The International Padel Federation (FIP) is the official body responsible for determining the rules of the game and everything related to the sport, including the official dimensions a paddle court must have.
According to FIP, the paddle court is rectangular in shape and must measure 10 meters in width and 20 meters in length, with a tolerance of 0.5 percent.
In general, therefore, the dimensions of a paddle court are around 23 m x 13 m.
In addition to the size of the court, there are also other measurements to take into account to ensure that the installation perfectly meets the parameters dictated by the FIP, namely:
In the case of covered (indoor) padel courts, in addition to the horizontal dimensions, it is essential to consider the vertical development of the structure. According to International Padel Federation (FIP) guidelines, the minimum clear height from the playing surface to any element (such as the ceiling or lights) must be at least 6 meters over the entire surface of the court, without any obstruction. For newly built facilities, the FIP recommends an increased minimum height, i.e. 8 meters, always free of elements that may interfere with play.
The horizontal dimensions remain identical to those of an outdoor court:20 × 10 m for the playing court, up to about 23 × 13 m considering the marginal areas. This "vertical clearance" is crucial to allow high shots such as bandeja or smash without the risk of interference or obstruction, and to ensure the regularity and homologation of the court for official competitions.
| Measure | Outdoor court | Indoor court |
|---|---|---|
| Field length | 20 m | 20 m |
| Field width | 10 m | 10 m |
| Overall dimensions (with marginal areas) | 23 × 13 m approx. | 23 × 13 m approx. |
| Minimum height | - | 6 m |
| Recommended height (new plants) | - | 8 m |
In addition to having to strictly adhere to these measurements, it is essential that paddle courts be constructed with specific materials as this element can also influence playing performance. On the choice of material depends, for example, the smooth bounce of the ball, which does not occur in wire mesh areas.
Originating as a couples sport, single paddle is not yet regulated in the official circuits, although it can be played at the amateur level. The main difference between single paddle and double paddle concerns the size of the court. The length is the same for both, but the width of the court for single is 6 meters, while for doubles it is 10 meters. The rules of the game remain the same in both modes, including the height of the net and side walls, as well as the general rules. The placement of the service line also does not change.
| Length | Width | Maximum number of players | |
| Single paddle court | 20mt | 6mt | 2 |
| Double paddle court | 20mt | 10mt | 4 |
Read more: Padel courts: advantages, construction and installation
Single paddle is particularly suitable for those who prefer to play without a partner, similar to single tennis. Not everyone appreciates the presence of a teammate, preferring instead to rely on their own skills. Although the size of the single paddle court is smaller than in doubles, the physical exertion is generally greater, since one has to cover the entire court alone. It should be considered that in single paddle it is difficult to execute volley shots such as volleys, which are very spectacular in doubles play. This is because going to the net in single paddle requires you to cover the 6-meter width of the court by yourself.
As we have seen, in addition to having to pay attention to the size of the paddle court, there are several technical accuracies to take into account regarding the sport. The main ones include, for example, the characteristics of the net and walls, the lighting of the court, and, of course, the quality of the playing surface .
Although the situation may initially appear complicated, the advantages of installing a paddle court are numerous, here are the main ones:
We have talked about durability and minimal maintenance of paddle courts. Obviously, these conditions depend greatly on the quality of the materials used and the attention that is paid to every detail during installation. This is why Italgreen is the winning solution for the construction of an excellent paddle court.
Read also: Panoramic padel court
Unlike "standard" iron that is often prone to rusting, the iron used by Italgreen is the result of great innovation and research; in fact, it is a material derived from a hot-dip galvanizing process and subsequent heat-cured powder coating.
The result is a very strong and durable paddle court, thus running no risk of deterioration.
In addition to this, Italgreen iron courts have the following advantages:
Italgreen stands as a trusted partner in the construction of single and double paddle courts. We support you throughout the entire phase of your project, from feasibility study to after sales:
Submit your project to our team, we will provide a no-obligation consultation!
Make your padel court with Italgreen!