Is the shuttle in if it lands on the line?
B · Beginner · Rallies, faults and lets · 7 of 8Checked 13 October 2026
Yes.
The lines are part of the court they mark, so a shuttle that lands on a line is in. Which lines count depends
on the game: singles uses the inner side lines and the back line; doubles uses the outer side lines and the back line.
The serve has its own, smaller target.
How it works
- All lines are 40 mm wide and belong to the area they define.
- Singles rally: inner side lines, back boundary line. The court is 5.18 metres wide.
- Doubles rally: outer side lines, back boundary line. The court is 6.10 metres wide.
- Both are 13.40 metres long.
- Singles serve: long and narrow, from the short service line to the back line.
- Doubles serve: short and wide, from the short service line to the doubles long service line.
- A line judge calls in or out on their line. The umpire can overrule a call that is wrong beyond reasonable doubt.
Tricky cases
In doubles, is the back strip in or out?
It depends on the shot. On the serve the back strip is out. In the rally it is in.
In singles, are the side strips (the tramlines) in?
No. Singles uses the inner side lines, for serves and rallies.
The line judge could not see where it landed. What happens?
The umpire decides. If the umpire cannot either, it is a let and the rally is replayed.
Why the rule exists
Treating the line as in gives one simple test. The narrower singles court keeps a single player's court coverable.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All badminton under the BWF Laws | As above | L1.1 to 1.3; Diagram A |
| Events with an instant review system | A player can challenge a line call | L17.5.2 |
From the rule book
BWF Laws of Badminton, Laws 1.1 to 1.3, 13.3.1, 14.2.6 and 17.4 to 17.5 and Diagram A, version 5.0, in force from 26 April 2025. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: BWF Laws of Badminton (PDF).