Rules & Regulations
Court Layout & Dimensions
This section explains the official padel court footprint, the key service-line measurements, and the basic layout requirements that make a competition court playable and consistent.
At a Glance
What This Section Covers
- Official court dimensions
- Playing area and court lines
- Court layout and measurement reference points
- Minimum clear height above the playing area
Official Rule Breakdown
Court Footprint
A padel court is a rectangle measuring 10 metres wide by 20 metres long, using the interior court measurements.
The official regulations allow a 0.5% tolerance on these dimensions, which gives a small construction allowance while still preserving the standard shape of the court.
Net and Service Areas
The court is divided into two equal halves by the net. On each side of the net, a service line runs parallel to the net at a distance of 6.95 metres.
The space between the net and each service line is divided by the central service line. This central line continues 20 centimetres beyond the service line.
Symmetry and Court Lines
The two halves of the court must be symmetrical when looking at the playing surface and line layout.
All court lines should be 5 centimetres wide. The preferred line colours are white or black, depending on which gives the clearest contrast against the playing surface.
Clear Height
The minimum clear height throughout the court is 6 metres. No obstruction, including lighting, should intrude into this space.
For new facilities, the regulations suggest aiming for an 8 metre minimum clear height across the full court area.
In Practice
- For club and tournament use, the most important practical check is that the court is not only the right size, but also symmetrical and free from overhead obstructions.
- Line visibility matters. The line colour should contrast clearly with the playing surface so players and officials can read the court quickly during play.
- For a quick facility check, confirm the full 10m x 20m court layout, net line, service lines, central service line, and line-extension reference against the official PDF.