There are predominantly various types of badminton courts around the world that use different types of flooring. However, most commonly a badminton court is laid on a wooden surface with synthetic flooring on top of it.
Over the past few years, badminton has witnessed tremendous growth in its infrastructure with various exquisite courts being developed in many cities. The prime function of a badminton court is to provide a proper grip and cushioning to badminton players as various movements are involved in the game.
Also read: Types of Badminton Courts: A comprehensive guide
Therefore, it is very important to maintain and play on a good badminton court to avoid injuries and for better performance. In general, a badminton court is used for both, singles and doubles but the court criteria for both categories are different. Take a look at a detailed overview of badminton courts.
What is the size of a badminton court?
As per the Badminton World Federation(BWF) guidelines, the size of a badminton court is 20 ft x 44 ft (6.1 m x 13.4 m), extending an area of 880 ft2 (81.75 m2).
The diagonal length of the court is 14.723 m (48.30 ft) and the lines are marked 40 mm (1.57 inch) wide with either white/yellow to make it more visible.
The length of the court remains the same for both singles and doubles, but the difference is in the width of the court in both categories.
Further, the court is divided into two halves measuring 6.7m(22ft) each, separated by the badminton net. These two halves on each side are further divided by a centerline, forming the service courts. Overall, a badminton court has four service courts of dimensions, 3.96m (13 ft) * 2.59m (8.5 ft)
Moreover, the badminton court has two service lines,
- Short Service line: 1.98m (6.5 ft) from the net
- Long Service line for doubles: 0.76m (2.5ft) from the back boundary line
Other Lines:
- Side-Line for Singles: 1.5 feet or 0.457 meters from the doubles sideline
- Side-Line for Doubles: Outermost line of the width of the court
- Back Boundary Line/ Long Service Line for Singles: Outermost line of the length of the court
What is the difference between Singles and Doubles Badminton Court?
In the singles court, the width runs wide extending till 5.18m (17 ft), which is denoted by the sidelines. However, the width of the doubles court is extended to 6.1m (20 ft), known as doubles sidelines. The length of the court is the same in both singles and doubles.
Singles Court: 20 ft x 44 ft (6.1 m x 13.4 m)
Doubles Court: 20 ft x 44 ft (6.1 m x 13.4 m),
In singles, the service has to land on or beyond the short service line and before the back boundary line within the sideline for singles. However, the service length is shorter in doubles in where the service has to land on or beyond the short service line and not beyond the long service line for doubles.
What is the height of the Badminton Net?
According to the BWF, a badminton net should be 1.55m (5ft 1in) high at the ends and dips to 1.524m (5 ft) in the middle of the court. The net posts have to be 1.5 m (5 ft) long and should be placed over the doubles sidelines even when singles are played. Moreover, the dimensions of the badminton net are 20 ft x 2.49 ft (6.1 m x 0.76 m). The other specifications include-
- The net should be made of fine cord of dark color and even thickness between 15-20mm.
- A 75mm white tape should be edged over the top of the new doubled over a cord/cable running through it to connect it to the post.
What is the height of the Badminton Court?
According to the BWF, the height of the ceiling of the badminton court for major International tournaments like the Olympics, and Grade 1 tournaments, should be a minimum of 12 meters from the ground of the court.
For other BWF tournaments, the minimum height from the floor over the full court should be 9 meters. Consequently, every country has its laid-down it own height specification. For example, in India, the court should be 9m in height as per the Badminton Association of India.