If you have just started playing badminton or you’re simply interested in knowing how big a badminton court is, then read on. I am going to talk about:

• The measurements of the badminton court.
• The differences between the singles and doubles court.
• The para-badminton court measurements.
• The height requirements for a badminton court.
• The different badminton court surfaces you can play on.

The History

When badminton was first introduced there were no rules regarding the dimensions of the court. Funnily enough, the court was an hourglass shape.

Imagine that, eh? The rectangular shape that we see today was implemented in around 1901. 

The Modern Day Badminton Court

The badminton court is marked according to the guidelines provided by the Badminton World Federation. It is the responsibility of the match umpires and officials to ensure the guidelines are being obeyed.

The court is divided into two equally sized rectangles separated by a net. Even though the areas involved for Singles and Doubles matches are different, the court is marked for both. When you serve in doubles, the opponents’ back tramlines are out, whereas in singles they are in.

Overall Court Dimensions

• The Badminton court has an area of 81.75 m² (880 ft²). It is 6.1 m (20 ft) wide and 13.4 m (44 ft) long.

• The distance between the net and the short service line is 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in).

• The diagonal length of the full court is 14.723 m (48.30 ft).

• The court is marked with lines of 40 mm (1.57 inch) wide. These lines are either white or yellow, so they are easy to see.

The Dimensions of the Net

The Post

• The post of the net should be 1.5 m (5 ft) long. When the net is tightened, the post should not move. This post should always be situated on the doubles side lines.

The Height of a Badminton Net

• The net is 760 mm (2 ft 6 in) in width and 6.1 m (20 ft) in length.

• It is required that the top of the net be edged with a white tape (75 mm/0.24 ft). This tape is doubled over the cord that runs through the tape.

• At the centre of the court the top of the net should be 1.524 m (5 ft) from the court surface and 1.55 m (5.08 ft) over the side lines.

The Court for a Singles Game

During a singles game, the whole court is included except for the doubles side lines.

If you need to find out which lines are in and which are out when serving in singles and doubles, please read my article on the rules of badminton.

The Court for a Doubles Game

The whole court is included for a doubles game.

How Big is a Badminton Court for Para-Badminton

The size of the badminton court is the same for para-badminton as it is for regular badminton. The amount of the court, however, that the players are required to cover varies according to the classes in which they participate.

Height Requirements of a Badminton Court

The least known or talked about topic is the height requirements above a badminton court. There are different requirements for different venues, but it is necessary that there are no obstructions over the court.

For BWF Level 1 tournaments, a height of 12 m (39. 37 ft) is necessary. For the other international tournaments, the minimum is 9 m (29.52 ft) but 12 m is preferred.

Level of Play	Minimum height required
International	9 m (29.52 ft)
Premier	9 m (29.52 ft)
Club	7.5 m (24.6 ft)
Community	6.7 m (21.9 ft)

Different Badminton Court Floors

There are different types of surfaces on which badminton is played, each with its own advantages and disadvantages The BWF specifically requires that a wooden sprung floor or an equivalent surface is used, along with approved non-slip mats.

• Wooden courts: These are considered the best, specially the sprung floor ones as they have a natural tendency to absorb pressure. However, they can get slippery due to sweat or water.

• Synthetic courts: These courts are recognised for reducing strain and protecting knees from injury. . They are the most common surfaces and are used above a wooden base.

• PVC courts: They have anti-slip properties and can be made up of mats that can be easily stored. They are categorised as surface, middle and lower mats which are ideally installed above a wooden base.

• Acrylic Court- They are anti-slip and are economical.

• Modular tiles: These tiles can be used outdoors as well as indoors and offer excellent resistance to water.

• Rubber mat floors: This surface can be used for various sports, with cushioning provided by a natural rubber surface. Advantages are good shock absorption and easy maintenance.

Summary

So there you have it. If you have any questions or anything you’re not sure about, then drop me a message or leave a comment in the comments section below!

I hope you have found this helpful.