Badminton · Laws of Badminton
Law 1: Court and Court Equipment
2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts · updated 29 October 2026 · markdown
Law 1 of the Laws of Badminton describes the court of Diagram A and the equipment that stands on it: the lines, the service courts, the posts and the net. One court carries the lines for both singles and doubles, so the same floor serves either game.
The full court is 13.40 m long and 6.10 m wide. The singles side line lies 0.46 m inside the doubles side line, which makes a singles court 5.18 m wide. Every line is 40 mm wide, easy to tell apart and preferably white or yellow, and each line belongs to the area it marks, so a shuttle touching a line is in. The short service lines sit 1.98 m from the net, and the doubles long service line is 0.76 m inside the back boundary line, which in singles doubles as the long service line.
The posts are 1.55 m high, stand on the doubles side lines in both games and may not reach into the court. The net is of fine, dark cord of even thickness with a mesh of 15 to 20 mm, is 760 mm deep and has a 75 mm white tape doubled over a cord or cable at the top. Its top is 1.524 m at the centre and 1.55 m over the doubles side lines, with no gap at the posts.
The facts below cover the court's size and lines, the service courts, the posts and how the net is made and hung.
1.11The Court and Its Lines
Size of the court, line width and colour, the service lines and which lines belong to which game.
Test 1The size of the court, its lines and the service courtsTake a test
Every court line is 40 mm wide.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1 · recall
The full court is 13.40 m long and 6.10 m wide; 5.18 m is the width between the singles side lines.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1, Diagram A · recall
The singles side line lies 0.46 m inside the doubles side line, so a singles court is 5.18 m wide.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1, Diagram A · recall
The court of Diagram A carries the lines for both games, so the same court serves singles and doubles.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1, Diagram A · applied
The lines must be easy to tell apart and are preferably white or yellow.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.2 · recall
The short service lines are 1.98 m from the net on each side.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1, Diagram A · recall
The long service line for doubles is 0.76 m inside the back boundary line; in singles the back boundary line is also the long service line.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1, Diagram A · applied
Walking back from the net you cross the short service line first and the doubles long service line next, and the back boundary line closes the court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1, Diagram A · applied
40 mm, then 0.46 m, then 1.98 m, then 6.10 m.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1, Diagram A · applied
Every line belongs to the area it marks, so a shuttle touching the singles side line is in.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.3 · applied
1.12Posts and Net
Where the posts stand and how high, the net's cord, mesh, depth and tape, and its height.
Test 1The posts, the net, its tape and how it is hungTake a test
The posts are 1.55 m high and must stay upright when the net is strained.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.4 · recall
The posts go on the doubles side lines whether singles or doubles is played.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.5 · applied
Neither the posts nor their supports may extend into the court beyond the side lines.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.5 · applied
The net is of fine cord with a mesh of not less than 15 mm and not more than 20 mm.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.6 · recall
The top of the net has a 75 mm white tape doubled over a cord or cable, resting on it.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.8 · recall
There must be no gap between the net and the posts; if needed the net's full depth is tied to them.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.11 · applied
The net is made of fine cord of a dark colour and even thickness.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.6 · recall
20 mm, 75 mm, 760 mm, then at least 6.1 m.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.6, 1.7, 1.8 · applied
The net is 760 mm deep and its top is 1.524 m at the centre, so its bottom edge is about 0.76 m up; the posts, with the cord flush on top, are 1.55 m.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.4, 1.7, 1.9, 1.10 · applied
The top of the net is 1.524 m at the centre of the court and 1.55 m over the doubles side lines.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.10 · applied
Questions people ask
- How big is a badminton court?
- A full court is 13.40 m long and 6.10 m wide. The singles court is narrower, 5.18 m, because its side lines lie 0.46 m inside the doubles side lines.
- Is a shuttle on the line in or out in badminton?
- It is in. Every line belongs to the area it marks, so a shuttle touching the singles side line counts as in.
- How high is a badminton net?
- The top of the net is 1.524 m at the centre of the court and 1.55 m over the doubles side lines, where the posts stand.
- Where are the service lines on a badminton court?
- The short service lines are 1.98 m from the net on each side. The doubles long service line is 0.76 m inside the back boundary line, and in singles the back boundary line is also the long service line.
- What colour are badminton court lines?
- The lines must be easy to tell apart and are preferably white or yellow. Each one is 40 mm wide.
- Do the posts move for singles?
- No. The posts go on the doubles side lines whether singles or doubles is played, and neither they nor their supports may extend into the court.
- What is a badminton net made of?
- Fine cord of a dark colour and even thickness, with a mesh of 15 to 20 mm. A 75 mm white tape is doubled over a cord or cable along the top.
Sources
BWF Laws of Badminton, V6.0 in force 4 January 2027, Law 1 and Diagram A (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Laws, not reproduced)
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.1, Diagram A7
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.52
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.62
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.41
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.81
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.111
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.6, 1.7, 1.81
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.4, 1.7, 1.9, 1.101
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 1.101