Badminton rules, for watching
Start with how a match works. Then the rules you see every few minutes, then the ones that change results.
Checked 13 October 2026
Settling an argument? Search all 26 rules
- How do you score a point in badminton?
- How many points win a game of badminton?
- How many games are in a badminton match?
- Who serves first in badminton?
- When do badminton players take a break and change ends?
- What makes a serve legal in badminton?
- Which side do you serve from in badminton?
- Who serves, and from where, in badminton doubles?
- What happens if the wrong player serves or stands on the wrong side?
- What can't the receiver do in badminton?
- What is a fault in badminton?
- Is the shuttle in if it lands on the line?
- Can you touch the net or reach over it in badminton?
- Can you hit the shuttle twice in badminton?
- Can you shout or get in your opponent's way in badminton?
- What is a let in badminton?
- Can a badminton player stop for a rest or to talk to the coach?
- What do the yellow, red and black cards mean in badminton?
- What happens when a badminton player is injured?
- Who are the officials in a badminton match?
- How do challenges work in badminton?
- How big is a badminton court?
- How high is a badminton net?
- What is a shuttlecock made of, and how fast should it be?
- What are the rules for a badminton racket?
- How is para badminton different?
Where these rules come from
| Tag | Document |
|---|---|
| L plus clause | BWF Statutes Section 4.1, Laws of Badminton, version 5.0, in force from 26 April 2025 |
| (v6.0) | The same Laws, version 6.0, in force from 4 January 2027 (15-point games) |
| Diagram A | The court diagram in the Laws. It is an image, so its measurements were read from the PDF, not the text file |
| PBITTO plus clause | BWF Instructions to Para Badminton Technical Officials, version 6.0 (8 November 2025). Used for the card colours and the injury procedure, because the general instructions to technical officials are not saved |
| BWF Vocabulary | BWF Statutes Section 4.1.5, Vocabulary, version 7.0 |
| R | "Why the rule exists", or a point reasoned from the Law, not stated in it |
| C | Common usage or general knowledge, not a Law |
All checked on 13 October 2026. Not covered: the BWF instant review regulations (how many challenges), the general instructions to technical officials, the players' code of conduct and its fines, tournament regulations, team-event formats and para badminton classification.
Not covered: the BWF instant review regulations (how many challenges), the general instructions to technical officials, the players' code of conduct and its fines, tournament regulations, team-event formats and para badminton classification.