If you’re marking out a court, checking a local facility, or simply trying to picture how much room a match uses, the key numbers are easy to remember: a tennis court is 78 feet long, and it is either 27 or 36 feet wide depending on whether you’re playing singles or doubles.
Those measurements describe the playing lines, not the full area needed for a court and its surrounding space. That distinction matters: a regulation court can fit inside a much larger fenced area, and the extra room gives players space to chase shots without running into a fence or wall.
Official tennis court dimensions in feet
| Measurement | Singles court | Doubles court |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 78 feet | 78 feet |
| Width | 27 feet | 36 feet |
| Playing area | 2,106 square feet | 2,808 square feet |
The length stays the same for both formats. Doubles adds 9 feet of width—4 feet 6 inches on each side—by using the outer sidelines. In singles, the inside sidelines mark the legal width. In doubles, the outside sidelines do.
The 78-by-36-foot figure is the full rectangular area inside the doubles boundary lines. A singles court is not a separate, shorter court: it uses the same length and a narrower set of lines within the doubles court.
How the lines divide the court
The net sits halfway along the 78-foot length, leaving 39 feet from the net to either baseline. The service lines are closer to the net: each one is 21 feet from the net, creating a service box on each side of the court.
Each side’s service boxes are divided by a center service line. The center mark is a short line in the middle of each baseline. It helps a server position correctly: when serving, the player must start behind the baseline and to the appropriate side of the center mark.
- Baseline to net: 39 feet on each side.
- Net to service line: 21 feet on each side.
- Baseline to service line: 18 feet.
- Singles sidelines: 27 feet apart.
- Doubles sidelines: 36 feet apart.
The four service boxes are each 21 feet long and 13 feet 6 inches wide. A serve must land in the diagonally opposite box. That’s why a service box can feel like a small target, even though the full court looks spacious from behind the baseline.
Why singles and doubles feel so different
In singles, players have 27 feet of width to defend on their own. A crosscourt shot travels diagonally across the court, using a longer path than a shot hit straight down the line. That gives a player more margin over the net and more room for a ball to land in. The trade-off is time: a sharp crosscourt angle can pull an opponent well outside the singles sideline.
Doubles uses the extra 9 feet of width, but each team has two players to cover it. The wider court rewards purposeful positioning: partners often divide responsibilities between the net and baseline, and a well-placed volley can exploit space between them. The service boxes, however, do not get wider for doubles. A doubles serve still has to land inside the same 13-foot-6-inch-wide box.
There are also two notable exceptions to the usual boundary rules. During a serve, the ball must land in the service box, not simply anywhere inside the sidelines. After the return of serve, the doubles alleys are in play in doubles; in singles, a ball landing beyond the singles sideline is out.
The court is not the same size as the fenced area
When someone asks how much land a tennis court needs, they may mean the playing lines or the full space around them. The line-to-line doubles area is 78 by 36 feet. But players need clear space behind the baselines and beside the sidelines to move safely and keep a rally going.
A commonly used planning footprint is about 120 feet long by 60 feet wide for one court, including surrounding run-off space. That is a facility-planning guideline, not the official size of the marked court. Local requirements can differ, and the room needed may depend on the level of play, fencing, lighting, and site conditions. For a new build, confirm dimensions with the relevant tennis facility standards and local authorities before construction.
| Area | Typical dimensions | What it describes |
|---|---|---|
| Singles playing lines | 78 × 27 feet | The marked singles playing rectangle |
| Doubles playing lines | 78 × 36 feet | The marked doubles playing rectangle |
| Common planning footprint | About 120 × 60 feet | A court plus space for movement around it |
For a player, the difference is practical. A court with little room behind the baseline can make deep shots awkward to retrieve, while a narrow sideline run-off can feel cramped when chasing a wide ball. If you’re comparing local courts, look beyond the painted lines: the space around them affects comfort and safety.
Net height and line measurements
The net is 3 feet high at the center and 3 feet 6 inches high at the posts. Its slight dip toward the middle is intentional. A ball that clips the net cord and lands in the correct area can still be in play during a rally; on a serve, it is a let if it lands in the proper service box.
Line widths are part of the court markings, not extra space added outside the court dimensions. Most lines are between 1 and 2 inches wide, while the baseline can be up to 4 inches wide. When measuring or repainting a court, use the line edges consistently so the finished playing area matches the intended dimensions.
Quick tips for measuring or marking a court
- Start with the 78-foot length. Mark the baselines first, then locate the net halfway between them.
- Choose the format. Measure 27 feet across for the singles sidelines or 36 feet for the doubles sidelines.
- Mark the service lines. Set each one 21 feet from the net, on its own side.
- Check both diagonals. Matching diagonal measurements help confirm that the court is square rather than skewed.
- Allow space outside the lines. The playing rectangle alone is not a safe or comfortable facility footprint.
For a rough sense of scale, a doubles court covers 2,808 square feet inside the lines—about 702 square feet more than the singles playing area. That comparison can be useful when estimating surface area, but material needs may also depend on the surrounding run-off zone and the construction method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a tennis court 78 feet long?
Yes. The playing court is 78 feet long for both singles and doubles. The width changes: 27 feet for singles and 36 feet for doubles.
How many feet is a tennis court including the space around it?
The marked doubles court is 78 by 36 feet. A common planning footprint that includes surrounding movement space is about 120 by 60 feet, though the exact facility dimensions can vary.
How far is the service line from the net?
Each service line is 21 feet from the net. It is 18 feet from the baseline.
Are the doubles alleys used in singles?
No. In singles, the inside sidelines define the width. The alleys between the singles and doubles sidelines are in play during doubles, but out during singles rallies.
Final Thoughts
For the quickest answer, remember 78 feet long, 27 feet wide for singles, and 36 feet wide for doubles. The net divides the length in half, and the service lines sit 21 feet from it. If you’re planning a court or choosing a place to play, also account for the space beyond the marked lines: the playing dimensions are fixed, but a good court needs room around them.
