As the literal dividing line between two teams on court, the volleyball net is an area where many key on-court battles take place, as well as being one of the two key physical pieces of apparatus required to set up a court (the other, of course, being the ball). As with most sports, there are specific regulations governing volleyball net heights, rules & violations, and systems, that you need to know whether you’re a player or not. Here’s what you need to know.
How high is a volleyball net?
So, how high is a volleyball net anyway? Well, it’s not as easy to answer as people might think. With there being so many variations of volleyball, there are different rules and guidelines governing every type. The one consistency is that the height in the middle of the net must be consistent with the height at either edge, with just a 2cm variation allowed. Other than that though, the heights differ by sport type, gender and even age within each gender.
Beach Volleyball regulation net Height
According to the official FIVB beach volleyball rules and regulations the following volleyball net heights apply:
| Metres | Feet / Inches | |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 2.43 | 7′ 11 5/8″ |
| Women | 2.24 | 7′ 4 1/8″ |
| Junior / Youth / School | ||
| – 12 years & under | 2.00 | 6′ 7″ |
| – 14 years & under | 2.12 | 6′ 11″ |
| – 16 years & under | 2.24 | 7′ 4″ |
Indoor Volleyball regulation net Height
According to the official FIVB indoor volleyball rules and regulations the following volleyball net heights apply:
| Metres | Feet / Inches | |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 2.43 | 7′ 11 5/8″ |
| Women | 2.24 | 7′ 4 1/8″ |
| Junior / Youth / School* | ||
| – 10 years & under (male) | 2.13 | 7′ 0″ |
| – 10 years & under (female) | 1.98 | 6′ 6″ |
| – 11 / 12 years old | 2.13 | 7′ 0″ |
| – 13 / 14 years old | 2.24 | 7′ 4 1/8″ |
| – 15 to 18 years old (male) | 2.43 | 7′ 11 5/8″ |
| – 15 to 18 years old (female) | 2.24 | 7′ 4 1/8″ |
* FIVB don’t appear to define heights for these age groups in their current official indoor rules & regulations guidebook so these are taken from USA Volleyball’s Officials Training guide
Snow Volleyball regulation Net height
According to the official FIVB snow volleyball rules and regulations the following volleyball net heights apply:
| Metres | Feet / Inches | |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 2.43 | 7′ 11 5/8″ |
| Women | 2.24 | 7′ 4 1/8″ |
Sitting Volleyball regulation Net height
According the International Paralympic Committee, the sitting volleyball net heights are:
| Metres | Feet / Inches | |
|---|---|---|
| Men | 1.15 | 3′ 5″ |
| Women | 1.05 | 3′ 9″ |