How big is a badminton court?
Officials' detail · The court, the net, the shuttle and the racket · 1 of 4Checked 13 October 2026
A badminton court is 13.40 metres long and 6.10 metres wide for doubles, and 5.18 metres wide for singles. The short service line is 1.98 metres from the net. All lines are 40 mm wide and are part of the area they mark, so on the line is in.
How it works
| Line | Where | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Back boundary line | Each end, 13.40 m apart | End of the court in rallies; also the long service line for singles |
| Doubles side lines | 6.10 m apart | Edge of the court in doubles |
| Singles side lines | 0.46 m inside the doubles lines | Edge of the court in singles |
| Short service line | 1.98 m from the net | A serve must reach at least this far |
| Doubles long service line | 0.76 m inside the back line | A doubles serve must not go past it |
| Centre line | From the short service line to the back line | Divides the right and left service courts |
- Lines should be easy to see, preferably white or yellow.
- The posts stand on the doubles side lines, for singles as well.
- The diagonal of the full court is 14.723 metres.
Tricky cases
Why does a badminton court have so many lines?
Because one court is marked for singles and doubles, and for serving and rallies, at the same time.
Do the posts move in for singles?
No. They stay on the doubles side lines.
Why the rule exists
One court serves both games: the narrower singles court suits one player, and the shorter doubles service court limits the high serve to the back.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All badminton under the BWF Laws | As above | L1.1 to 1.5; Diagram A |
| Wheelchair and half-court para classes | Smaller playing areas | L1.1.1, 1.1.2; Diagrams D to F |
From the rule book
BWF Laws of Badminton, Law 1 and Diagram A, version 5.0, in force from 26 April 2025. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: BWF Laws of Badminton (PDF).