How big is a volleyball court?

Officials' detail · The court, the net, the ball, the team and beach volleyball · 1 of 4

Checked 13 October 2026

A volleyball court is 18 metres long and 9 metres wide, divided by the net into two halves of 9 by 9 metres. An attack line on each side is 3 metres from the centre line. Around the court is a free zone at least 3 metres wide, where the ball may still be played.

How it works

Marking	Size	What it is for
Court	18 × 9 m	The lines are part of it
Centre line	Under the net	Belongs to both halves
Attack line	Rear edge 3 m from the middle of the centre line	Marks the front zone; limits back-row attacks
Service zone	9 m wide, behind each end line	Where the server stands
Free zone	At least 3 m on all sides	Play may continue here
Substitution zone	Between the two attack lines, on the scorer's side	Where substitutes enter

All lines are 5 cm wide.
Clear height above the playing area: at least 7 metres.
FIVB, world and official competitions: a free zone of 5 metres at the sides and 6.5 metres at the ends, and 12.5 metres of height.
Indoor floors must be flat, even and of a light colour. At FIVB events only wood or synthetic surfaces are used.

Tricky cases

Can a player play the ball outside the court?

Yes. A player may play the ball anywhere in their own free zone, and may even retrieve it from beyond it.

Is the court the same size for men and women?

Yes. Only the net height differs.

Why the rule exists

Nine metres square is small enough for six players to defend and large enough to leave gaps to attack. The free zone lets defenders chase a ball well beyond the lines.

Where it differs

Where	What changes	Source
FIVB rules	As above	V 1
Beach volleyball	16 × 8 m of sand, no centre line or attack line	BV 1.1.1; BV 1.3.2

From the rule book

FIVB Official Volleyball Rules 2025-2028, Rules 1 and 9. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: FIVB Official Volleyball Rules (PDF).