Pickleball Court Vs Badminton Court: Similarities and Contrasts

pickleball court vs badminton court

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world and because of its similarity with other racket sports like badminton, tennis, and pin pong, you may wonder about the dimensions of a pickleball court vs badminton court and can a badminton court be used to play pickleball?

Pickleball courts have standard dimensions of 20 by 44 feet, the same as badminton court dimensions. Pickleball and badminton courts are interchangeable and have the same dimensions with the exception of net height and the distance of the non-volley line from the net.

In general, a pickleball court and the size of court in badminton are similar, with two exceptions. On a pickleball court, there is a lower net than on a badminton court, and on a pickleball court, the no-volley line is located at 6.5 feet from the net, whereas on a badminton court, it is located at 7 feet from the net. 

Pickleball Court Size Vs Badminton Court Size

Pickleball can be played on any kind of sports court like a tennis court or badminton court. But, make sure to use a dedicated pickleball court if you’re playing it professionally or are coaching pickleball. 

Keeping that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the similarities between pickleball and badminton by comparing them at a closer level.

Badminton Court Dimensions

What size is a badminton court? First, let’s take a closer look at the court dimensions for badminton.

According to the (BWF), the standard dimensions of a badminton court measure 44 feet by 20 meters. 

badminton court dimensions

As a rule, the double court width in badminton is 20 feet, while the single court width is 17 feet, with 1.5 feet separating on each side. 

The size of court in badminton is divided by a central line, and a service line that extends 6.5 feet from the service courts to the net separates the service courts from the net in badminton, as compared to pickleball court vs badminton court size

The net is set at a height of 6 feet in the center and 5 feet at the posts. The court is divided into halves by the net, and there are service boxes on either side.

Badminton courts are constructed with safe flooring materials such as wood, synthetic, and rubber for safe gaming.

Pickleball Court Dimensions

The (USAPA) specifies that a standard pickleball court measures 44 feet by 20 feet.

However, the recommended pickleball court size is 30 by 60 feet for a comfortable playing experience at the court.

pickleball court dimensions

The net is set at a height of 36 inches at the center and 34 inches at the sidelines, lower in height as compared to a badminton court.

The court is also divided into halves by the net, but there are no service boxes, as compared to badminton court vs pickleball court.

Non-Volley Or Service Lines Difference

They are both 20 x 44 feet. But the service lines and the net lines are different. The front serve line for Badminton is 6.5 feet away from the center of the net.

The non-volley zone for pickleball is 7 feet from the net.

The dimensions of the pickleball vs badminton court can be the same, but with the exception of the distance of the service line for the badminton court 6.5 feet away from the net, and the non-volley zone line of the pickleball court is 7 feet away from the net.

badminton court dimensions

There is no such non-volley zone line within the badminton court as compared to pickleball court vs badminton court dimensions.

When playing pickleball professionally in tournaments or during coaching then this 0.5 feet distance can play a significant role in determining the formality of the game.

Net Height Difference

pickleball court vs badminton court

There is not much difference in length between the net heights of pickleball court vs badminton courts, but they differ in height.

The height of the net in the middle of a pickleball court is 34 inches, while the height of the net in the middle of a badminton court is 5 feet.

For a recreational game, this difference can be ignored, but not for a professional one.

Can You Play Pickleball on a Badminton Court?

pickleball court

Based on the pickleball court vs badminton court dimensions, it’s clear that a badminton court can be used to play pickleball.

The court is almost identical in size, and the net can be adjusted to the correct height. However, there are a few considerations to keep in mind.

First, the surface of the court may be different. This can affect the speed of the ball and the level of grip for the players. It’s important to choose a surface that is appropriate for both sports.

Second, the lines on a badminton court may not be suitable for pickleball. As mentioned earlier, pickleball courts do not have service boxes, and the lines are placed differently.

If you plan to use a badminton court for pickleball, you’ll need to either remove the badminton lines or add additional lines for pickleball.

Converting a Badminton Court Into Pickleball Court

There is only one pickleball court that can fit on each badminton court.

In the same way that you would lay markers on a tennis court to turn it into a pickleball court, you can also add lines to a badminton court to convert it.

There are many online and retail sports stores that sell pickleball sets, including markers and tape, which you can use on a badminton court as easily as you would on a pickleball court.

In order to play pickleball and to make the most of the badminton court, you should be wearing good shoes in order to be able to play on the court.

The badminton club requires players to wear badminton shoes in order to play on the court.

Conclusion: Pickleball Court Vs Badminton Court

In conclusion, a badminton court can certainly be used to play pickleball. The dimensions of the pickleball court vs badminton court are almost identical, and the net can be adjusted to the correct height.

However, it is advised to change the non-volley lines with markers. When you put in a little effort and practice, you will be able to enjoy both sports on the same court with ease.

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Casey Degnan

Casey Degnan

I'm Casey Degnan, a certified Pickleball Coach and Athletics Professional with over 20 years of sports coaching and event management experience. Previously coordinating golf operations and student activities, I now offer private pickleball lessons while blogging tips and insights at "The Pickleball Freak." My passion is helping people achieve their goals through sports.

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