Badminton Court Dimensions: Lines & Net Height

Last updated: June 2026 · Written by the team at Badminton House

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Regulation Badminton Court Dimensions

A regulation badminton court is 13.40 m long and, for doubles, 6.1 m wide — the familiar 44 ft × 20 ft footprint. Singles uses the same full 13.40 m / 44 ft court length, but narrows the playable width to 5.18 m / 17 ft.

These badminton court dimensions are universal. Canadian clubs, schools, and community centres use the same BWF-standard measurements as regulation courts worldwide, so the lines you learn on at a local gym match the layout used internationally.

The key point: singles and doubles share the same court length. What changes is the side boundary. Doubles uses the outer sidelines, while singles uses the inner sidelines, reducing the width by 0.92 m — about 3 ft — compared with doubles.

For facility setup, one helpful check is the full-court diagonal: the official BWF court diagram lists the diagonal length as 14.723 m, and the same court layout can be used for both singles and doubles. If you are marking a court, matching diagonals helps confirm the rectangle is square rather than skewed.

This section covers the footprint only. For how rallies are scored and how serve rotation works once you are standing on the correct court, see our badminton rules and scoring guide.

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Singles vs Doubles Lines: What Changes?

For singles and doubles, the badminton court length does not change: both use the same 13.40 m / 44 ft full court length. The only boundary change is the width.

In doubles, the outer sideline is used, giving the full court width of 6.10 m / 20 ft. In singles, the inner sideline is used. That singles sideline sits 0.46 m in from the doubles sideline on each side, so the total width difference between singles and doubles is 0.92 m.

One detail matters when calling lines: all court lines are 40 mm wide, and the line counts as part of the area it defines. So if the shuttle touches any part of the correct boundary line, it is in.

If you are switching between formats, the boundary change is only part of the adjustment. Doubles also changes positioning, serve receive pressure, and rotation patterns; for that side of the game, see our singles vs doubles strategy guide or the badminton rules and scoring guide.

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Service Courts and Service Lines

The service markings are the easiest part of badminton court dimensions to misread because singles and doubles use different rear limits for the serve. Canadian clubs, schools, and community centres use the same regulation layout as international courts, so once you learn these lines, the court reads the same anywhere you play.

The four service courts

A regulation badminton court has four service courts: left and right service courts on one side of the net, and left and right service courts on the other side. The centre line creates the left/right split, while the short service line and the correct long service limit define the front and back of the service area.

Each service court measures 3.88 m / 12.72 ft long by 2.53 m / 8.3 ft wide. In practical terms, that means a legal serve is not aimed at the whole half-court; it is aimed into one specific diagonal service box.

This section is only about the markings. If you want the mechanics of who serves, which side to stand on, and how scoring changes the service side, read our badminton rules and scoring guide.

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Badminton Net Height and Net Specs

For a regulation badminton court in Canada, use the same BWF net measurements used internationally: the top of the net is 1.524 m at the centre of the court and 1.55 m over the doubles sidelines. In practical terms, the top tape sits slightly lower in the middle than at the sides.

The net spans the full doubles court width: 6.1 m, or 20 ft. That is the same full-court width used for doubles play, even when the court is being used for singles.

If you are comparing badminton to pickleball court setups, the court footprint can look familiar: a doubles badminton court is 44 ft by 20 ft. The net is the big difference: badminton uses the higher 1.524 m centre height and 1.55 m side height.

For play, the net dimensions are only one part of a safe court setup. Players should also use non-marking indoor court footwear for badminton movement on the full court; see our non-marking badminton shoes guide if you are setting up for regular club, school, or community-centre play.

Need the serving and rally rules that go with these lines and net measurements? Read our badminton rules and scoring guide for the 21-point format, serve rotation, and basic match flow.

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How to Read the Court Diagram and Check Measurements

Read a badminton court diagram from the outside in. The outer rectangle is the doubles court, the inner long sidelines are the singles sidelines, and the service markings sit inside the same full-court footprint. Canadian clubs, schools, and community centres use the same BWF court layout as international play, so there is no Canada-specific variation to memorize.

The official BWF court diagram lists the full-court diagonal as 14.723 m and notes that the same court layout can be used for both singles and doubles. That diagonal is also the installer’s squaring check: measure both corner-to-corner diagonals and confirm they match, so the court is a true rectangle rather than a skewed rhombus.

One line-marking detail is worth keeping consistent during measurement: badminton court lines are 40 mm wide, and the line belongs to the area it marks, so measure from the same edge of the line each time instead of switching between inside and outside edges.

If you are testing movement across the full 44 ft court, use non-marking indoor court shoes. The Babolat Shadow Tour Men's Badminton Shoes (Orange) are in stock at $119.99 CAD. Badminton House ships across Canada, with free Canadian shipping on orders over $200.

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Facility Setup: Floor, Ceiling, Lighting, and Footwear

Once the lines and net are correct, the playing environment matters just as much. Canadian courts in clubs, schools, and community centres use the same universal badminton court dimensions as regulation courts worldwide, but comfort and safety depend on the ceiling, floor surface, lighting, and shoes.

Ceiling height: no fixed law, but clears need room

The Laws of Badminton do not specify a minimum ceiling height. In practice, the ceiling should be high enough that clears and high serves are not restricted. If shuttles regularly hit rafters, basketball equipment, or low fixtures, the court may still be marked correctly but it will not play like a proper badminton court.

Floor surface: choose grip and shock absorption

Hardwood and sprung wood floors are common for badminton because they offer appropriate grip and shock absorption. Avoid carpet and overly slick surfaces: badminton footwork involves lunges, split steps, fast side-to-side recovery, and sudden stops across the full 44 ft court length.

Lighting: keep it to the sides

Lighting should be positioned along the sides of the court rather than directly overhead. Overhead lights can blind players when they look up to track clears, lifts, and high serves, especially in doubles where players are often looking upward under pressure.

Badminton House does not currently carry badminton nets, posts, or court-marking equipment. For those setup items, check Canadian badminton specialty retailers or your local club's pro shop.

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Which Court Setup Should You Choose?

Use the intended play format first, then check the room, net, lines, and footwear around it. In Canada, there is no separate regional court size: clubs, schools, and community centres use the same regulation BWF dimensions used internationally.

If your question is about what happens after the court is set up, see our badminton rules and scoring guide for serve rotation and 21-point scoring.

That’s the practical court-dimensions checklist we use as players: confirm the 44 ft length, choose the right singles or doubles sideline, check the service lines, then make sure the net and playing surface suit real movement. If you’re unsure what gear makes sense for your court, club night, or school setup, contact Badminton House — we’re happy to help Canadian players choose with confidence.