Setting up a court and not sure how high the net goes? Pickleball net height is 86.4 cm (34 inches) at the centre and 91.4 cm (36 inches) at the sidelines. That small sag in the middle is deliberate, and it is the same on every regulation court in Australia and around the world. Below is the full setup: net height, court dimensions, the kitchen, and how to measure it all so your home or club court plays true.
What is the regulation pickleball net height?
The regulation pickleball net height is 91.4 cm (36 inches) at the posts and 86.4 cm (34 inches) at the centre. The 5 cm dip in the middle keeps the net honest: a ball that clips the tape near the centre stays low and playable, while the higher ends stop wide balls skimming over. Both regulation nets we stock are built to exactly this spec, so you set the ends to 36 inches, drop a centre strap to 34 inches, and you are done.
A quick field check for the centre: a paddle stood on its end plus a stacked ball lands close to 34 inches. Use a real tape for a club court, but that trick gets you in the ballpark on the driveway.
Full pickleball court dimensions (Australia)
A pickleball court is 6.10 m x 13.41 m (20 ft x 44 ft), lines included. That is the same footprint as a doubles badminton court, which is why so many Aussie halls line both. The playing area is split across the net into two halves, each with a non-volley zone (the kitchen) and two service courts.
| Feature | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Full court (incl. lines) | 6.10 m x 13.41 m | 20 ft x 44 ft |
| Net height (posts) | 91.4 cm | 36 in |
| Net height (centre) | 86.4 cm | 34 in |
| Kitchen depth (each side) | 2.13 m | 7 ft |
| Recommended total play area | 9.14 m x 18.29 m | 30 ft x 60 ft |
The kitchen (non-volley zone) runs 2.13 m (7 ft) back from the net on each side, spanning the full width of the court. Behind it, a centre line splits each end into two service courts. If you are painting or taping lines, leave run-off room: the recommended total play area is about 9.14 m x 18.29 m (30 ft x 60 ft), though plenty of backyard and driveway courts happily run tighter.
How to set up a regulation court in six steps
- Mark the four corners of the 6.10 m x 13.41 m rectangle and check the diagonals match so it is square.
- Tape or chalk the sidelines, baselines, and the centre line running from each baseline to the kitchen.
- Mark the non-volley line 2.13 m from where the net will sit, on both sides.
- Stand the net posts on the sideline at the centre of the court length.
- Tension the net to 91.4 cm (36 inches) at the posts.
- Set the centre of the net to 86.4 cm (34 inches), then re-check the ends, because tensioning the middle can lift them.
Common mistake: setting the whole net flat at 36 inches. Without the centre drop to 34 inches, dinks and low drives that should stay in play clip the tape. Always set the centre last.
The gear: nets that set to regulation out of the box
You can line a court with tape and chalk, but the net is the one piece worth buying. A portable regulation net saves you rigging tennis posts or guessing heights. Two we stock, both built to the 36 and 34 inch spec above:
The Selkirk SLK Prime Portable Pickleball Net ($229) is 6.7 m (22 ft) wide to USAP regulation, sets to 91.4 cm at the sidelines and 86.4 cm at the centre, runs on a sturdy steel frame at 8.7 kg, works indoors and out, and packs into a nylon carry bag.
The JOOLA Elemental Pickleball Net ($239.95) hits the same 91.44 cm and 86.36 cm heights over a 6.71 m regulation length, with knotless netting on wide interlocking steel legs, an all-weather build under 9.1 kg packed, and a tensioning strap to hold the centre true.
Both live in our pickleball nets and court equipment collection. If you want the whole court in one box, the Pickld Court Set ($617.95) pairs the Selkirk net with four paddles and balls, ready to play.
Not sure which net suits your club or backyard? Our 2026 pickleball nets buyer's guide compares them in full, and the Pickld set guide helps if you are kitting out a court from scratch.
Indoor, outdoor, and net height: does it change?
No. Net height and court dimensions are identical indoors and out. What changes is the ball (covered in our indoor vs outdoor pickleballs guide) and the surface, not the 34 and 36 inch net or the 20 by 44 ft court. A regulation net set correctly plays the same in a Sydney sports hall or on a Gold Coast driveway.
Disclosure: Pickld carries the brands featured here (Selkirk, JOOLA). Specs are pulled from the live product pages, not affiliate incentives, and every net we sell is built to the regulation heights above.
Everything you need to line and net a court ships from our Australian warehouse, with free shipping over $150. Set the ends to 36, the centre to 34, and you are ready to play.
