The dimensions of a badminton court are mandated by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and are universally accepted. These measurements have remained unchanged since they were established in 1934.
Badminton is typically played on hardwood floors or synthetic rubber mats made specifically for badminton. The court measures 44 feet long and 20 feet wide and is divided by a net into two identical halves. The standard court contains lines for both singles and doubles play. Doubles play is designated by the outside lines, while singles uses the baseline and inner sideline. The doubles court is the same length as the singles court, but the outer sideline makes it 18 inches wider.
Badminton Court Lines
All lines are standardized to be 1.57 inches in width. This measurement is essential because the lines are considered part of the court. If the shuttlecock touches any part of the line when it lands, the shot is considered to be in bounds.
Baseline
This is the back line on both ends that runs parallel to the net and measures 20 feet, the width of the court.
Centerline
This measures 13 feet and runs perpendicular to the net down the middle of each side. The center line separates the two service boxes.
Doubles sideline
This line, along with the baseline, forms the outer boundary lines for the court. It runs 44 feet perpendicular to the net.
Singles sideline
This runs along the inside of the doubles sideline and parallel to it. The line measures 44 feet and designates the singles court along with the baseline.
Short service line
This line covers the width of the court and is the closest line that runs parallel to the net.
Doubles long service line
This designates the back service line for doubles and spans the width of the court.
Badminton Court Areas
Service box
The right and left service boxes are identical in size. They designate the service area for the server and receiver. The singles service box is 15.5 feet long and 10 feet wide, while the doubles service box is 13 feet long and 10 feet wide.
Alley
This is the area between the singles and doubles sideline that is 44 feet long and 1.5 feet wide. This area is considered outside of the boundaries for singles games.
Net
The net is fastened to two poles sitting on both doubles sidelines. The net should be 2.5 feet tall and 20 feet wide. The height of the net should be 5 feet and 1 inch at the poles and 5 feet at the center of the net.
Ceiling Height
The badminton rulebook does not mention a minimum ceiling height required for a badminton court, but gyms typically allow at least 30 feet of clearance. A shuttlecock coming in contact with the ceiling is usually out of bounds, but the rules will vary from gym to gym.
Although the measurements of a badminton court are standardized, the colors of the lines and the surrounding environment are not. This may not seem significant, but playing with an object as small as a shuttlecock traveling close to 200 miles per hour can be difficult on the eyes. There is no real solution when dealing with poor color schemes, but you should at least expect to face them from time to time.
