Can You Play Pickleball on a Badminton Court? Yes, 3 Changes

Yes, and it's easier than you'd think: if you have a badminton court, you already have a pickleball court. A doubles badminton court measures 20 by 44 feet, and so does a pickleball court. The outside lines you've been playing to all along are the pickleball boundary lines.

What changes is everything in the middle. The net needs to come down about two feet, the kitchen line (pickleball's no-volley zone by the net) needs to sit 7 feet from the net, and the floor needs to give the ball a true bounce, something a shuttle never asks for. Get those three right and you're playing real pickleball, whether the court is in a gym, a rec center or your backyard.

Our pick: Court Crew 4. A doubles badminton court is made for four players, and Court Crew 4 gives all four of you a real paddle of your own, plus eight outdoor balls and two carry bags, in one order.

Can you play pickleball on a badminton court?

Yes. Pickleball and badminton share a court footprint, which is why a badminton court converts so easily. Here's what carries over and what doesn't.

• Same: the outer boundary, 20 feet wide and 44 feet long.
• Same: a center line that splits each side into a right and a left service box.
• Different: the net. A pickleball net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle. A badminton net hangs at about 5 feet.
• Different: the line nearest the net. Badminton's short service line sits 6 feet 6 inches from the net. Pickleball's kitchen line sits at 7 feet.
• Different: the bounce. In badminton, the rally ends the moment the shuttle hits the floor. In pickleball, the ball has to bounce, so the surface matters.

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

A doubles badminton court is. Both are 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. The narrower singles badminton court, marked by the inner sidelines, is 17 feet wide, so for pickleball you always use the outer lines. Pickleball plays singles and doubles on the full 20-foot width.

Is it still real pickleball on a badminton court?

Once the net sits at the right height and the kitchen is marked, yes. The boundary is regulation size, and the game plays the way it's meant to. The one line worth a closer look is the kitchen line, which comes next.

How badminton lines map onto a pickleball court

A badminton court has more lines than pickleball needs. Some you keep, one you nudge, and a couple you simply ignore.

• Outer sidelines (the doubles sidelines): keep. These are your pickleball sidelines.
• Back boundary line: keep. This is your pickleball baseline, 22 feet from the net.
• Center line: keep. It divides the right and left service boxes, the same job it does in pickleball.
• Short service line: nudge. It sits 6 feet 6 inches from the net. The pickleball kitchen line belongs 6 inches farther back, at 7 feet.
• Inner sidelines (the singles sidelines): ignore. Pickleball singles uses the full width.
• Doubles long service line, the line a short step inside the back boundary: ignore. In pickleball, a serve can land anywhere in the service box, all the way back to the baseline.

Where does the kitchen line go on a badminton court?

Measure 7 feet from the net on each side and mark a line across the full 20-foot width. That puts it 6 inches behind the badminton short service line. The space between the net and that line is the kitchen, officially called the non-volley zone. You can't hit the ball out of the air while you're standing in it or touching its line.

Can you just play the short service line as the kitchen?

For a relaxed game with friends, you can. The kitchen plays 6 inches small, a small difference in a casual game. If you play there every week, or someone in the group is getting ready for league play, take a few minutes to mark the true 7-foot line. It's the one measurement that shapes how pickleball feels.

What's the easiest way to mark the extra line?

Use something that lifts right off afterward: removable floor tape or flat throw-down line markers. A color that stands out from the badminton lines helps everyone read the kitchen at a glance, especially on a gym floor that already carries lines for several sports.

Pickleball net height vs. badminton net height

This is the one you can't skip. A badminton net hangs at about 5 feet, high enough for shuttles to float over it. A pickleball net stands 36 inches at the sidelines and dips to 34 inches in the middle, roughly two feet lower. Playing over a badminton-height net turns rallies into a game of high lobs and takes away the low, soft shots that make pickleball so much fun.

Can you lower a badminton net to pickleball height?

Sometimes. If your badminton posts adjust low enough, hang the net so the top edge sits at 36 inches at each post, then check the center. If the posts don't go that low, a portable pickleball net is the simple answer. Take the badminton net down, stand the portable net on the same line, and pack it away when you're done.

