Let’s be honest: pickleball has completely taken over, and it’s probably all anyone at the office can talk about right now. If your workplace is lucky enough to have an indoor wood gym floor (or a multi-purpose room just begging to be used), why not bring the fastest-growing sport in America right to your team's lunch breaks?
Creating an office-size pickleball court on a wood gym floor doesn’t require paint, construction, or a massive budget. All you need is a measuring tape, an hour of free time, and some high-quality floor tape.
Here is the ultimate guide to measuring and taping down your very own temporary indoor pickleball court!
What You’ll Need
Before you start sticking things to your gorgeous wood gym floor, you need the right tools. Standard masking tape is just going to peel off, look sloppy, and potentially leave a sticky, gummy residue.
Instead, you want an institutional-grade vinyl tape. You can pick up professional, heavy-duty, scuff-resistant floor tape that comes in tons of different colors so it won't clash with any existing basketball or volleyball lines on your floor.
If you want to save your back and make sure those lines are perfectly straight, I also highly recommend using a walk-behind Steel Floor Tape Layer. This nifty tool lets you lay down perfect, bubble-free lines in a fraction of the time it takes to do it by hand.
The Dimensions: What is an "Office-Size" Court?
A standard, regulation-size pickleball court is 20 feet wide and 44 feet long (for both singles and doubles).
However, if you're dealing with a smaller corporate gym or a confined office space, it's incredibly common to build a "skinny" or scaled-down office-size court. If you have the space for a standard 20' x 44' court, go for it! But if things are tight, try scaling it down proportionally (for instance, a 15' x 30' mini-court) to fit your room.
For a standard layout, here are the dimensions you need to map out:
Total Court Area: 20 feet wide by 44 feet long.
The Net: Divides the court exactly in half (at the 22-foot mark).
The Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone): Extends 7 feet out from the net on both sides.
The Service Courts: The remaining 15 feet of depth behind the kitchen is split straight down the middle into two 10-foot-wide service areas (Left and Right).
Step-by-Step Taping Instructions
1. Map the Perimeter First Start by measuring out your 20' x 44' rectangle. Use a pencil or chalk to mark the four corners, then load up your tape applicator and walk the perimeter. Pull the tape tight to ensure the lines are perfectly straight.
2. Mark the Center/Net Line Measure 22 feet down your sidelines and run a line of tape straight across the width of the court. This is where your portable net will sit!
3. Tape the Kitchen (Non-Volley Zone) Measure exactly 7 feet away from your center net line on both sides. Run a line of tape across the 20-foot width of the court on each side. These are your Non-Volley Zone lines.
4. Divide the Service Courts Find the exact center of the baseline (the 10-foot mark). Run a piece of tape straight up from the baseline until it intersects with the kitchen line. Do this on both sides of the court. This centerline splits the backcourt into your left and right service areas.
5. Smooth it Out Once your lines are down, walk over the tape (or press down with a towel) to ensure the adhesive is fully locked onto the wood floor. Your institutional floor tape is designed to handle aggressive foot traffic and sneaker squeaks without peeling up!
All that's left is to set up a portable net, grab a few paddles, and start dinking!
About the Author: Ken Morley Ken Morley is an expert in athletic equipment and facility management, continuing a proud family tradition at Morley Athletic Supply Co Inc, a trusted name in sports supplies since 1931. With decades of experience outfitting schools, universities, and commercial sports complexes, Ken specializes in helping coaches, athletic directors, and facility managers find the durable, high-quality gear they need to build safe, professional-grade athletic environments.