Official Badminton Rules & Regulation Guide
The complete, authoritative guide to Badminton World Federation (BWF) Laws of Badminton. Master singles and doubles court boundaries, the 1.15 m fixed service height rule, 21-point rally scoring mechanics, partner rotation orders, deuce rules to 30, and equipment tolerances.
Court Dimensions, Service Lines, Tramlines & Net Elevation
According to Law 1 of the Badminton World Federation (BWF) handbook, an official badminton court is a rectangle measuring 13.40 meters (44 feet) in total length. For doubles play, the court width is 6.10 meters (20 feet) utilizing the outer side tramlines. For singles matches, the inner side lines restrict the court width to 5.18 meters (17 feet).
The court features distinct service areas: the Short Service Line is marked 1.98 meters (6 ft 6 in) from the net on both sides. In doubles, the Long Service Line for Doubles is marked 0.76 meters (2 ft 6 in) inside the back boundary line, creating a wide but shallow service box. In singles, the long service line is the back boundary line itself.
Official BWF Badminton Court Layout & Dimensions
Toggle between Doubles and Singles court lines. Click any zone on the vector court diagram to inspect official BWF measurements in meters and feet/inches.
Court Zone Inspector
All legal serves must cross beyond this line into the diagonal receiver's court. Serves falling short of this line are faults.
BWF 21-Point Rally Score & Service Rotation Engine
Simulate match points to see real-time service court allocation (Even = Right, Odd = Left), diagonal receiver targets, deuce at 20-all, and the 30-point golden cap.
Player / Side A
Player / Side B
Live Rally Play: 0 - 0
Server must stand in the Right Service Court and strike the shuttlecock diagonally into the opponent's Right Service Court (Diagonal).
Singles vs. Doubles Inning & Service Rotation Flow
Master the exact step-by-step service order, partner position switching, and BWF interval protocols.
Inner side lines (5.18 m width); all the way to the full back baseline (13.40 m length).
Right service court on 0, 2, 4...; Left service court on 1, 3, 5...
Whoever wins the rally scores +1 and immediately serves the next point.
Singles Inning Flow Step-by-Step
- Coin Toss: Winner elects to serve first, receive first, or select their preferred end of the court.
- Opening Serve (0-0): Server serves from their RIGHT service court diagonally into the receiver's right service court.
- Server Wins Rally: Server scores 1 point (now 1-0). Because the score is now ODD, the server switches to their LEFT service court to serve the next point.
- Receiver Wins Rally: Receiver scores 1 point (now 1-1) and earns the serve. Because their score is 1 (ODD), they serve from their LEFT service court.
Official Faults, Service Violations & Let Calls
Service Height > 1.15m
Striking the shuttle above 1.15 meters from the floor is an automatic service fault. Racket shaft must also point downwards.
BWF Law 9.1.6Service Foot Fault
Server or receiver touching any boundary lines with their feet or lifting part of either foot from the floor prior to racket impact.
BWF Law 9.1.2 & 9.1.3Net Touch & Invasion
Touching the net with racket, body, or apparel, or invading opponent's court space before the shuttle has cleared the net.
BWF Law 13.4Double Hit / Sling
Hitting the shuttle twice in succession by the same player or both partners, or momentarily carrying the shuttle on the string bed.
BWF Law 13.3Official BWF Sanctioned Rules vs Common Backyard House Rules
| Rule Scenario | Official BWF Sanctioned Standard | Casual / Backyard House Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Scoring Format | 21-Point Rally Point: Every rally scores a point, regardless of server. | 15-Point Legacy (Side-Out): Only the serving side can score points. |
| Net Cord on Serve | LIVE PLAY: If serve touches the net and drops into legal court, it is 100% legal. | Service Let Called: Casual players often call a replay/let (borrowed from tennis). |
| Deuce Cap Limit | 30-Point Golden Cap: At 29-29, the 30th point wins immediately (max score 30-29). | Unlimited 2-Point Lead: Play continues indefinitely until one side leads by 2 points. |
| Service Height | Fixed 1.15m Height: Entire shuttle must be below 1.15m at impact. | Below Waist / Ribs: Old subjective rule ("below lowest rib"). |
| Doubles Service Turns | One Server Per Turn: Only one partner serves before service changes. | Two Hands Down: Both partners take turns serving before turning over. |
Frequently Asked Questions & Official Interpretations
Official BWF Shuttlecock & Racket Manufacturing Tolerances
Equipment used in sanctioned tournaments must strictly comply with BWF Laws 2, 3, and 4 to ensure consistent flight dynamics, speed ratings, and safety.
Tournament Shuttlecock
BWF Law 2 Regulation SpecsBadminton Racket
BWF Law 4 Dimensional LimitsThe 3 × 21 Rally Point System, Deuce Setting & Intervals
Best of 3 Games to 21
A standard BWF match consists of the best of three games. The first side to reach 21 points wins the game. Every single rally results in a point awarded to the winning side, regardless of which player served.
Deuce & 30-Point Golden Cap
At 20-20 ("20-all"), the side gaining a 2-point lead first wins the game (e.g. 22-20, 25-23). If the score reaches 29-29, the side scoring the 30th point wins the game immediately (Law 7.4). No 2-point lead is required at 30.
Intervals & Change of Ends
A 60-second rest interval is allowed when the leading score reaches 11 points in each game. A 120-second interval occurs between games. Players change ends after Game 1, after Game 2, and in Game 3 when either side reaches 11 points.
The Fixed 1.15m Service Height Rule & Foot Fault Laws
In 2018, the BWF officially replaced the subjective "waist height" rule with BWF Law 9.1.6: the entire shuttlecock must be below 1.15 meters (3 feet 9¼ inches) from the surface of the court at the instant of being struck by the server's racket. In professional events, this is verified using a fixed optical height gauge on the service judge's sight-line.
At the moment of impact, the racket shaft must be pointing in a downward direction so that the entire racket head is discernibly below the server's hand.
Both the server and receiver must keep some part of both feet in stationary contact with the surface of the court in their respective service courts until the serve is struck.
The server's feet must not touch any boundary line, center line, or short service line during the delivery of the stroke. Touching any line constitutes an immediate foot fault.