How do you check pickleball net height?

Grab a tape measure. Measure from the floor to the top of the net at each sideline, where it should read 36 inches, then at the very center, where it should read 34 inches. That small dip in the middle is part of the design, not a sag to fix.

Will a pickleball bounce on a badminton court?

Usually, yes, but it's worth checking. Badminton never asks the floor for a bounce, so a badminton court was never chosen for how a ball comes off it. Pickleball depends on the bounce: the serve and the return both have to bounce before anyone can hit the ball out of the air.

• Wood gym floors: usually a lively, even bounce. They play well.
• Synthetic mats or roll-out courts: can feel softer. The ball may sit up lower and slower.
• Grass: doesn't work. The ball barely bounces on a lawn.

The quick test: drop a pickleball from about head height and watch it. If it pops back up lively and straight, you're set. If it thuds or skids, rallies will feel slow, and a different court may suit you better.

Indoor or outdoor balls on a badminton court?

It depends on where the court is. Indoor balls are a little softer, with larger holes, and they're made for smooth gym floors. Outdoor balls are harder, with smaller holes, and they're built for rough pavement and wind. Outdoor balls will work on a gym floor, but they can feel quick and a bit loud indoors. If your badminton court is inside and that's where you'll play most, add a pack of indoor balls. If you're playing outside on pavement, outdoor balls are the right call.

What about the badminton court in the backyard?

If your backyard badminton court is on grass, move the pickleball game to pavement. A driveway, a patio or a paved court gives the ball a real bounce. Keep the net at pickleball height, mark the kitchen with sidewalk chalk and use outdoor balls. If you're hosting, our guide to paddles for a backyard court party picks up from there.

How to set up pickleball on a badminton court, step by step

1. Pick one badminton court. In a gym with several side by side, choose the one with the most open space behind the back lines.
2. Find your boundary. Use the outer sidelines and the back boundary lines. That's your full 20-by-44-foot court.
3. Set the net. Lower the badminton net to 36 inches at the posts, or set a portable pickleball net on the net line.
4. Check the middle. The center of the net should measure 34 inches.
5. Mark the kitchens. Measure 7 feet from the net on both sides and lay a line across the full width with removable tape or throw-down lines.
6. Confirm the center line. The badminton center line already splits each side into two service boxes. It starts at the short service line, so the first 6 inches of it land inside the kitchen. That's fine, since the kitchen is one zone either way.
7. Test the bounce. Drop a ball and watch it, and switch to indoor balls if the court is inside.
8. Hand out paddles and play. One paddle per player: two for singles, four for doubles.

After the first time, setup gets quick: the net goes up, the lines go down, and at the end of the night the court goes right back to badminton.

How much room do you need around the court?

More is better. Pickleball keeps you moving forward and back, so leave a few feet of clear space behind each baseline and along the sides, and move bags, chairs and water bottles well off the court.

What a household needs to play pickleball on a badminton court

If you already play badminton, you have the court and the court sense. For pickleball, you'll need a few things of your own.

• One paddle per player. Solid paddles, not stringed rackets. Two for singles, four for doubles.
• Pickleballs. Outdoor balls for pavement, indoor balls for gym floors. Keep a few spares, because they roll far.
• A pickleball-height net. Your badminton net if it lowers to 36 inches, otherwise a portable pickleball net.
• Something to mark the kitchen. Removable tape or throw-down lines indoors, sidewalk chalk outside.
• A tape measure. For the net and the 7-foot lines.
• Court shoes. Non-marking shoes with good side-to-side support indoors, and sneakers with grip on pavement.
• A bag. So the paddles and balls live together between games.

What's the easiest way to get paddles for a household?

