Pickleball Net Height: 36 Inches at the Sidelines, 34 at the Center
The court · Net height · Updated 2026-07-22
A pickleball net is 36 inches (0.91 m) high at the sidelines and 34 inches (0.86 m) high at the center, per USA Pickleball. The two-inch (5 cm) dip is a specification, not slack rope.
That single dip is why the crosscourt ball through the middle is the safest shot on the court, and why a portable net strung level plays nothing like a real one.
Net specifications
| Measurement | Pickleball | Metric | Tennis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height at the posts / sidelines | 36 in | 0.91 m | 42 in (1.07 m), doubles |
| Height at the center | 34 in | 0.86 m | 36 in (0.91 m) |
| Drop from side to center | 2 in | 5.1 cm | 6 in (15 cm) |
| Span, post to post | 22 ft | 6.71 m | 42 ft (12.8 m), doubles |
| Overhang beyond each sideline | 1 ft | 0.30 m | 3 ft (0.91 m) |
The net spans 22 ft (6.71 m) across a 20 ft (6.10 m) court, so it hangs a foot (0.30 m) past each sideline. That overhang is what stops a ball skimming around the post from being a live shot in casual play, and it is why a tennis net stretched across a pickleball court sits on posts that are far too wide apart.
How to set and check the sag
- Set the posts and tension the cord first: Pull the top cord tight enough that the net reads 36 in (0.91 m) where it meets each sideline. On a portable frame, that usually means tightening until the top edge stops rippling.
- Measure at the center, not by eye: Stand a tape on the surface at the exact midpoint of the net and read the top of the net band. You are looking for 34 in (0.86 m). A dollar bill is about 6.1 in long, so four of them end to end is close to 24 in - use a tape.
- Add or release the center strap: Permanent nets use a center strap anchored to the surface to pull the middle down to 34 in. Portable nets rely on the weight of the net. If yours reads 35 or 36 in at the center, tighten the strap or add tension to the top cord and re-measure.
- Re-check after an hour of play: Cord stretches and portable frames creep inward. On a hot day a net that started at 34 in can read 35 in by the second game, and every dink you practise against it is a dink you have not really practised.
Why two inches changes the game
- The middle is the low percentage-play target. A crosscourt dink crosses at the 34 in (0.86 m) point over the longest diagonal, so you get the lowest net and the most court to land in.
- Down the line is the harder ball. Straight ahead, you are hitting over a net closer to the full 36 in (0.91 m) with less court behind it.
- Drives clear less than you think. Two inches at the center is roughly six percent of the net height, which is exactly the margin most third-shot drives are missing by.
- Tennis instincts mislead. A tennis net is 42 in (1.07 m) at the posts and 36 in (0.91 m) at the center, so a converted player is used to a bigger drop and a taller barrier at the edges.
Net set, score settled
A correct net removes one argument. Dink removes the other one: tap the side that won the rally and the app tracks the server number and calls the score out loud, with a scoreboard you can read from the baseline.
Net at 34. Score at whatever it actually is.. Spoken call-outs, undo on every point, and Apple Watch scoring. On the App Store. Download Dink: Pickleball Score Keeper on the App Store.
Frequently asked questions
What is the height of a pickleball net in meters?
0.91 m at the sidelines and 0.86 m at the center. USA Pickleball specifies the net in inches, 36 and 34, so the metric figures are conversions rather than a separate standard.
Why is a pickleball net lower in the middle?
The two-inch dip makes the center the lowest and safest place to cross the net, which encourages crosscourt dinking and long rallies instead of net-height smashes. It also matches the way a tensioned net naturally hangs, so the specification and the physics agree.
Is a pickleball net the same height as a tennis net?
No. A tennis net is 36 in (0.91 m) at the center and 42 in (1.07 m) at the posts for doubles. A pickleball net is 34 in (0.86 m) at the center and 36 in (0.91 m) at the sidelines, so it is lower everywhere and drops far less across its span.
Can I use a tennis net for pickleball?
For rec play you can lower a tennis net to 34 in (0.86 m) at the center and play a single court through the middle. The posts sit far too wide, so balls around the post behave differently and the net sags across a much longer span. It is fine for a driveway game and not acceptable for sanctioned play.