Badminton Court Dimensions and Lines: Singles vs Doubles Explained
A badminton court can look confusing when you are new to the sport. The same court contains outer sidelines, inner sidelines, short service lines, a centre line, doubles long service lines, and back boundary lines.
The easiest way to make sense of it is to remember one key idea:
Singles and doubles use the same court, but they use different boundary lines.
In this beginner guide to badminton court dimensions, you will learn the official measurements, what each line means, how singles and doubles boundaries differ, and which lines matter during serving and normal rallies.
If you are following the lessons in order, the previous guide is Badminton Scoring Explained. You can also return to the Badminton Learning Hub at any time.
Quick answer: A standard badminton court is 13.40 metres (44 feet) long. It is 6.10 metres (20 feet) wide for doubles and 5.18 metres (17 feet) wide for singles. Singles uses the inner sidelines, while doubles uses the outer sidelines.
Badminton Court Dimensions at a Glance
A standard badminton court has these key measurements:
- Court length: 13.40 m — about 44 ft
- Doubles width: 6.10 m — about 20 ft
- Singles width: 5.18 m — about 17 ft
- Net to short service line: 1.98 m — about 6 ft 6 in
- Back boundary to doubles long service line: 0.76 m — about 2 ft 6 in
- Court-line width: 40 mm
- Net height at the posts: 1.55 m
- Net height at the centre: 1.524 m
The court is the same length for singles and doubles. The main difference during a rally is the usable width.
Beginner memory tip: Singles = long and narrow. Doubles = long and wide.
How Long Is a Badminton Court?
A regulation badminton court is 13.40 metres long, which is approximately 44 feet.
The net divides the court into two equal halves. Each side therefore extends about 6.70 metres from the net to the back boundary.
The full court length is used in both singles and doubles during normal rallies.
This means a singles court is not shorter than a doubles court. Singles simply uses a narrower playing area.
How Wide Is a Badminton Court?
The width changes depending on whether you are playing singles or doubles.
Singles Court Width
A singles badminton court is 5.18 metres wide, or about 17 feet.
Singles uses the inner sidelines. The strips between the singles sidelines and the outer doubles sidelines are not part of the singles rally court.
These strips are commonly called the side alleys or tramlines.
Each side alley is about 0.46 metres wide.
Doubles Court Width
A doubles badminton court uses the full 6.10-metre width, or about 20 feet.
Doubles uses the outer sidelines, so the side alleys become part of the playing area during a rally.
Singles vs Doubles Court Lines
The simplest difference is the sideline used during a normal rally. If you need a refresher on how a line call affects a point, see Badminton Rules for Beginners.
In singles: the inner sideline is the side boundary.
In doubles: the outer sideline is the side boundary.
Both formats use the full back boundary line during normal rallies. During a serve, the applicable service-court lines are different—especially at the back of the doubles court.
So if a shuttle lands in a side alley, it is:
- Out in singles
- In during a doubles rally
What Are the Lines on a Badminton Court?
A standard court includes several sets of lines because one marked court is designed for both singles and doubles.
Back Boundary Line
The back boundary line is the line at each end of the court.
During normal rallies, it is the rear boundary for both singles and doubles.
In singles, the back boundary also serves as the long service line.
Singles Sidelines
The singles sidelines are the two inner sidelines.
They create the narrower 5.18-metre-wide singles court.
During a singles rally, a shuttle landing outside those lines is out.
Doubles Sidelines
The doubles sidelines are the outermost side boundaries.
They create the full 6.10-metre-wide doubles court.
The posts are positioned on the doubles sidelines, even when a singles match is being played.
Short Service Line
The short service line is 1.98 metres from the net on each side.
A legal serve must travel diagonally into the correct service court. It may land on the short service line or beyond it, provided it stays within the other applicable service boundaries. A serve landing short of that line is out.
Centre Line
The centre line divides each side into a left service court and a right service court.
Serving and receiving take place diagonally across the net, so this line helps define the correct service box.
Doubles Long Service Line
The doubles long service line is 0.76 metres inside the back boundary.
It matters during a doubles serve.
A doubles serve must not land beyond this line. However, once the serve has been returned and the rally is underway, the area between the doubles long service line and the back boundary is in play.
This is one of the court markings that beginners most often misunderstand.
Which Lines Are Used in Singles?
Singles uses the narrower court.
During a normal singles rally:
- Side boundary: inner singles sideline
- Rear boundary: back boundary line
The side alleys are out, but the full length of the court remains in play.
Singles Service Court
A singles service court is often described as long and narrow.
The serve must travel diagonally across the net and land on or beyond the short service line, inside the singles sideline and within the correct left or right service court. Boundary lines that define the correct service court count as in.
The back boundary line is the long service line for singles. For a step-by-step explanation of the serving motion, read How to Serve in Badminton.
A useful beginner memory trick is:
Singles serve = long and narrow.
Which Lines Are Used in Doubles?
Doubles uses the full width of the court.
During a normal doubles rally:
- Side boundary: outer doubles sideline
- Rear boundary: back boundary line
The side alleys are therefore in play.
Doubles Service Court
A doubles service court is shorter and wider than a singles service court.
The serve can reach the outer doubles sideline, but it cannot land beyond the doubles long service line near the back of the court.
