Bocce ball is a fun game enjoyed by millions of people around the world, but not everyone chooses to follow the official bocce ball court dimensions when building or installing a bocce court. In this article, we cover the most common bocce court dimensions and how they compare to regulation bocce court dimensions.
Bocce is a casual sport dating back hundreds of years ago. The object of the games is to get more of your big balls closer to the small ball before your opponent does. And just like any sport, it has rules which determine the scoring and, most importantly, the bocce ball court size. Each playing area can vary, though, depending on how professionally you intend to play the game.
Let’s look at some common bocce ball court dimensions in more detail. Besides the standard bocce court size, I will also explain the recommended minimum space requirements if you want to create your own casual playing area. Finally, I will walk you through the proper steps on how to create your bocce ball court.
So if you are interested in any of these topics, continue reading on.
How Long Is a Bocce Ball Court?

An official bocce court is ~90 feet (28 meters) long – this is really long, so many people choose to make their own home courts much smaller as we’ll discuss below.
If you’ve ever seen a bocce ball court, you probably noticed the long rectangular shape of the playing area. It has a raised border surrounding all sides to keep the bocce balls from rolling out, and sometimes there are higher edges on the ends. There are also usually five lines dividing the court into six sections. One of the lines runs through the middle of the area to split the length of the court in two.
However, you can claim any flat area of space to be a bocce ball court. That is the reason why bocce is a popular backyard game. You do not have to follow strict court dimensions, especially if you intend to play casually. The most important thing is to have an elongated area with roughly a 1:5 to 1:7 ratio of width to length.
What Is The Standard Bocce Ball Court Size?

An official regulation sized bocce ball court is ~90 feet long and 13 feet wide, or 28 by 4 meters. These bocce ball court dimensions give you plenty of room to play the game. There is plenty of space to define foul lines and court borders clearly and there is an added challenge due to the long distance from one end to the other. Hence, they offer a high level playing experience.
As for the surface of the bocce court, it traditionally uses bare earth, sand, crushed stone, or crushed oyster shell. The surface is somewhat packed to enable balls to maintain speed as they bounce on the surface. However, many people also enjoy bocce on different surface types, which I will discuss in detail later.
If you want to build a professional size bocce court, naturally, you should pick up a set of regulation bocce balls to complete your setup.
What Is a Good Size for a Backyard Bocce Court?
You can play a perfectly fun and competitive game of bocce on unofficial sized courts like a backyard bocce ball court. You can create your very own featured playing area using various materials such as crushed stone, synthetic turf, and real grass, to enjoy this popular sport.
Casual bocce court dimensions tend to be smaller, with lengths between 40 and 60 feet and widths varying from 8 to 12-13 feet.

But when it comes to playing the sport in your backyard, the bocce ball court size does not matter too much. Just make sure that there is enough room to throw the balls and be competitive. It is best that the small backyard court is at least 8-10 feet wide to give you much-needed space.
As for the court markings and borders, you can use sticks, stones, chairs, or even plants to identify them. Feel free to get creative with the location of the bocce ball court to maximize the available limited space in your backyard.
You can even set up bocce ball courts at your local park for a fun day of picnic and bocce. Try Marking the edges with your picnic blankets!
How Small Can You Make a Bocce Ball Court?

If you do not have enough space in your backyard but still want to play bocce, you might be wondering about the minimum bocce ball court dimensions.
Fortunately, you can make your court surface any size you like. It is ideal for those with limited open spaces or those who want their kids to enjoy the game as well.
You might also be surprised to know that there is a bocce ball variant for individuals with physical disabilities. It is known as boccia, which uses an adjusted bocce ball court size measuring 41 feet long and 19.6 feet wide or 12.5 by 6 meters. This simply proves that you do not always have to stick with a regulation-size court if you have a small backyard or open space.
What Are the Dimensions of a Beach Bocce Court?
You can play bocce ball almost anywhere, and that includes the beach. While there won’t be shade, the view is great and the sand makes for a challenging game of playing bocce ball.
As for the dimensions of beach bocce courts, you can use any length and width you prefer. Depending on available space at the beach, try setting up a long, rectangular area, drawing lines in the sand.
What Are Bocce Ball Courts Made Of?
If you want to build your own bocce ball court, whether in your backyard or in the public park, it is essential to know the materials to use.
The surfaces of bocce courts generally utilize finely-milled stone. This material allows the balls to pick up speed as they bounce.
However, a professional regulation size court can have three or four layers of materials to make up the surface. Usually into the ground, a base is built using about three inches of rock or gravel. It has a leveling mix on it to ensure the surface is as level as it can be. Finally, the top layer includes around an inch or two of finely crushed rocks mixed into a bonding gypsum or compacted decomposed granite.
Additionally, most professional courts include concrete curbing walls, wooden bumper boards, and even a water drain. All of these features offer a better playing experience.
With that said, not everyone has the time or resources to build a regulation-size court. Fortunately, you can still play the game without all the professional regulations. Instead of using layers of rock, you can opt to play bocce on stones, grass, or even sand. You can also swap out concrete curbing with reclaimed wood. Get creative!
How to Set Up a Bocce Ball Court?
When setting up a bocce ball court in your backyard or park, play around with the size by mocking it up. Mark the space using stakes and rope, a chalk line, or materials you have handy like rocks.
Make sure to clear the area and decide on the chosen material for the side curbs. You can use concrete, crushed rocks, and wooden beams for a more professional court. But, for a more casual game, you can mark the area with plants or fences.
If you choose to set up the bocce court on a sloping surface, you will want to level the area. Make sure it is relatively flat to prevent the ball from rolling.
Conclusion
Bocce ball is a casual sport that is enjoyed around the world. If you want to set up your own playing area, it is essential to know the proper bocce ball court dimensions. Hopefully, this article gave you an insight into the different bocce ball court sizes, whether for a regulation size court or backyard use.