Tennis Court Dimensions & Striping Guide (ITF)
Under official International Tennis Federation (ITF Rule 1) and USTA standards, a regulation tennis court measures 78 feet (23.77m) in length, with a doubles width of 36 feet (10.97m) and a singles width of 27 feet (8.23m).
ITF Regulation Court Specifications
Master Diagonal Square-off Sizing Table
Whether setting out from the baseline or from the center net posts, use these Pythagorean triangulation distances to eliminate skewing:
| Triangulation Check | Exact Distance | Measurement Span | Physical Setting Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full Doubles Diagonal | 85′ 11″ (26.19 m) | Baseline Corner A to Opposite Corner D | Overall 78′ × 36′ rectangular squaring check. |
| Full Singles Diagonal | 82′ 6½″ (25.16 m) | Singles Baseline Corner to Opposite Singles Corner | 78′ × 27′ singles box alignment check. |
| Half-Court Doubles Diagonal | 53′ 1″ (16.18 m) | Doubles Sideline at Net Line to Opposite Baseline Corner | Setting out half-court from net line datum. |
| Half-Court Singles Diagonal | 47′ 5″ (14.46 m) | Singles Sideline at Net Line to Opposite Singles Baseline Corner | Setting out singles court from net datum. |
| Service Box Diagonal | 24′ 11⅝″ (7.61 m) | Net Center to Outside Service Corner | Squareness check across each 21′ × 13′ 6″ box. |
Step-by-Step Tennis Court Striping Guide (With Complete Measurements)
Step 1 — Pad Clearances & Setting Reference Pin A
Stand at the South-West corner of your 120′ × 60′ pad facing North. Measure inward 21′ 0″ (6.40m) from the back fence and 12′ 0″ (3.66m) from the side fence. Drive solid steel Pin A. This establishes the master reference benchmark with official ITF safety runoffs.
Step 2 — Lay Baseline 1 & Mark All 4 Notches (Single Tape Pull)
Pull a 100ft steel tape from Pin A parallel to the back edge for exactly 36 feet 0 inches (10.97m) and drive Pin B. While the tape is stretched taut, mark all 4 key points on the ground to avoid re-measuring later:
- 0′ 0″: Pin A (Doubles corner)
- 4′ 6″ (1.37m): West Singles sideline notch
- 18′ 0″ (5.49m): Baseline Center Mark notch
- 31′ 6″ (9.60m): East Singles sideline notch (4′ 6″ from Pin B)
- 36′ 0″ (10.97m): Pin B (Doubles corner)
Step 3 — The 85′ 11″ Diagonal Lock & Sideline Midpoint Notches
Hold Tape 1 (78′ 0″) at Pin A along the West sideline, and Tape 2 (85′ 11″) at Pin B. Pull both tape ends taut until the marks intersect. Drive Pin D for a true 90.00° corner. While the 78′ tape is stretched along the A–D line, mark all key intervals:
- 18′ 0″ (5.49m): South Service line notch
- 39′ 0″ (11.89m): Half-court Net Line datum
- 60′ 0″ (18.29m): North Service line notch (21′ from net / 18′ from baseline)
- 78′ 0″ (23.77m): Pin D (North Baseline corner)
Step 4 — Complete 78′ × 36′ Perimeter & Cross-Check Diagonals
Repeat triangulation from Pin B (pulling 78′ 0″) and Pin A (pulling 85′ 11″) to drive Pin C. While tape is along the East sideline (B to C), mark the identical intervals: 18′ 0″, 39′ 0″, 60′ 0″, and 78′ 0″. Pull tape across the North baseline (D to C) to mark 4′ 6″, 18′ 0″, and 31′ 6″.
Cross-Check: Both full diagonals (A-to-C and B-to-D) must equal 85 feet 11 inches (26.19m) within ¼″ tolerance.
Step 5 — Net Line Datum (39′ 0″) & Post Placement
Connect the 39′ 0″ marks on both sidelines using a temporary chalk string line (do not paint a line across the court). Measure 3′ 0″ (0.914m) outward from each doubles sideline along the net line to position net posts (42′ 0″ total post span, 42″ top post height). Anchor the center strap sleeve at mid-court (36″ net height).
Step 6 — Snap 27′ Singles Sidelines (4′ 6″ Insets)
Snap two full 78′ 0″ chalk lines connecting the 4′ 6″ notches on Baseline 1 to the 4′ 6″ notches on Baseline 2. This establishes the 27′ 0″ (8.23m) singles court and creates the two 4′ 6″ (1.37m) doubles alleys.
Singles Diagonal Check: Corner-to-corner diagonal across the 78′ × 27′ singles box must measure 82′ 6½″ (25.16m).
Step 7 — Stripe Service Boxes (21′ from Net) & Center 'T'
Connect the 18′ 0″ marks on the West and East singles sidelines to paint the South Service Line (27′ length, exactly 21′ 0″ from net). Repeat across the 60′ 0″ marks for the North Service Line. Connect both service line midpoints (13′ 6″ from singles lines) with the 2″ wide Center Service Line. Paint the 2″ × 4″ baseline center marks.
REGULATION TENNIS COURT (78′ × 36′) — FIELD CREW JOB SHEET
Standard: ITF / USTA | Envelope: 120′ × 60′ Pad | Date: __________________
| Survey Parameter | Exact Setting Measurement | Physical Field Instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Doubles Court Perimeter | 78′ 0″ × 36′ 0″ (23.77m × 10.97m) | All boundary measurements to outside edge of lines. |
| Doubles Full Diagonal | 85′ 11″ (26.19m) | Corner-to-corner triangulation across 78′ × 36′ rectangle. |
| Singles Court Perimeter | 78′ 0″ × 27′ 0″ (23.77m × 8.23m) | Inset exactly 4′ 6″ (1.37m) inside doubles sidelines. |
| Singles Full Diagonal | 82′ 6½″ (25.16m) | Corner-to-corner diagonal check across 78′ × 27′ box. |
| Net Line (Datum Only) | 39′ 0″ (11.89m) from ends | Temporary chalk reference line only — never paint permanently. |
| Service Line to Net | 21′ 0″ (6.40m) | Runs between singles sidelines only (27′ long, 18′ from baseline). |
| Service Box Diagonal | 24′ 11⅝″ (7.61m) | Squareness check across each 21′ 0″ × 13′ 6″ quadrant. |
| Net Post Height & Span | 42″ (1.07m) Height / 42′ Span | Position posts exactly 3′ 0″ outside doubles sidelines. |
Field Toolkit Checklist
☐ 2× 100ft Steel Tape Measures ☐ 6× Ground Pins / Chalk ☐ Center Strap Anchor ☐ 2″ Court Tape or Paint
Crucial ITF Line Thickness & Drainage Rules
- Line Measurement Datum: All court measurements are taken to the outside edge of boundary lines, except the center service line which is centered.
- Baseline Width: Sidelines and service lines are 2 inches (5cm) wide; baselines can be painted up to 4 inches (10cm) wide for improved call visibility.
- Court Slope: Outdoor courts must have a continuous 1% (1:100) side-to-side planar slope for water drainage. Never crown a tennis court in the center.
- Singles Sticks: When playing singles on a doubles court, net sticks must be placed 3′ 0″ (0.914m) outside the singles sideline, raising the net to 42 inches.
Other Racket & Ball Court Layouts:
Check our Pickleball Court (48′ 4″ Diag), view the Volleyball Court Dimensions, or explore all layouts in the Master Court Directory.