Pickleball vs. Tennis Court: What’s the Difference?
Time to serve up these differences once and for all
Tennis courts are significantly larger than pickleball courts.
You’ll spend less on a pickleball court than a tennis court.
You have more surface options if you choose a tennis court.
Pickleball may be the best choice for those starting out.
Thinking about building a pickleball or tennis court on your property but aren’t sure which is the right fit? Both sports offer hours of play and fun, so you really can’t go wrong with either decision. However, there are major differences between the two that could determine the best court for your home. Below, we’ve broken down the key features of pickleball vs. tennis courts to help you make the best choice.
What Are the Differences Between Pickleball and Tennis Courts?
Pickleball and tennis both require courts to play a game, but each has unique features that separate one from the other. Here are some of the biggest differences between pickleball and tennis courts to help you choose the best court for your lifestyle.
| Type of Difference | Pickleball Court | Tennis Court |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Lower price | Higher price |
| Doubles alley | Shared alley | Distinct alley |
| Maintenance | More affordable and fast | Longer and more costly |
| Net size | Lower and shorter | Higher and longer |
| Non-volley zone | Distinct zone | Non-existent |
| Size | Smaller | Larger |
| Surface material | Hard surface | Variety of surfaces |
Pickleball vs. Tennis Court: Differences in Design
Several design features differ when comparing pickleball and tennis courts, including the court size, net size, and layout.
Size
Tennis courts are much larger than pickleball courts. The standard tennis court size is 120 feet long by 60 feet wide if you include the space around the play area called the doubles alley. Excluding the doubles alley gives the court a smaller dimension of 78 feet long by 36 feet wide. Some homeowners exclude the doubles alley to save on material and labor costs.
Pickleball courts are significantly smaller than tennis courts—in fact, you can fit four pickleball courts on a single tennis court. The average pickleball court size is 44 feet long by 20 feet wide, but you can also install a larger size of 55 feet long by 24 feet wide for perimeters that are out of bounds. This smaller size makes pickleball courts more versatile and suitable for smaller spaces.
Net Size
Tennis court nets have a height of 42 inches at the posts, a center height of 36 inches, and a total court width of 42 feet. You'll spend anywhere from $100 to $350 for a tennis court net, not including the posts and surround system. If you include the surround system and posts, you'll spend closer to $800 to $1,200 on average.
Pickleball court nets have a height of 36 inches at the posts, 34 inches at the center, and a width of 22 feet. This lower height makes it a great way for beginners to get into the sport. The average cost for a pickleball court net falls between $50 and $550 and generally includes the posts.
Layout
In a tennis court layout, there’s a designated alley called the doubles alley. These two stripes extend on the sides of the court, making it wider by 4.5 feet each. This part of the court allows two-player teams to have more room for playing.
Pickleball courts don’t have a designated doubles alley. The size of the court stays the same even when two-player teams participate in the sport. However, pickleball does have a design element that tennis courts don’t—the non-volley zone. Also called the kitchen, these two zones are 7 feet wide by 20 feet long each and run parallel to the net at the very center of the court.
Pickleball vs. Tennis Court: Cost
The average tennis court costs between $30,000 and $150,000, depending on the surface materials and whether or not you choose a backyard or indoor tennis court. In comparison, pickleball courts cost between $19,400 and $51,800 on average and vary by materials.
Pickleball vs. Tennis Court: Maintenance
Both pickleball courts and tennis courts require maintenance. Since tennis courts can be made with a wider range of soft materials and are much larger, you’ll have to spend more to maintain your court. Resurfacing a tennis court costs around $7,500 on average, whereas resurfacing a pickleball court costs around $4,200 on average.
Tennis and pickleball courts need resurfacing anywhere between every four and eight years. It's best to work with a local tennis court contractor to properly resurface a court and avoid having to resurface it again prematurely.
Pickleball vs. Tennis Court: Surface Material
Tennis courts come in several different surface materials, including acrylic, artificial turf, asphalt, clay, concrete, grass, and rubber. Having so many options means you have more preference and price flexibility.
Pickleball courts have fewer surface material options, coming in mostly asphalt, concrete, or rubber. While you could use clay or grass, these surfaces are not as effective for the sport, which depends more on a uniform, firm bounce than tennis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use a tennis court as a pickleball court. You just need to draw pickleball lines on the tennis court to use it as a pickleball court. You'll also want to adjust the net or purchase an adjustable net for convenience and lower it by 2 inches at the center. You can even create two or four pickleball courts out of a single tennis court for larger sports events. The key is to divide the court down to the correct ratios using chalk, a washable marker, or tape.
Pickleball is a much faster sport than tennis, which can increase your chance of injuries. Since most pickleball courts use hard surface materials like concrete or asphalt, you're more likely to get hurt more severely than if you were to use a tennis court with a softer surface. The harder surface and paddles can also make pickleball a noisier sport, which can bother neighbors.
The biggest disadvantages of building a tennis court are the cost and the space if you lack enough square footage. Tennis courts cost double or triple the cost of pickleball courts, which can price out many homeowners looking for an at-home tennis court. You also need to consider the higher maintenance costs when it comes time to resurface or repair your tennis court.
