A regulation pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long — roughly the footprint of two parked cars. That is small enough that a driveway, a quiet cul-de-sac, or half a basketball court will hold one. Here is what you actually need.
- 20 × 44 ft of flat, hard, non-slick surface. Concrete or asphalt outdoors, smooth boards indoors.
- 30 × 60 ft of total space if you can get it, so nobody runs into a wall chasing a lob.
- A net and a throw-down marker set are genuinely all the court equipment a casual group needs.
- Check the net at 34 inches at centre before you play. It matters more than any paddle choice.
The dimensions that matter
- Court: 20 × 44 ft (6.1 × 13.4 m), lines included
- Net: 22 ft wide, 36 in high at the posts, 34 in at centre
- Kitchen (non-volley zone): 7 ft on each side of the net
- Ideal total space: 30 × 60 ft if you can get it, so nobody runs into a wall chasing a lob
The surface
You need flat, hard, and not slick. Concrete and asphalt are ideal; a smooth gym floor works indoors with the right ball (a 26-hole indoor ball, not the heavier outdoor one). Grass does not work — the ball does not bounce — and gravel is worse. If a surface feels dusty underfoot, sweep it first: dust is the main cause of slips.
| Surface | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Concrete / asphalt | Ideal. True bounce, good grip, takes throw-down markers well. |
| Sport court tiles | Very good. Slightly softer underfoot; tape or markers both work. |
| Smooth gym floor | Good indoors, with a 26-hole indoor ball. Sweep first — dust is slippery. |
| Grass | Does not work. The ball will not bounce. |
| Gravel or dirt | Worse. Unpredictable bounce and a genuine injury risk. |
Marking the lines
Chalk washes away mid-game and tape peels or leaves residue. Throw-down rubber markers — T shapes for the line junctions, L shapes for corners — are the tool designed for this: drop them, play, pick them up. The current set contains twelve pieces; plan their exact placement before relying on them for a clearly visible layout. You do not need continuous lines; players sight the corners and junctions, which is what the markers give you.
The net
A portable 22 ft net is listed as 22 ft wide. Confirm assembled height, packed dimensions, weight, and setup method for the selected model before relying on it for a specific venue.
34 inches at centre. A net an inch high or low changes the game more than any paddle choice does — and portable nets sag as the tape stretches, so it is worth re-checking rather than assuming.
A realistic setup sequence
- Sweep the surface. Dust is the main cause of slips, and it stops markers gripping.
- Assemble the net where the middle of the court will be.
- Measure 22 ft out from the net on each side for the baselines.
- Drop corner markers, then the kitchen line 7 ft from the net on each side.
- Check the net height at centre — 34 inches — then play.
Setup time depends on the selected net, the surface, and whether the group has measured the location before. Follow the product instructions and allow time to check every line and the net height.
What to buy and what to skip
A net and a marker set are genuinely all the court equipment a casual group needs. Permanent posts, acrylic surfacing and fencing are club-level projects — worth doing eventually, not needed to start playing this weekend.
Balls matter more than most people expect: outdoors you want a 40-hole outdoor ball that resists wind, indoors a lighter 26-hole ball.
Temporary pickleball court setup checklist
Work from the space outward. Confirm a flat, dry playing area and safe room beyond the lines before buying equipment. Then check every portable net against the published assembled dimensions instead of assuming that “pickleball net” means full-court size.
| Check | What to confirm | Relevant gear |
|---|---|---|
| Playing space | 20 × 44 ft for the marked court, plus as much clear run-off as the location allows. | 12-piece boundary marker set |
| Net | Published width, centre height, sideline height, frame stability, packed size, and setup method. | Portable 22 ft net |
| Ball | 26-hole indoor construction for a controlled gym; 40-hole outdoor construction where wind matters. | Compare indoor and outdoor balls |
| Safety | Sweep dust and debris, remove trip hazards, and keep players away from traffic, walls, and parked vehicles. | No accessory replaces a safe surface. |