The Non-Volley Zone

The Kitchen Rule, Explained

The “kitchen” is the 7-foot zone on each side of the net, officially the Non-Volley Zone. The rule is simple to state and easy to break: you can’t volley while touching it. Here’s exactly what that means — and the momentum rule that catches everyone.

By the VolleyForge team · Reviewed August 2026

Quick answer

The kitchen — officially the Non-Volley Zone — is the 7-foot area on each side of the net, spanning the full 20-foot width. You may not volley (hit the ball out of the air) while any part of you touches the kitchen or its line, and your volley momentum can’t carry you in. You CAN step in any time to play a ball that has bounced.

What the kitchen is

The Non-Volley Zone extends 7 feet back from the net on both sides, spanning the full width of the court. It exists to stop players from standing at the net and smashing every ball — it forces the soft, strategic game of dinks and drops that makes pickleball what it is.

The kitchen (highlighted) runs 7 ft from the net across the full width, on both sides.

The one thing you can’t do: volley

You may not volley— hit the ball out of the air — while any part of your body is touching the kitchen or its line. If you do, it’s a fault and you lose the rally. That’s the whole core rule.

What you CAN do (the myth)

A huge misconception: beginners think they can never enter the kitchen. Not true. You can step into the kitchen any time to hit a ball that has bounced — a dink that lands short, for example. You just have to be out of the zone (with both feet behind the line) before you volley again.

The momentum rule (the one that gets you)

Here’s the subtle part. If you volley the ball, your momentum from that shot cannot carry you into the kitchen— even after the ball is gone. Volley near the line, then let your follow-through step, stumble, or dropped paddle touch the zone, and it’s still a fault. You have to be fully stopped and stable outside the kitchen through the entire volley motion.

Frequently asked questions

What is the kitchen in pickleball?

The 'kitchen' is the common name for the Non-Volley Zone — the 7-foot area on each side of the net. Its official name is the Non-Volley Zone because you may not volley (hit the ball out of the air) while standing in it.

Can you step in the kitchen in pickleball?

Yes — you can step into the kitchen any time to play a ball that has bounced. The only thing you can't do there is volley. Many beginners think they can never enter the kitchen, but that's a myth.

What is the kitchen momentum rule?

If you volley the ball, your momentum cannot carry you into the kitchen — even after you've hit the shot. If you volley near the line and then step (or fall, or your paddle drops) into the zone because of that motion, it's a fault.

Is the kitchen line in or out?

The kitchen line is part of the Non-Volley Zone. Touching the line while volleying is a fault, exactly the same as standing inside the zone.

How far is the kitchen from the net in pickleball?

The kitchen extends 7 feet back from the net on each side. Both kitchens together take up 14 feet of the court's 44-foot length.

How big is the kitchen in pickleball?

The Non-Volley Zone is 7 feet deep and spans the full 20-foot court width — 140 square feet on each side of the net.

Can you stand in the kitchen in pickleball?

Yes. You can stand or step in the kitchen any time to hit a ball that has bounced. You just can't volley — hit it out of the air — while touching the zone, and you must have both feet out before your next volley.

What is the point of the kitchen in pickleball?

The Non-Volley Zone stops players from standing at the net and smashing every ball. By forcing you off the net to hit volleys, it creates pickleball's soft dinking game and the long, strategic rallies the sport is known for.

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