The statistics speak for themselves: pickleball is the fastest growing sport today.

According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP), as of 2023, it's estimated that nearly 50 million people will be playing pickleball in the United States alone, and many local facilities are supporting the trend with courts dedicated to the growing sport.

If you've decided to build an outdoor pickleball court for your recreation centre, school or club, but aren't sure where to start, this guide will help you understand the basics of building a pickleball court.  

Determine your space

Would you convert a tennis or badminton court into a pickleball court? Will you be building a multi-court complex? Or will you be building a new pickleball court from scratch? Whatever your situation, it's important to keep the standard dimensions of a pickleball court in mind and adapt them to your unique project needs.

Pickleball court lines are drawn according to the United States Pickleball Association (USAPA). Lines are drawn to a standard of 2 inches.The names of all lines on a Pickleball court are listed below.

Non-Tackling Lines - lines that run parallel to the net between the sidelines on either side of the net (these lines are 7 feet (2.13 metres) from the net according to USAPA rules)

Non-Tackle Zone - the area of the court bounded by the two sidelines, the non-tackle line and the net

Centre line - the line on either side of the net between the non-tackle line and the baseline.

Tee Zone - the area on either side of the centre line, bounded by the non-tackle line, the baseline and the sidelines.

If you are building a multi-court pickleball system, the overall structure and dimensions are the same as for a single court. The only difference is that you will be building multiple courts on a larger scale and each pickleball court will require padded fencing between them.

Pickleball court dimensions: 20 x 44 feet for singles and doubles play

Pickleball net height: 36 inches at the sidelines, 34 inches in the middle

Pickleball playing area: 30 x 60 feet is the standard size, but 40 x 64 feet is preferred for tournaments or if you want separate pickleball courts.

Choosing a Court Surface Material

Concrete: This outdoor court surface is the best in terms of both durability and value. It can withstand frequent use and a variety of weather conditions. However, it does not protect the knees and ankles of athletes, and the body is prone to fatigue and safety hazards.

Asphalt: If you want to go a more affordable route, this could be a good option, but may require extra maintenance. However, it is less desirable due to its rough surface.

Acrylic: good abrasion resistance, environmentally friendly and healthy, waterproof and impermeable, corrosion resistant, good thermal insulation, as well as a wide range of colours. It is difficult and costly to construct, and if it is not constructed properly it may crack and peel off, requiring timely maintenance and repair. It has poor heat resistance and solvent resistance.

Snap-in flooring: snap-in court surfaces can be applied over asphalt or concrete, which can be helpful when you don't want to permanently change the surface of a multi-purpose court. It is UV resistant and can withstand all types of weather. In addition, it is very shock-absorbing and protects the knees and ankles. It is easy to install and can be installed with your own bare hands.

Note: We do not recommend building pickleball courts on compacted gravel, grass or dirt as it is difficult to get a good bounce.

Picking a Fence

Fencing is vital for multi-court pickleball as it confines the ball to the playing area and provides security for players and spectators.

Pickleball fence size: 10ft high is preferred, but 4ft is fine if the top of the fence is padded.

Client Project

18th April 2024 Farfly tailored the flooring for the pickleball club in the Ningbo Wanxiang City mall. It brings a unique experience of sports to people. The club covers a total area of 560 square metres, including 4 pickleball courts.

Farfly developed a portable floor specifically for the outdoor pickleball court sports experience, designing a floor with better resilience, more anti-slip and wear-resistant, and more colourful.

The surface of this portable flooring is more resilient and is made of PP environmentally friendly material that can withstand UV rays and all types of weather changes, whether it's snowing or hot and humid weather won't affect its service life. Another important advantage: its rebound effect is higher than the international standard. (The American Pickleball Association stipulates that if a ball is dropped from a height of 198cm, the rebound effect needs to reach 76-86cm.) After many tests, the rebound height of this pickleball flooring can reach 90cm.

Fanfly's carefully crafted flooring solutions are optimised for functional design and maintenance. Helps to create a dynamic and energising sports environment. Easy to install while reducing maintenance costs.

Essential elements for setting up your pickleball court

Once you've selected your pickleball court surface, fencing, pickleball netting, lighting and other materials, it's time to begin installation. The following tips can help you through the installation process:

1. Hire a professional contractor: Hiring a professional contractor can help ensure that everything is built and set up according to the specifications for recreation centres, clubs and school pickleball games.

2. Orient the court north-south: Outdoor pickleball courts are subject to environmental factors that can obstruct a player's view (position of the sun, shadows cast on the surface of the court, etc.), so it's important to orient your pickleball court to face north-south.

3. If there is enough space and budget, consider building awnings, which can greatly enhance the player's experience.