Step 1 of 31
Prepare the court
Clean the court and complete repairs, coating, and cure time before placing final striping layout marks.
Do not begin painting until the full tennis layout is measured, checked, and approved for the intended rule set.
Tennis court dimensions with baseline-width center marks
Use ITF/USTA outside-edge dimensions for the official court, then adjust the tape-machine center marks when a 2 in, 3 in, or 4 in baseline is specified.
Step-by-step layout mode
The large grid diagram below highlights one contractor step at a time with the active measurement labels.
Contractor striping steps
Tennis baseline width
Court measurements are made to the outside of the lines.
Singles sidelines are 4 ft 6 in inside each doubles sideline.
Distance from the net to the center of the selected baseline width.
Current estimator planning pad for a full tennis footprint.
Layout points
Use these point names with the step-by-step contractor line-center method.
- A
- center of the court at the net
- B1
- first doubles sideline center at the net
- B2
- opposite doubles sideline center at the net
- S1
- first singles sideline center at the net
- S2
- opposite singles sideline center at the net
- C1
- first doubles baseline corner center
- C2
- other corner of the first doubles baseline
- C3
- opposite doubles baseline corner center
- C4
- opposite doubles baseline corner center
- D1
- first singles sideline point on the first baseline
- D2
- opposite singles sideline point on the first baseline
- D3
- first singles sideline point on the opposite baseline
- D4
- opposite singles sideline point on the opposite baseline
- E1
- first service-line corner
- E2
- opposite corner of the first service line
- E3
- opposite service-line corner
- E4
- opposite corner of the second service line
- F1
- first center service-line intersection
- F2
- opposite center service-line intersection
- G1
- first baseline center mark location
- G2
- opposite baseline center mark location
Line widths used in this guide
These instructions use the center of each painted line as the layout mark.
| Doubles sidelines | 2 inCenterline marks sit 1 in inside the official outside edges. |
|---|---|
| Singles sidelines | 2 inKeeps the doubles alley center-to-center dimension at 4 ft 6 in. |
| Service lines | 2 inThe service-line center is 20 ft 11 in from the net. |
| Center service line | 2 inRuns from the net center to each service-line midpoint. |
| Center marks | 2 in wide by 4 in longStarts at the inside edge of the baseline and extends into the court. |
| Baselines | 2 in, 3 in, or 4 inChanging baseline width moves only the baseline centerline, not the finished outside edge. |
Baseline-width adjustment
The finished outside edge stays 39 ft from the net. The line-center mark moves inward as the baseline gets wider.
| 2 in baseline | 38 ft 11 in from netCenter-to-center length 77 ft 10 in; corner diagonal 52 ft 10 13/16 in. |
|---|---|
| 3 in baseline | 38 ft 10.5 in from netCenter-to-center length 77 ft 9 in; corner diagonal 52 ft 10 7/16 in. |
| 4 in baseline | 38 ft 10 in from netCenter-to-center length 77 ft 8 in; corner diagonal 52 ft 10 1/16 in. |
Selected baseline layout values
Use these values for the current 2 in baseline setting before snapping chalk lines.
| Net to baseline center | 38 ft 11 inSame value as B1-C1 and B2-C2 when measured square from the net line. |
|---|---|
| Opposite-corner diagonal | 52 ft 10 13/16 inUse this with the same-side measurement to triangulate each baseline corner. |
| Center-to-center court length | 77 ft 10 inC1-C3 and C2-C4 should match this value. |
| Full-court diagonal | about 85 ft 8 1/4 inC1-C4 and C2-C3 should match. |
| Service-box diagonal | about 34 ft 1/4 inOptional square check from one singles/net point to the opposite service-line corner. |
| Baseline tape offset | 1 inTape this amount on each side of the baseline centerline. |
Main line-center measurements
Use these measurements when chalk marks and tape-machine paths are the centers of the painted lines.
| Doubles court width | 35 ft 10 in |
|---|---|
| Net center to doubles sideline | 17 ft 11 in |
| Singles court width | 26 ft 10 in |
| Net center to singles sideline | 13 ft 5 in |
| Doubles alley | 4 ft 6 in |
| Net to service-line center | 20 ft 11 in |
| Doubles net-post spacing | 42 ft center-to-center |
| 2 in baseline court length | 77 ft 10 in |
| Full-court diagonal check | about 85 ft 8 1/4 in |
| Service-line diagonal check | about 34 ft 1/4 in |
Finished official checks
After taping and painting, verify the official finished dimensions to the proper line edges.
| Doubles width | 36 ft |
|---|---|
| Singles width | 27 ft |
| Court length | 78 ft |
| Net to baseline outside edge | 39 ft |
| Net to service-line outside edge | 21 ft |
| Doubles alley | 4 ft 6 in |
| Center service line | 2 in wide |
| Center mark | 2 in wide by 4 in long |
| Baseline | 2 in, 3 in, or 4 in |
A 2 in baseline moves the tape-machine center 0 ft 1 in inside the official outside baseline edge.
With a 2 in baseline, the baseline center-to-center length is 77 ft 10 in.
The center service line and center mark are 2 in wide; most other tennis lines are 1 in to 2 in wide, while baselines may be up to 4 in.
This contractor layout guide assumes 2 in doubles sidelines, singles sidelines, service lines, center service lines, and center marks.
Source checked 2026-08-27.
Review sourceSource checked 2026-08-27.
Review sourceUse the measurements before the quote request.
These dimensions help you plan the layout. The calculator prices the scope, the colorizer previews the surface, and the map estimator places the court, fencing, lighting, and related items on the property.