How to Build an Outdoor Pickleball Court | Guide

Understanding the Basics of Outdoor Pickleball Court Construction

Have you decided to build an outdoor pickleball court for your recreation center, school, or club, but don’t know where to begin? If you have ever built a tennis court, then you have won part of the battle as the techniques for constructing pickleball courts are practically identical to those used for tennis.

Determine Your Space

The first step in building an outdoor pickleball court is to determine your space. Will you be converting a tennis or badminton court to play pickleball? Are you building a multi-court complex? Whatever your situation, it’s important to keep in mind the standard size of pickleball courts, and then adjust according to your unique program needs.

Pickleball Court Dimensions

• Pickleball Court Dimensions: 20 by 44 feet, for both singles and doubles play
• Pickleball Net Height: 36 inches at the sidelines, 34 inches in the middle
• Pickleball Playing Area: 30 by 60 feet is the standard when converting a tennis court, but 34 by 64 feet is preferable for tournament play or if you will have a standalone pickleball court.
• Pickleball Court Diagram: Official Pickleball Court Dimensions

Choose Court Surface Materials

If you are building your outdoor pickleball court from scratch, or if you have an existing court that needs revamped, you will need to choose what type of court surface is best for you. Common types of court surface materials for pickleball include the following:

• Concrete
• Asphalt
• Snap-Together Plastic

Pick Out Perimeter Fencing

Fencing is crucial for multi-court pickleball as it contains the ball within the playing area and provides security for players as well as spectators. There are a variety of different types of pickleball court fencing to choose from, but fences made from wire are the most common as they allow players and spectators to see into and out of the court.

Pickleball Fencing Dimensions

Pickleball Fencing Dimensions: 10 feet high is preferred, but 4 feet can also work as long as the top of the fence is padded.

Equip Your Court with Light

Lighting for pickleball courts follows a fairly standard protocol. All pickleball courts should include two 1,500 watt light poles. You will want to ensure that each pole is 18 to 20 feet high and mounted in the center, at least 24 inches back from the court.

Shop Pickleball Net Systems

After determining your space, surface, and court materials, contacting an expert to help you find the right pickleball net system for your program is the next logical step.

Outdoor Pickleball Net System

Outdoor Pickleball Net System: Two poles, one ratchet, one outdoor pickleball net, sleeves (may or may not be required).

Set Up Your Pickleball Court

After the pickleball surface, fencing, lighting, and other materials are picked, it’s time to set it all up. The following tips can aid you in the building process:

• Hire a professional contractor
• Orient your court north-south

Court Lines

Court lines should be white and 2 inches wide.

Marker lines can be drawn using sidewalk chalk, contractor’s blue #1 chalk dust, green tape, orange masking tape, or acrylic paint.

The standard lines for a pickleball court include:

• Baselines: These run parallel to the pickleball net on both ends of the court.
• Sidelines: These run perpendicular to the pickleball net on both sides of the court.
• Non-Volley Line: These lines should be 7 feet from the net and located on each side of the net between sidelines, running parallel to the net.
• Non-Volley Zones: These are areas of the pickleball court surrounded by two sidelines, the non-volley line, and the net.
• Centerlines: Located on each side of the net running between the non-volley line and baseline.
• Service Courts: Run on either side of the centerline, surrounded by non-volley line, sideline, and baseline.

If you are painting the surface of your court or marker lines, let the paint dry for 24 hours before placing your net system.

Follow Court Layout Guidelines

Follow pickleball court layout guidelines from the USAPickleball Association to ensure that everything is set up according to regulation pickleball standards.

By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to constructing your very own outdoor pickleball court. Remember to consult with experts and professionals to ensure that everything is set up properly and according to regulations. Happy building!