Do-It-Yourself Tennis Court Markings

Like any other sporting fields or courts, regulation tennis courts have specific markings that establish where the players serve and stand, as well as help competitors, referees and spectators know when the ball is in play or out of bounds. You can mark your own court, whether it's a large empty space the size of a regulation court, or a new surface itself.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • White chalk or paint
  • Straight edge
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure and mark -- with white chalk or paint -- a rectangle that is 60 feet wide by 120 feet long. This is the entire space needed for the court, but not the actual playing area itself.

    • 2

      Measure and mark a rectangle inside the first rectangle that is 36 feet wide by 78 feet long. In order to have it fit perfectly inside the larger rectangle, the space between the two lines on each side should be 12 feet on the length along the sidelines, and 21 feet on the base line. This denotes the actual playing court.

    • 3

      Measure and mark the alley line on the sides of the length of the court. Each alley line is 4 1/2 feet wide from the sidelines inward. The alley is used when playing doubles.

    • 4

      Measure and mark the service line. This line is marked from one alley line to the other. From the baseline of the court, measure 18 feet toward the net and mark the line across. It is also 21 feet from the net, so you can check your measurements in two ways. Mark these on both sides of the court.

    • 5

      Measure and mark the center service line. This line separates the left and right service courts, marked from the perpendicular service lines. The left and right service courts should each be 13 1/2 feet wide.

    • 6

      Measure and mark the center point on both sides of the court. This is the line that indicates where the player should stand to serve. It is a short line -- 5 inches -- centered on the baseline.

    • 7

      Measure and mark the center line inside the court rectangle. This is where the net will go. Centered in the court, each side is 39 feet deep. Mark the line completely across the width of the court.