A regulation pickleball net is 36 inches high at the sidelines and 34 inches high at the center. Both numbers matter, and the two-inch difference is deliberate — it is written into the rulebook, not the result of a sagging net.
The official measurements
| Point | Height |
|---|---|
| At the sidelines (net posts) | 36 in |
| At the center | 34 in |
The net spans the full 20-foot width of the court. Posts sit outside the sidelines, and the net should be pulled taut enough that the only dip is the intended one at the center.
Why the net dips in the middle
Two inches sounds trivial. On court it changes the geometry of every shot through the middle.
The lower center means a ball hit down the middle clears the net more easily than the same ball hit near a sideline. That’s part of why the middle is such a high-percentage target in doubles — the net is literally lower there, and the ball is travelling toward the seam between two players. Our guide to who takes the middle in pickleball doubles covers the other half of that problem.
It also rewards the crosscourt dink, which travels diagonally over the lowest part of the net and has the most court to land in. See the crosscourt dink.
How to measure a net correctly
Portable nets sag, and a sagging net quietly changes the game.
- Measure at the center, from the playing surface to the top of the net cord — you want 34 inches.
- Measure at each sideline — you want 36 inches.
- If the center is well below 34 inches, tighten the top cord rather than raising the posts. Raising the posts fixes the number at the sidelines and leaves the middle wrong.
A tape measure works, but if you play on portable nets often, a net measuring stick is faster and settles arguments.
Pickleball net height vs tennis and other sports
| Sport | Net height (center) |
|---|---|
| Pickleball | 34 in |
| Tennis | 36 in |
| Badminton | ~60 in |
Pickleball’s net is slightly lower than a tennis net at the center, which combined with the much smaller court is part of why the game is quicker to pick up. More on that comparison in pickleball vs tennis.
Frequently Asked Questions
How high is a pickleball net?
36 inches at the sidelines and 34 inches at the center. The two-inch dip at the center is part of the official specification.
Is a pickleball net the same height as a tennis net?
Close, but not identical. A tennis net is 36 inches at the center; a pickleball net is 34 inches. At the posts, pickleball is 36 inches while tennis posts are higher.
Can you use a tennis net for pickleball?
Not at regulation height. A tennis net is too high at the center and spans a much wider court. Some facilities lower a tennis net for casual play, but it will not match pickleball specs.
What happens if the net is the wrong height?
In recreational play, nothing official — but a low net makes drives and drops far easier and a high net punishes them, so practice on a badly set net transfers poorly to a regulation court.