If you want to play at home, at the park, or set up a driveway court for the neighbourhood, the one thing standing between you and a game is a pickleball net. A regulation portable net turns any flat 6 metres of ground into a court in a few minutes — and unlike a paddle, it's a buy-once bit of kit that lasts years. This is our honest guide to choosing a pickleball net in Australia: the two portable nets we stock, how they compare, and the specs that actually matter.
The short version. Both nets we carry are full USAP-regulation size with steel frames and carry bags. The Selkirk SLK Prime Portable Net ($229) is the lighter, faster-to-pitch option; the JOOLA Elemental Net ($239.95) trades a little extra weight for wide interlocking legs and knotless netting. Both ship free anywhere in Australia (free AU shipping over $150), so it comes down to how often you'll pack it up and carry it.
The two portable pickleball nets we stock
We keep the range deliberately tight — two nets that are genuinely worth owning, both regulation, both indoor and outdoor. Here's how they line up side by side.
| Spec | Selkirk SLK Prime | JOOLA Elemental |
|---|---|---|
| Price (AUD) | $229 | $239.95 |
| Width / length | 6.7m (22ft) — USAP regulation | 6.71m — USAPA recommended |
| Height (sidelines) | 91.4cm (36") | 91.44cm (36") |
| Height (centre) | 86.4cm (34") | 86.36cm (34") |
| Frame | Sturdy steel | Wide bent interlock steel legs |
| Netting | Nylon | Nylon + knotless PE/PPVC, coated |
| Weight (packed) | 8.7kg (19.2 lbs) | Under 9.08kg |
| Use | Indoor & outdoor | Indoor & outdoor (all-weather) |
| Carry bag | Nylon carry bag | Reinforced carry bag |
You can see both, plus the rest of our pickleball nets and court equipment, in one place.
Selkirk SLK Prime Portable Net — the grab-and-go pick
The Selkirk SLK Prime Portable Net is built around a sturdy steel frame that holds true tension all game, and at 8.7kg it's the lighter of the two — the difference you feel when you're carrying it from the car boot to court three. Tension-adjustment straps let you dial it to regulation height without fuss, and the whole rig packs down into the included nylon carry bag.
It's the one we'd point most club players and home-court owners at: quick to set up, quick to break down, and it earns its keep if you're the person in your group who brings the net. Selkirk is a name most players already trust for paddles, and Pickld is an authorised Selkirk dealer in Australia, so it's covered properly.
Best for: home courts, driveway and park sessions, and anyone who packs the net up after every play. The lightest option we carry.
JOOLA Elemental Net — the stability pick
The JOOLA Elemental Net goes the other way slightly: wide, bent interlock steel legs give it extra stability, and the knotless PE/PPVC netting with a plastic inner coating is built to shrug off weather. The regulation 6.71m length gives you an extra 30cm of net either side of the posts, so there's no gap at the edges of the court. It packs into a reinforced carry bag and comes in just under 9.08kg.
If your net lives semi-permanently on an outdoor court, or you just want the most planted-feeling frame when the wind picks up, the Elemental is the call. It's a touch heavier and a touch dearer than the Selkirk, but that weight is the stability.
Best for: outdoor courts that stay set up longer, windier spots, and players who want maximum edge-to-edge net coverage.
How to choose a pickleball net
Whichever brand you land on, four things separate a net you'll keep from one you'll replace:
- Regulation size. A real pickleball net is 6.7m (22ft) wide and set to regulation height (more on that below). Anything narrower leaves gaps at the sidelines and changes how the game plays. Both nets here are full regulation.
- Frame material. Steel holds tension and stands up to wind; flimsy plastic-jointed frames sag mid-game. Both of ours are steel — that's non-negotiable for a net you'll use weekly.
- Set-up and pack-down speed. If you're pitching and packing the net every session, minutes matter. Tension straps and a fitted carry bag are what make a portable pickleball net actually portable.
- Indoor or outdoor. Both nets here handle both, but if yours lives outside, prioritise the weather-resistant netting and the heavier, more planted frame.
What's regulation pickleball net height?
A regulation pickleball net sits at 86.4cm (34") at the centre and 91.4cm (36") at the sidelines and posts. That slight sag in the middle is deliberate and it's the same across every proper net — you'll see both our nets quote exactly those figures. If you're marking out a full court to match, you're working to a 6.10m × 13.41m (20ft × 44ft) playing area, which is why the 6.7m net width matters: it spans the whole thing with a little to spare.
The practical upshot: don't eyeball it. Use the tension straps to set the centre to 34" and you'll play a true game every time.
Net, paddles and balls in one: the Set shortcut
If you're setting up a court from scratch — say for a family, a share house, or a club social — buying the net, paddles and balls separately adds up fast. That's what our Pickld Court Set is for: the Selkirk net, four Six Zero Quartz paddles and Franklin balls in one box, ready to play. If you want to see how the Sets are built and which one fits your group, our pickleball set guide walks through them.
Pickleball net FAQ
Do I need a regulation-size net? If you want your home games to feel like club games — same spacing, same shots at the kitchen line — yes. A full 6.7m regulation net is worth it. Under-size "backyard" nets are fine for a muck-around but they change how the game plays at the edges.
Indoor or outdoor — does it matter? Both nets here are rated for indoor and outdoor use, so a single net covers you either way. If yours lives outside permanently, lean toward the JOOLA Elemental for its weather-resistant netting and heavier frame.
Can I get a net, paddles and balls together? Yes — that's exactly what a pickleball net set is for. Our Sets bundle a Selkirk net with paddles and Franklin balls so you can set up a full court in one order; the set guide covers which is which.
Which pickleball net should you buy?
For most people the Selkirk SLK Prime is the easy answer — regulation, steel, and the lightest to carry, at $229. Step up to the JOOLA Elemental at $239.95 if stability and all-weather netting matter more than shaving a kilo. Either way you're getting a proper court that sets up in minutes and lasts for years — and it ships free anywhere in Australia over $150.
Not sure which suits your court? Just hit reply on your order confirmation and ask us — me or Chris will point you at the right one.
— Ben
Pickld carries the brands featured here, including Selkirk and JOOLA. Picks are based on product specs and how the gear actually performs, not affiliate incentives.
