How high can you serve in badminton?

In competition, the whole shuttle must be below 1.15 m from the floor when you hit it. In casual play, the older rule is often used: hit it below your waist.

Which side do you serve from in badminton?

From the right service court when your score is even (0, 2, 4...) and from the left when it is odd.

What are the court lines for singles and doubles?

Singles uses the long, narrow court: the inner side lines and the back line. Doubles uses the wide court: the outer side lines. In doubles, the serve must land in front of the inner back line, the doubles long service line.

Can you touch the net in badminton?

No. Touching the net or its posts with your racket, body or clothing while the shuttle is in play is a fault. Your racket may follow through over the net after you hit, as long as you hit the shuttle on your side.

How big is a badminton court?

13.4 m long. 6.1 m wide for doubles and 5.18 m for singles. The net is 1.524 m high in the middle and 1.55 m at the posts.

Badminton · Guide

Badminton rules explained

Hit the shuttle over the net into the opponents' court before it touches the floor on your side. Every rally wins a point, and the serve is played underarm, diagonally, from below 1.15 m.

The court

	Measurement
Length	13.4 m
Width, doubles	6.1 m
Width, singles	5.18 m
Short service line from net	1.98 m
Net height, centre	1.524 m
Net height, posts	1.55 m

Singles is long and narrow: the inner side lines and the very back line. Doubles is the full width, and the full length once a rally is under way. The serve in doubles, though, must land in front of the doubles long service line, 0.76 m in from the back.

The serve

Stand inside your service court, both feet on the floor and not touching the lines, until you hit it.
Serve diagonally into the opposite service court, past the short service line.
Hit the base of the shuttle first, with an underarm swing.
The whole shuttle must be below 1.15 m from the floor when you hit it. This fixed height replaced the old "below the waist" rule at international level.
Serve from the right when your score is even, from the left when it is odd.

There is only one serve. A fault loses the rally.

Faults

The shuttle lands outside the court, goes under or through the net, or fails to cross it.
It touches your body or clothing.
It is hit twice in succession by the same player, or by both players in a doubles pair one after the other.
You touch the net or posts while the shuttle is in play.
You reach over the net to hit the shuttle before it has crossed to your side.
You deliberately distract your opponent.

A shuttle landing on a line is in.

Lets

A let means the rally is replayed. The usual reasons: the receiver was not ready when you served, or something unexpected interfered, such as a shuttle from the next court.

Scoring

Rally-point scoring: every rally wins a point, whoever served. Games are to 21 until the end of 2026, and to 15 from January 2027. See badminton scoring.

Quick answers

How high can you serve in badminton?: In competition, the whole shuttle must be below 1.15 m from the floor when you hit it. In casual play, the older rule is often used: hit it below your waist.
Which side do you serve from in badminton?: From the right service court when your score is even (0, 2, 4...) and from the left when it is odd.
What are the court lines for singles and doubles?: Singles uses the long, narrow court: the inner side lines and the back line. Doubles uses the wide court: the outer side lines. In doubles, the serve must land in front of the inner back line, the doubles long service line.
Can you touch the net in badminton?: No. Touching the net or its posts with your racket, body or clothing while the shuttle is in play is a fault. Your racket may follow through over the net after you hit, as long as you hit the shuttle on your side.
How big is a badminton court?: 13.4 m long. 6.1 m wide for doubles and 5.18 m for singles. The net is 1.524 m high in the middle and 1.55 m at the posts.