What Is the Size and the Standard Dimensions of a Volleyball Court?

Here are quick facts regarding the the size and the standard lines, nets and dimensions of a volleyball court.

The Indoor Volleyball Court Size

The dimensions of a volleyball court are among the important aspects of being a fully knowledgeable student of the game.

Let's start by going over the official measurements of an indoor volleyball court since that's the surface we will cover in competition. 

In this video, Team Canada explains what the dimensions of a volleyball court should be.

From the lines in the back of the court to the ten foot line to the net here are several quick facts about the dimensions of a volleyball court and the competitive playing surface we play this sport on.

The overall measurements for a full size regulation volleyball court that includes both playing sides is 59 feet by 29 feet and 6 inches. 

Dimensions of a volleyball court: Court Diagram

Dimensions of a Volleyball Court: Stupak Courts

Volleyball courts should be free of any obstruction caused by any objects within a height of twenty three (23) feet above the playing space.

That's why any basketball rims or low hanging banners, posters or objects hanging over an indoor court are removed or are moved from anywhere above the playing area before the start of an official competition.

The center line divides the full court into two half courts and serves as a common boundary line which runs underneath the net.

It marks the center of the court and divides the playing space into two equal halves. The dimensions of a volleyball court become 9 meter by 9 meter playing halves where two teams compete against each other with a net that separates the two teams.

The diagram below illustrates the dimensions of a volleyball court with a red line where the centerline should always be  located on indoor courts.

Court Centerline (Chiba Ryo)

In the picture below, the center line is the blue line that divides the big playing surface into two half courts and runs underneath and parallel to the net.

Court Centerline at Stupak Community Center in Las Vegas Nevada

Basic volleyball rules use to state that players could not step across the centerline for any reason while the ball was in play. 

When players, usually blockers or hitters did violate this rule, then the referee blew the whistle and awarded the ball to the opposing team for a sideout or a point and the right to serve the ball.

On regulation size indoor volleyball courts, the attack line is marked 10 feet from the centerline on both sides or on both half courts.

The attack line has a couple of names, so if you hear it called the tenfoot line which is what they say in the United States, or the three meter line which is what they call it in Europe and around the world, these terms all refer to the same line, the attack line.

Attack line (Diagram by Chiba Ryo)

If for some reason the the attack line (or the ten foot line) is measured at 9' 10" it should be noted that the width of the line itself which measures two inches should be included.

In the photo below, the centerline is the dark blue line visible on the left side of the photo frame.

The sideline is the dark green line closest to the bottom of the photo frame and the ten foot line is the dark green line on the right side of the picture frame where the player is laying across it.

Centerline, sideline and ten foot line at the Stupak Community Center

In national tournaments and competitions, the extension of the attack line outside of a volleyball court should be marked with five six-inch lines that are spaced eight inches apart for a total length of 70 inches.

At one time the service line was restricted to an area that was marked 10 feet inside the right sideline on the end line of each opposing court.

In the picture below the service line is the dark green line that marks the end lines on both of the court halves.

Service line at the Stupak Community Center volleyball courts

In the past few years the rules were changed so that a server can serve the ball from anywhere along the endline of a regulation volleyball court.

The Service Area On Both Sides Of The Court

The serve is the way to start the rally, so players can be anywhere behind the service line and inside the service zone to serve the ball, as long as they don't step on the service line when they do it.

Dimensions of a Volleyball Court: Player Serving Behind The White Service Line (photo Mark Shaiken)

If jump serving, or jump float serving, players still need to stay behind the line when they take off but they are allowed to land inside the court as long as they have contacted the ball before landing. 

Dimensions of a Volleyball Court: Player Serving Behind The White Service Line (photo Henry Stern)

Court diagram with Antennas

The net is hung directly above the center line at 7 feet 4 1/8 inches for women and 7 feet 11 5/8 inches for men on a regulation size volleyball court.

Volleyball standards should be set at 36 feet apart, 3 feet on either side of the sidelines.

What's a volleyball standard?

It's the pole system that supports the net and poles on both sides of the sidelines.

In the volleyball net diagram above the standards are those yellow poles indicated on both sides that hold the net up between them.

Where's the best place to go from here? Here are three options: 

1. Learn more about the Net Height. 
2. Follow the suggested reading on our Sitemap page Learning How To Play (Sitemap)
3. Or visit the pages in the Volleyball Rules section in the drop down menu at the top of the page. 

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