Backyard Volleyball & Badminton Courts: Dimensions, Net Heights & Layout
Updated
Backyard volleyball court dimensions start with the rulebook court: 59 × 29.5 ft (18 × 9 m). Few yards have room for that plus the open space the rules want around it. That's fine. A recreational net on a multi-use pad still gets everyone playing.
This guide covers volleyball and badminton court sizes, net heights, and how one set of posts can handle several games. For project options, see backyard courts.
Volleyball court dimensions for a hard court
The USA Volleyball Indoor Rules (opens in new tab) set the standard court. They include a rule for outdoor courts, too (Rule 1.2.3).
| Part of the court | Size | USA Volleyball rule |
|---|---|---|
| Court | 18 × 9 m (59 ft × 29 ft 6 in) | 1.1 |
| Each side of the net | 9 × 9 m (29 ft 6 in square) | 1.3.3 |
| Attack line | 3 m (9 ft 10 in) from the center line | 1.3.4 |
| Line width | 5 cm (2 in) | 1.3.1 |
| Free zone around the court | At least 2 m (6 ft 6¾ in) | 1.1 |
| Clear space overhead | 7 m (23 ft) | 1.1 |
| Slope on outdoor courts | Up to 5 mm per meter (0.5%) | 1.2.3 |
Add the free zone to get the full footprint
Here's the math. The court is 18 m long, plus 2 m at each end, for 22 m (about 72 ft). It's 9 m wide, plus 2 m on each side, for 13 m (about 43 ft).
So a hard court with the minimum free zone needs about 72 × 43 ft. The rules say the free zone doesn't have to be the same on every side (Rule 1.1).
Look up before you pick the spot
USA Volleyball wants 7 m (23 ft) of clear space above the court for sanctioned play and recommends it for all play. In a backyard, that means no branches or power lines over the court.
Beach and grass volleyball dimensions
The USA Volleyball Beach Rules (opens in new tab) cover both sand and grass.
- Court: 16 × 8 m (52 ft 6 in × 26 ft 3 in), with no center line (Rules 1.1.1 and 1.3.2)
- Free zone: at least 3 m (9 ft 10 in) on all sides (Rule 1.1.1)
- Lines: 5 cm (2 in) ribbons; USA Volleyball also allows rope lines (Rule 1.3.1)
With the free zone, that's 22 × 14 m, or about 72 × 46 ft. That's simple math from the rule.
Plan the sand depth before you dig
For top international events, the rules call for at least 40 cm (15¾ in) of sand (Rule 1.2.2). HomeGuide (opens in new tab) says a standard sand court uses 100+ tons of sand, at least 12 in deep.
Keep a grass court smooth
USA Volleyball says grass courts must be kept free of holes, puddles, and uneven ground (Rule 1.2.4).
Volleyball net heights
| Players | Net height | USA Volleyball rule |
|---|---|---|
| Men and co-ed | 2.43 m (7 ft 11⅝ in) | Indoor 2.1.1 and co-ed rule 1.5 |
| Women and reverse co-ed | 2.24 m (7 ft 4⅛ in) | Indoor 2.1.1 and co-ed rule 2.6 |
| Beach, men and women | Same heights as above | Beach 2.1 |
Youth nets drop by age group. For example, indoor play for ages 13/14 and under uses 2.24 m for boys and girls. Net height is measured at the center of the court (Rule 2.1.2).
Set volleyball posts just outside the court
Indoor rules place posts 0.5 to 1 m (20 to 39 in) outside the sidelines. Beach rules say 0.7 to 1 m. Both call for posts 2.55 m (8 ft 4 in) tall, preferably adjustable, and padded to at least 1.7 m (5 ft 6 in).
Badminton court dimensions
The BWF Laws of Badminton (opens in new tab) (Law 1 and Diagram A) set these sizes. Feet are converted from meters.
| Part of the court | Size |
|---|---|
| Court, singles and doubles | 13.40 × 6.10 m (about 44 × 20 ft) |
| Singles sidelines | 0.46 m (about 1 ft 6 in) inside the doubles sidelines |
| Short service line | 1.98 m (about 6 ft 6 in) from the net |
| Doubles long service line | 0.76 m (about 2 ft 6 in) inside the back boundary |
| Line width | 40 mm (about 1½ in) |
| Posts | 1.55 m tall, on the doubles sidelines |
| Net height | 1.55 m (about 5 ft 1 in) at the sidelines, 1.524 m (5 ft) at center |
Use the pickleball outline for badminton
The USA Pickleball rulebook (opens in new tab) sets its court at 20 ft (6.10 m) by 44 ft (13.41 m) (Rule 3.A.1). That's the same footprint as doubles badminton, a point HomeGuide (opens in new tab) makes too.
The inside lines differ. Pickleball's kitchen line sits 7 ft from the net. Badminton's short service line sits about 6 ft 6 in away. For family games, the pickleball lines work fine. Add true badminton lines in a second color if you want them.
