Tennis Court Line Marking: Layout, Dimensions & Cost Guide Australia

ITF Tennis Court Dimensions

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) governs court dimensions worldwide, and all Australian tennis court line marking follows these specifications exactly. Whether you are marking a council court, a school facility, a tennis club or a private residence, the numbers are the same.

Court Measurements

• Court length: 23.77 metres (78 feet) — baseline to baseline
• Singles width: 8.23 metres (27 feet)
• Doubles width: 10.97 metres (36 feet)
• Service box depth: 6.40 metres from the net
• Service box width: 4.115 metres (half the singles width)
• Centre service line: runs from the net to the service line, dividing the service area
• Centre mark: 100 mm long, perpendicular to and touching the baseline at its centre point
• Net height: 1.07 metres at the posts, 0.914 metres at the centre

Run-Off Areas

The ITF recommends minimum run-off areas of 3.65 metres behind each baseline and 3.05 metres to each side of the doubles sideline. For recreational and club courts, these minimums are essential for safety. Competition venues require larger run-offs.

Line Widths

ITF rules specify that all lines except the baseline must be between 25 mm and 51 mm wide. The baseline may be up to 101 mm wide. In practice, most Australian courts use 50 mm for all lines and 100 mm for the baseline. Lines must be white (or another colour that contrasts clearly with the court surface).

The centre service line and centre mark are the same width as the other court lines. All lines are considered part of the court — if a ball touches any part of the line, it is in.

Surface Types and Their Impact on Line Marking

Acrylic Hard Courts

The most common surface in Australia. Lines are applied with sports acrylic paint directly onto the textured acrylic surface. This provides excellent adhesion and contrast. Lines typically last 3–5 years before requiring a repaint.

Synthetic Grass Courts

Lines on synthetic grass courts are usually built into the carpet during installation — white tuft lines woven into the green surface. However, when existing synthetic courts need new lines (for multi-sport use or layout changes), specialist turf-compatible paint can be applied. This is less durable and may need annual refreshing.

Porous Surfaces (En-Tout-Cas / Clay)

Traditional porous courts use fixed tape lines or painted lines applied with porous-compatible paint. These surfaces require specialised materials that do not seal the surface and block drainage. Line marking on porous courts is a niche skill — not all contractors offer it.

Multi-Sport Colour Planning

Many school and council courts serve double duty for tennis, basketball, netball and sometimes volleyball. When multiple sports share a surface, a colour plan is essential to avoid confusion.

A typical multi-sport colour scheme:

• White — tennis lines (always white per ITF standards)
• Red or orange — basketball lines
• Blue — netball lines
• Yellow — volleyball or other secondary sports

The key is to apply lines in the correct sequence so that the dominant sport is the most visible. Our sports court marking team creates a colour plan as part of every multi-sport project.

The Moorabbin Lesson: Why Application Matters

In 2019, we inherited a tennis court project in Moorabbin where a previous contractor had applied standard exterior house paint to the court lines. Within six weeks, the paint had begun bubbling and peeling. The house paint was not formulated for the thermal expansion of an outdoor court surface and had no flexibility.

The cost to strip the failed paint (by grinding) and re-apply proper sports acrylic was $4,500 — nearly triple the cost of doing it correctly the first time. This is why material selection matters, and why a tennis court should never be treated like a house painting job.

Tennis Court Line Marking Costs

Indicative pricing for 2026:

• Single court re-line (hard court, sports acrylic): $1,200 – $2,500
• Single court re-line (thermoplastic): $2,800 – $5,000
• Multi-sport overlay (2–3 sports): $2,500 – $6,000
• Line removal (grinding): $800 – $1,500 per court
• Synthetic grass line painting: $800 – $1,800 per court

Courts in the Frankston area and across Melbourne's south-east are among our most frequently serviced regions for tennis marking.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the exact dimensions of a tennis court?

An ITF-standard tennis court is 23.77 m long × 10.97 m wide (doubles). Singles width is 8.23 m. Service boxes are 6.40 m deep. The baseline can be up to 101 mm wide; all other lines are 25–51 mm.

How long does tennis court line marking take?

A single hard court takes approximately half a day to measure, mask and paint. Two courts can typically be completed in one full day. Multi-sport overlays with line removal take 2–3 days.

Can tennis lines be added to an existing basketball court?

Yes, provided the court dimensions are large enough to accommodate both layouts with adequate run-off. A standard basketball court (28 × 15 m) is close to the minimum needed. Tennis lines are applied in white while basketball uses a contrasting colour.

How often do tennis court lines need refreshing?

Sports acrylic lines on a hard court typically last 3–5 years. High-use club courts may need refreshing every 2–3 years. Signs of wear include fading, chalking and loss of edge definition.

Why are my tennis court lines bubbling or peeling?

The most common cause is incorrect paint selection — using interior or exterior house paint instead of sports acrylic. Other causes include applying paint over a damp surface, inadequate surface preparation or painting in direct sunlight on a hot day when the surface temperature exceeds 40°C.

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