles uses the full 36-foot width, including the two alleys. Singles uses the inner sidelines and leaves those alleys out of play. The net spans the doubles court, so it is wider than the singles playing area.
| Format | Playing length | Playing width | What counts as in? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singles | 78 feet | 27 feet | Inside the singles sidelines |
| Doubles | 78 feet | 36 feet | Inside the doubles sidelines, including the alleys |
There is an exception during doubles service: the server still aims for the standard service box, which ends at the singles sideline. The alleys become part of the legal playing area after the serve. That is why a doubles court has extra width for rallies without extra-wide service boxes.
Net Height and Court Markings
The net is 3 feet high at the center and 3 feet 6 inches high at the posts. A center strap holds it at the required middle height. For singles on a doubles court, singles sticks support the net at the proper height near the singles sidelines.
Line width also matters when a court is measured. Most lines are between 1 and 2 inches wide, while a baseline may be as wide as 4 inches. Court dimensions are measured to the outside edge of the lines, so the painted markings are included in the stated size.
Playing Area Versus Total Court Space
A 78-by-36-foot rectangle is the marked doubles court, not the full space needed for a practical tennis facility. Players need room behind the baselines to serve and run down deep shots, plus space beside the sidelines to reach wide balls without running into a fence or wall.
For a general planning reference, an overall area around 120 by 60 feet is commonly used for a full-size court with surrounding space. The amount needed can vary with the facility, level of play, local rules, and available land. A tournament or club court should be planned to the relevant governing-body and building requirements rather than relying on the playing lines alone.
For a backyard court, check the whole footprint before construction: fencing, gates, lighting poles, drainage, and nearby landscaping can all affect safe movement. It is also worth confirming surface and setback requirements with a qualified court builder or local authority.
Do Court Dimensions Change by Surface or Level?
No. Standard tennis court playing dimensions remain the same on hard courts, clay, and grass, and at recreational, college, and professional levels. Surface changes how the ball bounces and how players move, but it does not change where the lines go.
Some junior programs use smaller courts and lower-compression balls to help children learn. Those are modified formats, not the standard full-size court. If you are booking a court or marking one for regular adult play, the measurements above are the ones to check.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard size of a tennis court in feet?
The marked court is 78 feet long and 36 feet wide for doubles. The singles playing area is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide.
How wide is a tennis court in meters?
The doubles court is 10.97 meters wide. The singles court is 8.23 meters wide. Both are 23.77 meters long.
Is a tennis court the same size for singles and doubles?
The length is the same, but the playing width differs. Singles uses the inner sidelines; doubles includes the alleys, adding 4.5 feet on each side.
How much space do you need to build a tennis court?
You need more space than the 78-by-36-foot playing rectangle. A planning footprint around 120 by 60 feet is a common reference, but exact requirements depend on the site and intended use. Get professional guidance before construction.
Final Thoughts
A standard tennis court is 78 feet long, with a playing width of 27 feet in singles and 36 feet in doubles. The service boxes, net, and sidelines follow fixed measurements across standard courts, whatever the surface. If you are planning a court, remember that the marked rectangle is only the playing area: safe run-off space belongs in the plan too.