Plan for wind
Shuttles are light, so wind pushes them around. The BWF built an outdoor game, AirBadminton (opens in new tab), for this. Its AirShuttle (opens in new tab) was designed to play in winds up to 12 km/h (about 7.5 mph).
The AirBadminton court for doubles is 16 × 6 m (about 52.5 × 19.7 ft), with a 2-m dead zone in front of the net. If your yard gets a steady breeze, an outdoor shuttle is worth a try.
One set of sleeves, several net heights
Every net game on a shared pad uses a different height.
| Game | Height at the posts or sidelines | Height at center | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickleball | 36 in | 34 in | USA Pickleball Rules 3.B.6–3.B.7 |
| Badminton | 1.55 m (about 5 ft 1 in) | 1.524 m (5 ft) | BWF Law 1 |
| Volleyball, women and reverse co-ed | — | 2.24 m (7 ft 4⅛ in) | USA Volleyball 2.1 |
| Volleyball, men and co-ed | — | 2.43 m (7 ft 11⅝ in) | USA Volleyball 2.1 |
Choose adjustable posts
Adjustable net systems move one net between heights. As an example, VersaCourt (opens in new tab) lists settings of 93 in for volleyball, 62 in for badminton, and 36 in for tennis. Crank-and-pulley net systems are another option. These are examples, not recommendations.
Space the sleeves for the widest game
Here's the math on post spacing:
- Pickleball: 22 ft apart, inside to inside (Rule 3.B.2)
- Badminton: on the sidelines, so about 20 ft apart
- Volleyball, hard court: 0.5 to 1 m outside a 9-m court, so about 33 to 36 ft apart
Sleeves at the pickleball spacing work for pickleball and casual badminton. The BWF wants badminton posts right on the sideline, but a post 1 ft outside it is fine for backyard play. Full-width volleyball needs its own pair of sleeves farther out.
Set sleeves before the concrete is poured
HomeGuide suggests setting ground sleeve sockets before the pour. When the posts come out, the holes sit below the surface. That clears the middle of the pad for basketball or four square.
Choose a surface: hard court, sand, or grass
| Surface | Best for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Hard court (concrete or asphalt with acrylic, or modular tiles) | Multi-use pads with basketball and pickleball | Diving on a hard court hurts, so it suits casual bump-and-set |
| Sand | Real beach-style volleyball | Tons of sand, and it can't double as a basketball court |
| Grass | The cheapest place to start | The rules call for a smooth, well-kept surface |
Comparing hard surfaces? Read our guide to modular court tiles vs concrete.
Fit volleyball and badminton on a multi-use pad
On a 30 × 60 ft pad, share the pickleball outline
Badminton fits on the 20 × 44 ft outline. Volleyball works too, as a recreational game on the same width.
Full-size volleyball lines (59 × 29.5 ft) squeeze in with only about 3 in to spare on each side. The posts would land off the pad, so that layout rarely makes sense.
On a 34 × 64 ft pad, add full-width volleyball lines
Full-size lines fit with about 2 ft 3 in beside each sideline and 2 ft 6 in at each end. Posts set 0.5 m outside the lines land about 7 in inside the pad edge. That's below the 2-m free zone, so it's still recreational.
Go bigger for a regulation court
A hard court with the USA Volleyball free zone needs about 72 × 43 ft. A sand court needs about 72 × 46 ft. See our basketball and pickleball combo court guide for full layouts by pad size.
Pick one slope for every sport
USA Volleyball allows up to 0.5% slope outdoors. HomeGuide suggests 0.83% to 1% for pickleball courts. On a shared pad, set the slope with your main sport in mind. Either way, heavy Gulf Coast rain needs a path off the court.
Plan yours
Measure your space, note any trees or wires overhead, and take a few photos. Then ask about your court for a free quote. We can help you plan which net games fit and where the sleeves should go.
Ready to compare options? Visit backyard courts.
FAQ
What are backyard volleyball court dimensions?
A regulation court is 59 × 29.5 ft (18 × 9 m). With the USA Volleyball 2-m free zone, the full footprint is about 72 × 43 ft. Many backyard courts use smaller recreational layouts.
How high is a volleyball net for co-ed play?
USA Volleyball sets co-ed nets at 2.43 m (7 ft 11⅝ in), the same as men's. Reverse co-ed uses the women's height, 2.24 m (7 ft 4⅛ in).
Is a badminton court the same size as a pickleball court?
The outline is. A doubles badminton court is 13.40 × 6.10 m, about 44 × 20 ft, and a pickleball court is 20 × 44 ft. The inside lines and net heights differ.
Can I play volleyball on a pickleball court?
Yes, for casual games. Raise the net on adjustable posts and play on the 20-ft width. Full-width volleyball lines need a pad about 34 ft wide.
How much space does a sand volleyball court need?
The beach court is 16 × 8 m (52 ft 6 in × 26 ft 3 in). With the 3-m free zone on every side, plan for about 72 × 46 ft.