Can You Play Pickleball on a Badminton Court? Lines & Net Explained

Yes, you can play pickleball on a badminton court. A badminton doubles court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long, the exact same size as a pickleball court, so the outer boundary lines already line up. Two things are different: you have to lower the net from badminton height to pickleball height, and the kitchen (non-volley zone) line does not exist on a badminton court. Badminton's short service line sits 6 feet 6 inches from the net, which is 6 inches short of the 7-foot pickleball kitchen line, so you cannot reuse it.

Here is exactly what matches, what does not, and how to set it up.

Can you play pickleball on a badminton court?

Absolutely, and it is one of the most common ways clubs run indoor pickleball. The reason it works so well is size. Both courts share the same footprint of 20 feet by 44 feet, so the sidelines and baselines you already have on a badminton court are the sidelines and baselines for pickleball. You do not need to repaint the outer box at all. What you do need to change is the net and one internal line.

How do the court dimensions compare?

The outer dimensions are effectively identical, which is why badminton halls convert so easily.

Measurement	Pickleball	Badminton (doubles)
Court width	20 ft	20 ft
Court length	44 ft	44 ft
Net height (centre)	34 in	60 in (5 ft)
Non-volley zone (kitchen)	7 ft from net	None

The net is the biggest difference

A badminton net is high. It sits about 5 feet at the centre, while a pickleball net is only 34 inches at the centre and 36 inches at the posts. You cannot play pickleball over a badminton net, so you either lower the existing net system or, more commonly, roll a portable pickleball net into place over the badminton lines. Getting the net right is the single most important part of the conversion.

Why the kitchen line is different on a badminton court

This is where people get caught out. A badminton court has a short service line 6 feet 6 inches from the net. It looks like it could be the kitchen line, but it is not. The pickleball kitchen, or non-volley zone, extends 7 feet from the net, a full 6 inches deeper than the badminton short service line. If you treat the badminton line as your kitchen line, your non-volley zone will be too shallow and every kitchen call will be slightly wrong.

Badminton lines and pickleball lines simply do not map onto each other inside the court. Here is how they compare.

Line	Pickleball	Badminton
Kitchen / non-volley line	7 ft from net	No equivalent
Short service line	No equivalent	6 ft 6 in from net
Centre line	Kitchen line to baseline	Short service line to back
Back doubles service line	No equivalent	2 ft 6 in from back line

New to the kitchen rule itself? See our guide to what the kitchen means in pickleball.

How to set up pickleball on a badminton court

Follow these steps and you will have a legal court in minutes:

• Keep the outer badminton doubles box. The 20 by 44 foot sidelines and baselines are your pickleball court, no changes needed.
• Set a pickleball net. Lower the badminton net to 34 inches at the centre, or roll in a portable pickleball net.
• Tape the kitchen line at 7 feet. Measure 7 feet back from the net on each side and lay removable court tape. Do not use the badminton short service line.
• Ignore the extra badminton lines. The short service line and back doubles line are not used in pickleball, so agree to play them as dead lines.
• Check the run-off. Make sure there is clear space around the court, as pickleball has fast lateral movement.

Frequently asked questions

Can you play pickleball on a badminton court?

Yes. A badminton doubles court is 20 feet by 44 feet, the same size as a pickleball court, so the outer lines match. You just lower the net to pickleball height and add a kitchen line 7 feet from the net.

Is a badminton court the same size as a pickleball court?

The outer dimensions are the same, 20 feet by 44 feet. The internal lines and the net height are different.

Can I use the badminton service line as the pickleball kitchen line?

No. The badminton short service line is 6 feet 6 inches from the net, while the pickleball kitchen line is 7 feet from the net. Using the badminton line makes your non-volley zone 6 inches too shallow.

Do I need to lower the net to play pickleball on a badminton court?

Yes. A badminton net is about 5 feet high at the centre, while a pickleball net is 34 inches. You must lower the net or use a portable pickleball net.