Padel Court Dimensions and Specifications

Basic Court Dimensions

A regulation padel court is rectangular and enclosed, measuring exactly 20 metres long by 10 metres wide. These dimensions are standardized worldwide by the International Padel Federation.

Overall Court Measurements

• Length: 20 metres (65.6 feet)
• Width: 10 metres (32.8 feet)
• Total playing area: 200 square metres
• Tolerance: ±0.5% allowed in official measurements

Court Zone Breakdown

• Each half court: 10m × 10m (100 square metres)
• Service boxes: 5m × 5m (25 square metres each)
• Back court area: 5m × 10m behind service line on each side
• Net zone: 0.88m high net runs the full 10m width

Comparison to Other Court Sports

• Tennis court: 23.77m × 10.97m (78% the size of tennis)
• Badminton court: 13.4m × 6.1m (padel is 2.4x larger)
• Squash court: 9.75m × 6.4m (padel is 3.2x larger)
• Basketball half court: 14m × 15m (padel is slightly smaller)

Wall Specifications

Back Wall Dimensions

The back walls are the most important structural element of a padel court:

• Height: 4 metres total (13.1 feet)
• Glass section: 3 metres high (9.8 feet)
• Mesh section: 1 metre high above the glass (3.3 feet)
• Width: Full 10 metres width of the court

Side Wall Layout

Side walls have a more complex structure with varying heights:

• Back section (4m from back wall): 3m glass + 1m mesh = 4m total
• Middle section (next 2m): 2m glass + 1m mesh = 3m total
• Front section (final 4m): 3m mesh only
• Entry gaps: 0.82m to 1.05m wide opening on each side

Wall Construction Materials

• Glass: Minimum 10mm tempered safety glass
• Mesh: Galvanized steel mesh with 5cm × 5cm squares
• Posts: Galvanized steel posts every 1.5-3 metres
• Foundation: Concrete foundation extending below ground

Safety Requirements

• Glass quality: Must meet safety glass standards
• Post protection: Posts covered with protective padding where accessible
• Edge protection: Smooth edges on all mesh and glass sections
• Structural integrity: Walls must withstand ball impact and player contact

Net and Post Specifications

Net Dimensions

• Height at posts: 0.88 metres (2.89 feet)
• Height at center: 0.88 metres (no sag allowed)
• Width: 10 metres (full court width)
• Net depth: Minimum 0.88 metres from post to post

Net Construction

• Material: Dark colored mesh (black or dark green)
• Mesh size: Square holes not exceeding 50mm × 50mm
• Top band: White band 5-6.3cm wide along the top
• Bottom band: White band 5-6.3cm wide along the bottom
• Tension: Uniformly tensioned to prevent sagging

Net Posts

• Height: 1.05 metres total height
• Position: Located 0.88m outside each sideline
• Material: Metal posts with protective padding
• Base: Firmly anchored to prevent movement

Comparison to Tennis

• Tennis net height: 1.07m at posts, 0.914m at center
• Padel advantage: Consistent height makes net play more predictable
• Post position: Padel posts are closer to the court (0.88m vs 0.914m)

Court Lines and Markings

Service Lines

• Service line position: 6.95 metres from the net on each side
• Distance from back wall: 3.05 metres
• Center service line: Runs from net to service line, dividing court in half
• Service box depth: 6.95 metres from net to service line

Line Specifications

• Line width: 5cm (2 inches) for all court lines
• Line color: White or yellow for high visibility
• Line material: Painted lines or adhesive tape approved for court surfaces
• Baseline: Lines at the back of the court against the back wall

Court Zones Created by Lines

• Right service box: 5m × 6.95m
• Left service box: 5m × 6.95m
• Back court left: 5m × 3.05m
• Back court right: 5m × 3.05m

Additional Court Markings

• Center mark: Small mark at the center of each baseline
• Hash marks: Optional marks at 1.5m intervals along sidelines
• Manufacturer logos: Allowed in designated areas
• Court number: Often displayed on back walls

Surface Materials and Construction

Playing Surface Options

• Artificial grass: Most common, provides good grip and ball bounce
• Concrete with sand finish: Durable but harder on joints
• Acrylic surface: Similar to tennis courts, less common in padel
• Synthetic turf: Higher-end artificial grass with better playability

Artificial Grass Specifications

• Pile height: 10-15mm for optimal ball bounce
• Fiber material: Polyethylene or polypropylene
• Infill: Silica sand for stability and performance
• Drainage: Perforated backing for water drainage
• UV resistance: Must withstand outdoor weather conditions

Foundation and Base

• Sub-base: Compacted crushed stone foundation
• Base layer: Fine aggregate for leveling
• Slope: 1% gradient for drainage (away from center)
• Moisture barrier: Prevents ground moisture affecting surface

Performance Characteristics

• Ball bounce: Consistent, slightly slower than hard courts
• Player grip: Good traction for movement and safety
• Joint impact: Softer than concrete, easier on players
• Maintenance: Requires regular cleaning and infill top-up

Lighting and Additional Standards

Lighting Requirements

• Minimum illumination: 200 lux average on court surface
• Professional level: 500 lux for competitive play
• Uniformity ratio: Maximum 2:1 variation across the court
• Glare control: Lighting positioned to minimize player glare

Light Positioning

• Height: Minimum 6 metres above court surface
• Placement: Outside the court structure to avoid ball contact
• Angle: 25-30 degrees from vertical to minimize shadows
• Color temperature: 4000-6000K for optimal visibility

Surrounding Area Requirements

• Clear height: Minimum 6 metres above court for ball clearance
• Side clearance: 2 metres minimum on each side for safety
• Back clearance: 3 metres behind each back wall for construction access
• Access paths: Clear pathways to court entrances

Environmental Considerations

• Wind protection: Windbreaks for outdoor courts in exposed locations
• Drainage: Proper surface and subsurface drainage systems
• Temperature: Surface materials suitable for local climate
• Noise control: Sound barriers if required by local regulations