Non-volley zone
Definition
The non-volley zone (often called the kitchen) is the 7-foot by 20-foot area of the court next to the net on each side. Its lines are part of the zone, and a player may not volley the ball while touching it.
The 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook describes the non-volley zone as the 7-foot by 20-foot area of the court on each end of the net (Section 2 and Rule 3.A.4.c). The lines that bound it are part of the zone, and the zone is two-dimensional: it covers the court surface, not the air above it. Players can stand in the kitchen and hit balls that have bounced there. What they can’t do is volley, meaning hit the ball before it bounces, while touching the zone.
Because volleys near the net are so effective, the kitchen rule is a major reason soft shots like the dink are central to pickleball strategy.
See Section 11 of the rulebook for the full rule, and our guides to the kitchen momentum rule and whether the kitchen line is in or out.
Related terms
Sources
- 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook . USA Pickleball . Accessed November 4, 2026