How big is a beach volleyball court?

Officials' detail · Time-outs, conduct, officials and the court · 1 of 2

Checked 14 October 2026

A beach volleyball court is 16 metres long and 8 metres wide, on level sand, with no centre line. The net is 2.43 metres high for men and 2.24 metres for women, the same as indoors. The ball is slightly larger and softer than an indoor ball.

How it works

Item	Size
Court	16 × 8 m
Free zone	At least 3 m all round; 5 to 6 m at FIVB events
Clear height	At least 7 m; 12.5 m at FIVB events
Lines	Ribbons 5 cm wide, in a colour that contrasts with the sand; no centre line
Service zone	8 m wide, behind each end line
Sand	Level, free of stones and shells; at least 40 cm deep at FIVB events
Net	8.5 m long, 1 m deep; top at 2.43 m (men) or 2.24 m (women)
Antennae	1.80 m rods at each side of the net, the top 80 cm above it
Posts	2.55 m high, 0.7 to 1 m outside the side lines, padded
Ball	66 to 68 cm round, 260 to 280 g, pressure 0.175 to 0.225 kg/cm²

Net heights for younger players, as given in the rules:

Age group	Height
16 and under	2.24 m
14 and under	2.12 m
12 and under	2.00 m

The ball's cover must not absorb water, since matches can be played in rain.
The weather must not present a danger of injury to the players.
At FIVB events four balls are used, with ball retrievers round the court.

Tricky cases

Is the net lower than indoors?

No. The heights are the same for adults.

Is play stopped for rain?

Not by rule. Matches can be played in rain; the first referee decides whether conditions are a danger to the players.

Why the rule exists

Two players cannot defend an indoor-sized court, so the beach court is a metre shorter on each half and a metre narrower. The softer ball flies more slowly and is easier to control in wind.

Where it differs

Where	What changes	Source
FIVB beach rules	As above	BV 1; BV 2; BV 3
Indoor volleyball	18 × 9 m court with a centre line and attack lines; ball 65 to 67 cm, firmer	V 1; V 3.1

From the rule book

FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules 2025-2028, Rules 1, 2, 3 and 22.2.5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: FIVB Official Beach Volleyball Rules (PDF).