Permitted badminton racket dimensions: the limits set by the laws of the game

Let us begin “Permitted badminton racket dimensions: the limits set by the laws of the game” with what matters most for what follows: the reading framework below. Check with a few measurements that a racket meets the official limits.

The detailed procedure

Let us continue with this action: the process relies on automated equipment designed specifically for pickleball, used in the laboratory and in the field, with proprietary software analysis. Do not skip this step as you move forward.

The basic vocabulary

Let us become familiar with the following terms, which will come back later on.

Shaft

The part of a badminton racket that connects the handle to the head.

To make the notion tangible, the Laws of Badminton name the shaft among the components of the racket.

To clarify this term, open the entry Shaft.

Stringed area

The zone of a badminton racket occupied by the strings, intended for striking the shuttlecock.

To illustrate it, for example: the Laws of Badminton specify that the strings form a bounded surface within the head of the racket.

A fuller definition awaits you in the entry Stringed area.

What is the maximum length?

From a rules standpoint, the strings of a badminton racket must form a pattern of crossed strings, either interlaced alternately or bonded at their crossings.

One framework to know: a badminton racket may not include any device that allows the player to significantly change its shape.

Note this provision: the laws of badminton limit the racket to 680 mm in overall length and 230 mm in overall width.

What size of stringed area?

One framework to know: the stringed area of a badminton racket may not exceed 280 mm in length and 220 mm in width, with a tolerance for the strings to extend into the throat (35 mm wide at most, 330 mm in overall length).

Note this provision: the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has the authority to decide whether a racket complies with the specifications of the laws.

Let us look at this measured benchmark — the USA Pickleball spin test uses PaddleVision, a two-camera system developed by the Swedish company Image Systems, and sets a threshold of 2,100 rpm that must not be exceeded.

Does carbon affect compliance?

One framework to know: paddles that are already certified remain compliant with the standards of their certification period, despite the arrival of the spin test.

Note this provision — USA Pickleball launched a spin rate test on October 1, 2026: paddles certified after that date must pass it.

From a rules standpoint, a badminton racket must be free of added objects or protrusions, except those used to limit wear, dampen vibration, distribute weight, or secure the handle, which must remain reasonable in size and position.

What to read next

On the rules side, here is what is established: the spin test procedure was released on July 15, 2026; until October 1, a paddle could still be approved with only the surface roughness and coefficient of friction tests.

Maximum dimensions of a badminton racket

Limits set by the laws of badminton for the racket and its strings.

<table><caption>Limits set by the laws of badminton for the racket and its strings.</caption><thead><tr><th>Measurement</th><th>Limit</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Overall length</td><td>680 mm maximum</td></tr><tr><td>Overall width</td><td>230 mm maximum</td></tr><tr><td>Length of the stringed area</td><td>280 mm maximum</td></tr><tr><td>Width of the stringed area</td><td>220 mm maximum</td></tr></tbody></table>
<p>Credit: <a href="https://fibre-tressee-l9c0pd.pages.dev/en/dossiers/dimensions-autorisees-d-une-raquette-de-badminton-les/">Fibre Tressée</a></p>

In conclusion

Keep these pages close at hand and come back to them with a rested mind.

Related reading

• T700 carbon badminton racket: what you need to know — T700 in badminton rackets and the BWF rules. Across these pages, you will move through the reading plan, starting with what organizes the subject.
• Carbon frame and shaft: what the T700 label changes in badminton — Learn which parts of a badminton racket are affected by the advertised fiber. The reading plan starts with the essential terms.
• Stringing surface and balance: what the fiber does not say — Avoid judging a racket by its fiber alone while overlooking balance and stringing. The reading plan announced here: the vocabulary to know.
• T700 carbon: what this designation really refers to — Learn that T700 is a fiber grade made by a manufacturer, not a racket label. Use this tabular summary to compare the options.

Sources cited

• Nouveau processus de test des palettes (PPA, MLP, USA Pickleball) — Announcement, dated March 8, 2023, of a joint automated test of paddles and balls in the laboratory and on the court. Checked on 2026-10-13.
• Laws of Badminton, spécifications de la raquette — Maximum dimensions of the racket (680 mm by 230 mm), stringed area, ban on devices that change the shape, authority to rule on compliance. Checked on 2026-10-13.
• USA Pickleball lance son test de taux de rotation (The Dink Pickleball) —