Padel net height is 0.88 metres (88cm) at the centre and 0.92 metres (92cm) at each post. The 4cm sag is intentional - the net tensions are set so the middle drops slightly below the posts. The net spans the full 10m width of the court and is lower than a tennis net to compensate for the smaller court and the underarm serve.
Official net specifications
The International Padel Federation sets exact net specifications. Every regulation padel court must conform.
| Measurement | Official value |
|---|---|
| Height at centre | 0.88 metres (88cm) |
| Height at posts | 0.92 metres (92cm) |
| Width | 10 metres (matches court width) |
| Mesh size | Fine enough to stop the ball |
| Top band | White tape, 5cm wide |
The posts are anchored in line with the outer side walls, so the net stretches the full width of the playing area with no gap at either end.
Why the net sags in the middle
The 4cm difference between centre and posts isn't a defect - it's deliberate. The net cord is tensioned so that gravity pulls the middle down slightly, creating a natural curve.
This mirrors how tennis nets are set up. The effect is that shots going over the middle of the net have slightly more clearance, which tends to produce balanced rallies rather than favouring either side.
Padel net height vs tennis
Padel nets are lower than tennis nets, but only slightly. The difference is meaningful for shot selection.
| Sport | Centre height | Post height |
|---|---|---|
| Padel | 0.88m | 0.92m |
| Tennis | 0.914m | 1.07m |
| Pickleball | 0.86m | 0.91m |
Tennis posts stretch taller than the playing width, so the effective net height at the singles sidelines is higher again. Padel keeps post height close to centre height, making the net height fairly uniform across the width of play.
Why the padel net is lower than tennis
The lower net in padel is a deliberate design choice tied to the rest of the game.
- Smaller court. 20x10m is much smaller than a tennis court (about 24x11 for singles, wider for doubles). A lower net keeps rallies flowing despite the reduced space.
- Underarm serve. Since serves are underarm, they have a lower trajectory than tennis serves. A lower net makes this serve still challenging but legal.
- Wall play. Much of padel involves balls coming off walls at various heights. A lower net means more shots can be directed low and flat, keeping opponents from attacking easily.
Hitting the net during play
Rules about the net depend on whether the ball hits it during a serve or during a rally.
On a serve
If the ball clips the net and lands in the correct service box, it's a let - the serve is replayed. If the ball clips the net and lands outside the box or fails to cross, it's a fault. See our serve rules guide for the full breakdown.
During a rally
If the ball clips the net and lands in the opponents court, play continues - no let is called. The ball simply continues to bounce and be played.
If the ball hits the net and falls back on your own side, you lose the point. If it hits the net and doesn't go over at all, same thing.
Touching the net with body or racket
You can never touch the net with your body, racket, or clothing during a live point. If you do, you lose the point immediately, regardless of whether you made contact with the ball first.
This rule applies even if you touched the net accidentally following through on a shot. Be careful with volleys at the net - reaching too far forward risks grazing the net and ending the point.