Padel Court Dimensions & Layout Explained

A padel court looks like a smaller tennis court surrounded by walls and fences. But those walls aren't just boundaries - they're part of the game. Understanding the court layout helps you read bounces, position yourself better, and play smarter.

Overall Dimensions

A standard padel court measures 20 meters long × 10 meters wide. The court is divided in half by a net, giving each side a 10m × 10m playing area. These dimensions are set by the International Padel Federation (FIP) and used in all professional and most recreational courts worldwide.

The Net

The net runs across the full width of the court (10m) and has specific height requirements:

• Center height: 88 cm (slightly lower than tennis)
• Side height: 92 cm at the posts
• The net sags slightly in the middle, just like in tennis

The lower net height compared to tennis makes volleys and net play even more important in padel.

Service Boxes

Each half of the court has two service boxes, divided by the center line:

• The service line is 6.95m from the net (3.05m from the back wall)
• Each service box is 5m wide × 3.05m deep
• The server must bounce the ball and hit it underhand, landing in the diagonal service box
• After bouncing in the box, the ball can hit the back wall - and it's still in play

The Walls

This is what makes padel unique. The court is fully enclosed, and the walls are part of the playing surface. The ball can bounce off any wall and remain in play.

Back Wall

• 3 meters of glass from the ground up
• 1 meter of mesh/fence above the glass (total 4m)
• The glass allows spectators to watch and lets players read ball trajectories

Side Walls

The side walls have a stepped design:

• The first 4 meters from each back corner are glass, 3m high, with 1m of mesh above to match the 4m back wall height
• The remaining 6 meters toward the net are mesh/fence, 3m high
• Some courts have a small opening near the net for player entry

Playing Zones

While not marked on the court, experienced players think in terms of zones:

• Net zone (0-3m from net): The attacking position. Control the net to win points with volleys and smashes.
• Transition zone (3-7m): The danger area. You're too far from the net for clean volleys and too close to react to lobs. Move through this zone quickly.
• Back zone (7-10m): The defensive position. Use the walls to return difficult shots and wait for a chance to move forward.

Wall Bounces

Understanding how the ball interacts with walls is essential:

• Back wall bounce: After the ball bounces on the ground and hits the back wall, it comes back toward the net. Let it come to you rather than chasing it into the wall.
• Side wall bounce: The ball changes angle. Glass walls give a more predictable bounce than mesh sections.
• Double wall (back + side): The ball can hit the back wall and then the side wall (or vice versa) and remain in play. These are the trickiest shots to read.

Key Differences from Tennis Courts

• Size: A padel court is roughly 1/3 the size of a tennis court (200 m² vs 648 m²)
• Enclosed: Walls are in play - tennis courts are open
• Net height: 88cm center (padel) vs 91.4cm (tennis)
• Surface: Most padel courts use artificial grass with sand, though concrete and carpet surfaces exist

Track It All

Punto+ handles scoring, serve rotation, and court positioning automatically from your Apple Watch. Focus on reading the walls and playing the angles - let the app handle the rest.