A set that arrives ready to play. Each ARTI Gift Set comes with two fiberglass paddles, four outdoor pickleballs and a carry bag in one box. The paddles are USA Pickleball approved, so this is a real paddle, not a toy. Every set is the same paddle underneath, so you choose on the artwork: soft pastel florals in Flowers; pups on lilac and zebras and giraffes on cream in Dogs & Giraffes; two abstract compositions, colorful, modern and geometric, in Horizon Duo; or cherry blossoms over a quiet fairway and golfers out on the course in Golf Course.

Why is Court Crew 4 our pick for a badminton court?

A badminton court's outer lines mark its doubles court, and pickleball doubles fits right on them. Court Crew 4 is built from two Gift Sets you pick: four fiberglass paddles, eight outdoor balls and two carry bags, and both sets ship together. Choose the same set twice and you get two matching pairs, so each team can match.

For more on gearing up a group of four, see what a family pickleball set actually needs.

Who is Court Crew 4 for?

• A badminton foursome ready to try a new game on the same court.
• A household of four that wants a paddle for everyone.
• The neighbors who finally said yes to a weekly game.
• Hosts who like to keep spare paddles for guests.

Who might want something else?

• Two players: one Gift Set covers you, with two paddles, four balls and a bag.
• Anyone who already owns paddles: you only need balls, a net and a way to mark the kitchen.
• A badminton player shopping for a paddle of their own: read the notes below first.

How is pickleball different from badminton?

If you play badminton, you bring a lot with you: quick hands at the net, a soft touch on short shots and an eye for angles. A few things will feel different at first.

• The paddle is solid. No strings, a shorter reach and more weight in your hand than a racket. Swings get more compact.
• The ball bounces, and it has to. The serve must bounce once and the return must bounce once before anyone volleys. It's called the two-bounce rule.
• The kitchen stops the net smash. You can't volley while standing in the kitchen or on its line. You can step in to play a ball after it bounces.
• Serves are usually underhand, and always diagonal. They have to clear the kitchen and land in the service box across from you.
• Scoring works differently. A standard game goes to 11, win by 2, and in traditional scoring only the serving side wins points.

What paddle should a badminton player start with?

Any real, approved paddle is a fine place to start. Your first few games are about learning the bounce and the kitchen, not about gear. The fiberglass paddles in ARTI's Gift Sets have a 16mm core (that's the paddle's thickness, and thicker feels softer) and weigh 7.8 to 8.0 oz. If you get hooked and want a paddle that's all yours, our paddle guide for badminton crossover players walks through the choice in more detail.

FAQ: pickleball on a badminton court

Can you play badminton on a pickleball court?

Yes, for a casual game. The outer lines match, so a pickleball court's sidelines and baselines work as a badminton doubles boundary. Raise the net to badminton height, about 5 feet, and keep in mind that badminton's short service line belongs 6 inches closer to the net than the kitchen line.

How much lower is a pickleball net than a badminton net?

About two feet. A pickleball net is 36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches in the middle. A badminton net hangs at about 5 feet.

Can you use a badminton net for pickleball?

Only if it lowers far enough. Hang it so the top sits at pickleball height at both posts, then check the center. If your posts won't go that low, take the badminton net down and set up a portable pickleball net on the same line.

Can you play pickleball on a grass badminton court?

Not really. A pickleball needs a hard, flat surface to bounce. Move the game to a driveway, a patio or a paved court.

Which balls should I use on an indoor badminton court?

Indoor pickleballs, if that's where you'll play most. They're made for smooth gym floors. Outdoor balls work in a pinch but can feel quick and loud indoors.

How many people can play pickleball on a badminton court?

Two or four. Singles and doubles both use the full 20-by-44-foot court, so there's no need to switch lines between games.

What do I need to buy to get started?

A paddle for everyone, some balls and a net that sits at pickleball height. An ARTI Gift Set brings the paddles and balls for two, and Court Crew 4 brings them for four. The net is separate.

About ARTI. ARTI Pickleball started in Dallas in 2024 because the founders were tired of paddles that all looked the same. We're real people in Dallas, not a mystery factory, and the art on the paddle face is the point. Whether your court is a gym floor with badminton lines or a backyard patio, we'd like the paddle in your hand to feel like yours. Find the paddle that finds you.