Can You Play Pickleball on a Badminton Court?

Yes. A standard pickleball court is the same size as a badminton doubles court (20ft by 44ft) which is why UK sports halls adopted the sport so quickly. Staff put up a portable pickleball net (lower than a badminton net), use the badminton sidelines and baselines, and either rely on existing marks or tape the kitchen and centre line. You can't usually play a proper game with a badminton net height, but the floor space is ideal.

Why the sizes match

Pickleball was designed on a badminton footprint. In a leisure centre hall marked for four badminton courts, you can typically fit four pickleball courts the same way. That's not a coincidence. It's why operators could add pickleball without rebuilding anything.

What changes:

• Net height. Pickleball nets sit at 36in at the sidelines and 34in in the centre (much lower than badminton. Centres use a portable pickleball net or a tennis-style net adjusted down) not a full-height badminton net.
• Kitchen (non-volley zone). The 7ft area either side of the net isn't part of badminton markings, so it often gets taped.
• Centre line. Needed for the service boxes; may already be there or need tape.

That's the whole conversion in most halls. Setup takes a few minutes when staff know the routine, longer when you're the first booking of the evening and the nets are still in the store cupboard.

What you'll see in UK leisure centres

Walk into somewhere like Swiss Cottage Leisure Centre, Belle Vue Sports Village, Bath Sports and Leisure Centre, or Latchmere Leisure Centre for a pickleball slot and you'll usually find badminton lines plus portable nets.

Some venues go further with permanent pickleball lines (Meadowbank Sports Centre is a good example of marked indoor courts) which saves setup time and arguments about where the kitchen starts. Lee Valley VeloPark is another indoor option where pickleball is a proper programmed activity rather than a one-off experiment.

University halls such as Sugden Sports Centre and University of Birmingham Sport and Fitness follow the same multi-sport pattern: badminton lines underneath, pickleball on top when booked.

Can you just turn up to badminton?

No. Sharing the floor only works when the hall is booked for pickleball (or you've hired the court and brought a legal net). A badminton club night will not appreciate you dropping the net height mid-session, and staff won't thank you for freelancing.

Book the activity properly (see how to book a pickleball court) or join a social listed on Pickleball Finder. If the booking screen only says "sports hall", phone or message to confirm nets and pickleball setup are available for your slot.

Kitchen lines matter more than they sound

Without a taped kitchen, beginners drift in and volley illegally without realising. Points get messy, and "was that in?" debates eat half the session. If you're hiring a bare badminton court for DIY pickleball, bring tape and measure 7ft from the net on both sides, or agree a clear honour system (weaker option).

Kitchen rules: what is the kitchen in pickleball. Stepping in: can you step in the kitchen.

Outdoor badminton courts?

Rare in the UK compared with sports halls. If you find outdoor badminton markings, the same size logic applies, but you'll still need a pickleball-height net and dry weather. Dedicated outdoor pickleball (Park Sports Chiswick, park courts like Wandle Park) is a different setup again, sometimes without badminton lines at all.

Finding halls near you

• London
• Manchester
• Birmingham
• Bristol
• Edinburgh
• Cardiff
• Leeds
• Glasgow

Or search any town from the homepage. Related: finding courts in the UK, indoor winter play.

Short FAQ

Do badminton shoes work? Yes, non-marking court shoes are ideal.

Can I use a badminton racket? You can hit a ball with one, but it's not pickleball. Use a paddle; hire if needed (paddle hire).

Is the ball the same? No, pickleball uses a perforated plastic ball. Indoor and outdoor balls differ too.

Will the badminton tramlines confuse me? For a while. Focus on the outer doubles badminton lines as your pickleball sidelines and learn the taped kitchen fast.

Bottom line: badminton courts are why pickleball fits UK leisure centres so well. Book the right activity, use the right net height, and tape the kitchen if it isn't painted. Then enjoy the fact that the hall was basically waiting for this sport.

DIY hire tips if you're bringing your own net

Some sports hall bookings let you supply kit. Measure the net height at the centre (34in) and sidelines (36in) rather than guessing. Bring painter's tape that won't wreck the floor, a tape measure, and enough indoor balls for your group.

Arrive early — setup eats into a 40-minute hire faster than you expect. If staff offer to help with nets from the store, say yes. Leave the hall as you found it; centres notice groups that leave tape scraps everywhere.

For beginners still learning what "good" looks like, a programmed social with nets already up is easier than DIY. Use hire once you have partners and a routine (beginner path). One badminton doubles court equals one pickleball court; a four-badminton hall usually means up to four pickleball courts when nets and tape are ready.

Sharing a hall with other sports

Multi-sport evenings happen. Curtains divide halls; noise from five-a-side bleeds through; badminton next door uses different nets. Stay on your booked courts, keep balls from rolling into other activities, and agree a quick stop if staff need to adjust dividers. Being the easy group means you'll get booked again when hall time is scarce in winter.