Badminton net height

The official badminton net height is 1.524 m (5 ft) at the centre and 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in) at the posts, measured from the floor to the top of the net, over the doubles sidelines. The net is 760 mm (about 2 ft 6 in) deep and at least 6.1 m (20 ft) wide. The same height is used for singles and doubles, men and women, at every level.

These figures come from Law 1 of the BWF Laws of Badminton. Below: every measurement in feet, inches, centimeters, meters and millimeters, a converter to check your own net, and how it compares with tennis, pickleball and volleyball.

Badminton net height in feet, cm and meters

So in feet, a badminton net is 5 ft at the centre and 5 ft 1 in (61 in) at the posts. In cm, it's 152.4 cm and 155 cm. The 2.6 cm (about 1 in) difference is the sag the Laws allow for a net hanging between two posts.

Badminton net height from the ground: how to measure your net

Always measure from the court surface to the top of the white tape:

1. Tension the net. Tighten the cord until the top tape is straight and the net hangs without a big sag. Make sure there are no gaps between the net ends and the posts.
2. Measure at the posts. Hold a tape measure vertically on the doubles sideline, directly under the net, and measure from the floor to the top of the tape. It should read 1.55 m (5 ft 1 in).
3. Measure at the centre. Repeat at the centre line. The top of the tape should be 1.524 m (5 ft 0 in) from the floor.
4. Adjust. If the centre is too low, tighten the cord; if the posts are off, adjust their height or base. Re-measure both points.

Badminton net specifications

• Material: fine cord of dark colour and even thickness (Law 1.6).
• Mesh: 15 to 20 mm.
• Depth: 760 mm, top to bottom.
• Width: at least 6.1 m, the full width of the doubles court.
• Tape: 75 mm white tape doubled over a cord or cable along the top, resting on the cord.
• Posts: 1.55 m high, standing on the doubles sidelines, firm enough to keep the net taut.
• No gaps between the ends of the net and the posts; if necessary the ends are tied to the posts.

The net sits across the middle of the 13.4 m court, 6.7 m from each baseline. Every other line is on the court dimensions page.

Badminton net height vs tennis, pickleball and volleyball

A badminton net is the second-highest of the common net sports, well above tennis and pickleball, because the shuttle is played in the air and the serve has to go up over it. Pick a sport:

Comparing the sports in more depth? See badminton vs pickleball and badminton vs tennis.

Why the net height matters for the serve

With the serve hit from below 1.15 m and the net top at 1.524 m in the middle, every serve has to travel upward, which is the whole point of the service rules. A low net turns the serve into an attacking shot; a high one makes the short serve harder. Practising at the right height pays off on match day.