After the serve is returned, that rear strip becomes part of the normal doubles rally court. If you want to learn who serves and receives in doubles, see Badminton Doubles Rules for Beginners. For the legality of the serve itself, read Badminton Service Rules Explained.
A useful memory trick is:
Doubles serve = short and wide.
The Easiest Way to Remember Singles vs Doubles
You can reduce most of the court confusion to four simple ideas:
- Singles rally: long and narrow
- Doubles rally: long and wide
- Singles serve: long and narrow
- Doubles serve: short and wide
Once you understand those four patterns, the different badminton court lines become much easier to recognize.
Is a Shuttle on the Line In or Out?
A shuttle that lands on the correct boundary line is in.
Under the BWF Laws of Badminton, all court lines form part of the area they define.
That means:
- A shuttle touching the singles sideline is in during singles.
- A shuttle touching the outer doubles sideline is in during doubles.
- A serve touching the correct service boundary line is in.
The court lines themselves are 40 mm wide.
You do not need the shuttle to land clearly away from the line. If it lands on the correct boundary line, the landing is in.
How High Is a Badminton Net?
The top of a regulation badminton net is:
1.55 metres high at the posts
and
1.524 metres high at the centre of the court
The net therefore sits slightly lower in the middle.
The posts are placed on the doubles sidelines, regardless of whether singles or doubles is being played.
For an easy imperial reference, the centre of the net is 5 feet high, while the posts are approximately 5 feet 1 inch high.
Why Does a Badminton Court Have So Many Lines?
One badminton court needs to support several different situations:
- singles rallies
- doubles rallies
- singles serving
- doubles serving
- left service courts
- right service courts
Instead of marking separate courts for every situation, all of the lines are placed on the same playing surface.
That is why a badminton court can look complicated when you first see it.
The lines become much easier to understand once you identify the inner singles sidelines, the outer doubles sidelines, the short service line, and the doubles long service line.
Common Badminton Court-Line Mistakes
Mistake 1: Using the Outer Sideline in Singles
The outer sideline is not the singles side boundary.
Singles uses the inner sideline, so the side alley is out.
Mistake 2: Thinking the Singles Court Is Shorter
Singles and doubles use the same 13.40-metre court length during rallies.
Singles is narrower, not shorter.
Mistake 3: Treating the Doubles Long Service Line as the Rally Boundary
The doubles long service line limits the depth of a doubles serve.
After the serve is returned, the back boundary line becomes the rear boundary for the rally.
Mistake 4: Thinking the Side Alleys Are Always Out
The side alleys are out in singles, but they are in during doubles rallies.
Mistake 5: Calling a Shuttle on the Line Out
The correct boundary line is part of the area it defines, so a shuttle touching that line is in.
For other beginner errors involving technique and court awareness, see Common Badminton Mistakes Beginners Make.
How to Learn the Court Without Memorizing Everything at Once
Start with three landmarks.
First, identify the inner and outer sidelines. The inner lines are used for singles; the outer lines are used for doubles.
Second, find the short service line. Every legal serve must travel into the correct diagonal service court and land on or beyond this line—not short of it.
Third, find the doubles long service line near each back boundary. Remember that it matters for doubles serving, not for normal doubles rallies.
Once you understand those landmarks, the centre line and individual service courts are much easier to follow.
Badminton Court Dimensions FAQ
What are the official badminton court dimensions?
A full badminton court is 13.40 metres long and 6.10 metres wide. Singles uses the same length but a narrower 5.18-metre width.
Is a singles badminton court shorter than a doubles court?
No. Both singles and doubles use the same 13.40-metre court length during normal rallies. Singles is only narrower.
How wide is a singles badminton court?
The singles playing width is 5.18 metres, or about 17 feet.
How wide is a doubles badminton court?
The doubles playing width is 6.10 metres, or about 20 feet.
How far is the short service line from the net?
The short service line is 1.98 metres, or about 6 feet 6 inches, from the net.
What is the doubles long service line?
It is the line 0.76 metres inside the back boundary. It limits how deep a doubles serve may land.
It does not act as the rear boundary during a normal doubles rally.
Are badminton court lines in or out?
The relevant boundary lines are in. The BWF Laws of Badminton state that all lines form part of the area they define.
Are the side alleys in or out?
The side alleys are out in singles and in during doubles rallies.
Final Takeaway
A badminton court becomes much easier to understand once you stop treating every visible line as an active boundary.
Remember:
Singles is long and narrow.
Doubles is long and wide.
Singles serves are long and narrow.
Doubles serves are short and wide.
And if the shuttle touches the correct boundary line, it is in.
Understanding the court layout will make serving, movement, positioning, and the rules much easier as you continue learning badminton.
Your Next Lesson
Now that you know which court lines apply in singles, doubles, and serving situations, the next lesson in the Sports Made Clear badminton beginner path is:
Badminton Equipment for Beginners: What You Need to Start
Learn which racket, shuttlecocks, shoes, and other basics you need to start playing without overspending.
Previous lesson: Badminton Scoring Explained: How Points, Games, and Matches Work.
For the complete reading order, return to the Badminton Learning Hub.
Rules Source
This guide follows the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Laws of Badminton, Section 4.1, particularly Law 1 (Court and Court Equipment).
The BWF rules specify the court markings, line width, post placement, and net dimensions used in this guide.
Official BWF Laws of Badminton — Section 4.1
Last reviewed: October 6, 2026