Is a Ball on the Line In or Out in Pickleball? (Including the Kitchen Line)
Checked against the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook on .
Quick answer
A ball that touches a line is in, with one big exception: a serve that lands on the kitchen (non-volley zone) line is out. Under the 2026 USA Pickleball rulebook, the kitchen line is part of the kitchen (Rule 3.A.4.c), and a serve must clear it (Rule 8.C). During a rally, a ball on the kitchen line is in.
The rule
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Rule 8.B “In” Ball
A serve is in if it clears the opponent's kitchen line and lands in the correct service court. Any other shot is in if it lands on the opponent's end of the court.
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Rule 8.C “Out” Ball
A serve is out if it doesn't land in the correct service court, and that includes a serve landing on the kitchen line. Any other ball is out if it lands outside the court.
“including one that lands on the non-volley zone line”
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Rule 3.A.4.c / 3.A.4.f Non-Volley Zone / Service Courts
The lines around the kitchen are part of the kitchen. A service court includes its baseline, sideline, and centerline, so a serve touching those lines is in. The kitchen line is the exception, because it belongs to the kitchen.
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Rule 2 (Definitions) Court
The court is the area inside the outer edges of the baselines and sidelines, so the lines are part of the court.
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Rule 8.D / 8.E Code of Ethics / Line Call Certainty
Resolve questionable calls in your opponent's favor. Don't call a ball out unless you clearly saw space between the ball and the line. A ball that can't be called out promptly is in.
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Rule 8.F.3 / 8.F.4 Out Call Timing / Partner Communication
If you return the ball, you must make your out call before the opponent hits it or the ball becomes dead. Partners shouting "out" while the ball is still in the air is communication, not a line call.
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Rule 8.H / 8.I / 8.J Partner Disagreement / Opponent’s Opinion / Spectators
If partners disagree, the ball is in. You may ask your opponent to make a call on your side, up until the next serve. Spectators must never be consulted.
Rule numbers are from the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (official PDF). Wording above is our plain-language summary unless shown in quotation marks.
The one-sentence rule
Lines are in, except the kitchen line on a serve. The court includes its lines (Section 2, “Court”), and each service court includes its baseline, sideline, and centerline (Rule 3.A.4.f). The lines around the kitchen, though, belong to the kitchen (Rule 3.A.4.c). A serve has to clear the kitchen, so a serve on that line is out (Rule 8.C).
How to make a good call
- Watch for space. Call a ball out only if you clearly saw space between the ball and the line (Rule 8.E). A ball that lands just on the edge is in.
- Call it promptly. Use your voice, a hand signal, or both (Rule 8.F). A late “maybe” isn’t a call. A ball that can’t be promptly called out is in (Rule 8.D).
- Know whose line it is. You call your own end of the court. Your opponents call theirs (Rule 8.A).
- Don’t shout “out” too early. A word to your partner while the ball is still in the air is just communication (Rule 8.F.4). The line call happens after it lands (Rule 8.F.1).
Real-play examples
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Serve lands on the kitchen line
Your serve just clears the net and lands on the receiver's kitchen line.
The call: Out. It's a fault on the serve. (Rule 8.C, 3.A.4.c, 7.E.2)
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Serve lands on the baseline
A deep serve lands on the receiver's baseline in the correct service court.
The call: In. Service courts include their baselines. (Rule 3.A.4.f, 8.B)
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Dink lands on the kitchen line mid-rally
During a rally, a soft shot lands on the kitchen line.
The call: In. Outside the serve, any ball landing on the opponent's end of the court is in. (Rule 8.B)
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You think it touched the outside edge
A ball lands right at the sideline, and you can't see any space between ball and line.
The call: In. You may only call it out if you clearly saw space. (Rule 8.E)
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Partner yells "out" while the ball is in the air
Your partner shouts "out!" as a lob comes over. You let it go and it lands in.
The call: The ball is in, and your side loses the rally. A shout before the ball lands is communication, not a line call. (Rule 8.F.4)
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You and your partner disagree
You call a ball out but your partner says they saw it touch the line.
The call: In. (Rule 8.H)
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You hit it back, then call it out
You return a ball that you think landed out, then call "out" a second later.
The call: Your out call counts only if you made it before the opponent hit the ball or the ball became dead. Otherwise, play continues. (Rule 8.F.3)
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A spectator says it was out
Someone watching from the fence says the ball was out.
The call: Ignore it. Spectators must not be consulted on any call. (Rule 8.J)
Common mistakes and myths
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Myth The kitchen line is in on a serve.
Actually It's out. The kitchen line is part of the kitchen, and a serve must clear it. (Rule 8.C, 3.A.4.c)
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Myth If most of the ball is outside the line, it's out.
Actually If any part of the ball lands on the line, it's in. You need to see clear space between the ball and the line to call it out. (Rule 8.E)
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Myth If nobody is sure, replay the point.
Actually A ball that can't be promptly called out is in. Uncertainty doesn't mean a replay. (Rule 8.D)
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Myth "Out!" from your partner while the ball is in the air ends the rally.
Actually That's communication between partners. Only a call after the ball lands is a line call. (Rule 8.F.1, 8.F.4)
Ref call and how to handle it in rec play
No referee (rec and open play)
- You call the lines on your own end of the court, and in doubles either partner may make the call (Rule 8.A).
- Call out promptly, by voice, a hand signal, or both (Rule 8.F). If in doubt, it's in (Rule 8.D).
- Can't see it? You may ask your opponent's opinion until the next serve. Their clear in or out decision stands (Rule 8.I).
- You can always reverse your own or your partner's call in your opponent's favor (Rule 8.G).
With a referee
- With a referee, the referee calls short serves, including serves on the kitchen line (Rule 19.A.1).
- Without line judges, players still call the baseline, sidelines, and centerline on their end (Rule 19.B).
Frequently asked questions
Is a ball on the line in in pickleball?
Yes, a ball touching any line is in, except a serve that lands on the kitchen line, which is out (Rules 8.B and 8.C).
Is a serve on the kitchen line in or out?
Out. Rule 8.C says a serve landing on the non-volley zone line is out, because the lines are part of the kitchen (Rule 3.A.4.c).
Is a ball on the kitchen line in during a rally?
Yes. After the serve, any ball that lands on the opponent's end of the court is in (Rule 8.B), and the kitchen line is inside the court.
What happens if partners disagree on a line call?
The ball is in (Rule 8.H).
Sources
- 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook . USA Pickleball . Accessed November 4, 2026