Court and net
The court is 13.4 metres long, one of the larger footprints among backyard games. It is 6.1 metres wide for doubles and 5.18 metres wide for singles, which is why the outer side tramlines are in play for doubles only.
The net is 1.55 metres high at the posts and 1.524 metres at the centre. That slight dip in the middle is intentional and is specified in the Laws.
| Element | Measurement or rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court length | 13.4 m | Same for singles and doubles |
| Court width, doubles | 6.1 m | Outer tramlines in play |
| Court width, singles | 5.18 m | Side tramlines out |
| Net height at posts | 1.55 m | Higher than at the centre |
| Net height at centre | 1.524 m | Specified in the Laws |
| Game | 21 points, rally scoring | Two-point margin from 20-all |
| Game cap | 30 | At 29-all the next point wins |
Rally scoring
Every rally scores a point for the winning side regardless of who served. Games run to 21, with a two-point margin required from 20-all, and at 29-all the next point decides the game at 30.
Matches are the best of three games, and sides change ends after each game and again in the deciding game when the leading side reaches 11 points.
Service rules
Service is diagonal into the opposite service court. In singles, the server serves from the right court when their score is even and the left when it is odd, which means the score itself tells you where to stand.
Doubles service adds the constraint that only the serving side rotates positions, and only when it wins a rally on its own serve. The service courts are also shaped differently: the doubles service court is shorter and wider than the singles one.
Shuttles and conditions
Feather shuttles are used in competition and are more fragile and more expensive than nylon. Nylon shuttles last far longer and fly differently, which makes them the practical choice for recreational and outdoor play.
Wind ruins badminton faster than it affects any other yard game, because a shuttle decelerates so sharply. Serious play is indoors for that reason, and backyard play is best set up in a sheltered spot with a lowered net if children are involved.
Gear to consider
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SetsCheck price on AmazonBaden Champions Badminton Set
20 ft net; four racquets, three shuttlecocks, boundary and case
A complete four-player setup with court lines for a lawn with room to play.
The guy lines and stakes need space outside the playing court.
NetsCheck price on AmazonBoulder Portable Badminton Net
10 ft black net; adjustable 34–60-inch height
A short freestanding net for small yards and casual one-on-one rallies.
This listing is net-only and 10 ft wide, below regulation badminton court width.
A few common questions
Do you have to win a badminton game by two points?
From 20-all, yes, until 29-all. At 29-all the next point wins the game at 30, so a game cannot continue indefinitely.
Are badminton rules changing?
Changes have been announced to take effect in January 2027. Until then the current Laws apply, and the BWF publishes the authoritative text.