How big is a tennis court?
Officials' detail · The court, the net, the ball and the racket · 1 of 4A tennis court is 23.77 metres long. It is 8.23 metres wide for singles and 10.97 metres for doubles. The service line is 6.40 metres from the net on each side, and the area between it and the net is split into two service boxes. The rules are the same on grass, clay and hard courts.
How it works
| Line | Where | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Baselines | Each end, 23.77 m apart | Back of the court; the server stands behind it |
| Singles sidelines | 8.23 m apart | Edge of the court in singles |
| Doubles sidelines | 10.97 m apart | Edge of the court in doubles |
| Service lines | 6.40 m from the net | Back of the service boxes |
| Centre service line | Down the middle, net to service line | Divides the two service boxes |
| Centre mark | 10 cm, at the middle of each baseline | Shows the server which half to stand behind |
- Measurements are to the outside of the lines.
- Lines are 2.5 to 5 cm wide; the baseline may be up to 10 cm.
- All lines are one colour that contrasts with the surface.
- Backstops, stands, the umpire's chair, line umpires and ball persons in their places are "permanent fixtures".
Tricky cases
Are the rules different on clay, grass and hard courts?
No. The surface changes how the ball bounces, not the rules. The one difference is that ball mark inspections are for clay only.
What are the tramlines?
The strips between the singles and doubles sidelines. They are in play only in doubles, and never for the serve.
Why the rule exists
One marked court serves both singles and doubles, and fixed sizes mean a shot that is in on one court is in on every court.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ITF rules | As above | L1, 2 |
| 10 and under tennis | Smaller "Red" and "Orange" courts | App VIII |
From the rule book
ITF Rules of Tennis 2026, Rules 1 and 2. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: ITF Rules of Tennis (PDF).