A badminton net has one job that everybody notices and one that nobody thinks about. The obvious one is height: regulation is 5ft 1in at the posts and 5ft at the centre, and a net that cannot reach it turns badminton into a different game. The unnoticed one is whether the posts stay upright — most cheap net sets fail here, sagging in the middle within twenty minutes because the poles bow inwards under string tension. Below are six that hold their shape, from garden-height adjustable frames to full-size portable systems.
Last updated: August 2026
| Net | Tier | Width | Height | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BAGAIL Adjustable | Budget | 10ft | Adjustable | 8.2 |
| SONGMICS Adjustable | Budget | 10ft | Adjustable | 8.4 |
| EastPoint Set with 15ft Net | Best Value | 15ft | Fixed | 8.0 |
| Boulder Portable | Best Value | Extendable | Adjustable | 8.8 |
| Stainless Steel Portable | Premium | Extendable | Adjustable | 8.3 |
| Amazon Basics Combo | Premium | Full size | Adjustable | 8.5 |
Adjustable Garden Nets
Height that comes down for children and up for adults
Very close to the SONGMICS in concept and slightly better in execution — the guy ropes are included rather than optional, which is exactly the part that stops the middle sagging. Same caveats about width and same virtue of adjusting down for children. Choose between the two on price on the day; there is not much else in it.
The sensible cheap net, and the height adjustment is the reason. Dropping the tape for children turns a frustrating game into a rally, and raising it back for adults takes a minute. It is narrower than a full doubles court and the poles are aluminium, so guy the ends out if there is any wind — but for a lawn with mixed ages it is the right buy.
The Step-Up
Full-width nets that go up in a couple of minutes
The everything-in-one-bag option: net, posts, four rackets and shuttles, and a frame that packs itself back down without a fight. The rackets are the weak part, as they always are in combined kits, but the net itself is genuinely quick to erect and the self-packing design means it gets used. Buy it for a garden where nobody owns anything yet.
The portable net most people should buy, and the ratings back that up more emphatically than anything else in this category. It extends to a proper width, adjusts between badminton and pickleball heights, folds flat and goes up in a couple of minutes without a second pair of hands. Nothing about it is exotic; everything about it works.
Stay-Put Frames
Steel poles and tensioning that survive a breeze
Steel rather than aluminium poles, which is the direct fix for the sag problem that ruins cheaper nets — the span holds its shape under tension and stays upright in a breeze that would fold a thin-walled frame. You pay for it in price and in carrying weight. Worth it if the net lives outside and gets used constantly rather than being packed away between sessions.
A full-size outdoor frame that switches between volleyball and badminton heights, aimed at the garden that hosts both. The poles and guy-rope system are properly specified for the volleyball height, which means they are comfortably over-engineered at badminton height and consequently very stable. Needs soft ground for the stakes and a few minutes more to put up than the Boulder.
How to Choose a Badminton Net
Regulation Height, and When to Ignore It
A full badminton net is 5ft 1in high at the posts and dips to 5ft at the centre, over a court 20ft wide for doubles. If the people playing are adults who have played before, a net that cannot reach that will feel wrong immediately — clears sail out and drops become impossible. If the people playing are children, a lower net makes rallies last, which is the entire point. Height-adjustable nets exist because both of those are true at different times in the same garden.
Pole Sag Is the Real Failure Mode
Almost every complaint about cheap badminton nets is the same complaint: the middle of the net drooped. It happens because the poles are thin-walled and bow towards each other under the net's own tension, and no amount of retying fixes it. What fixes it is either thicker steel poles, guy ropes staked into the ground, or a winch that tensions the top cord independently. If a net has none of those three and is 20ft wide, expect sag.
Setup Time Decides How Often You Play
This sounds like a soft criterion and it is not. A net that takes fifteen minutes and two people to assemble gets used on planned occasions; a net that takes two minutes and one person gets used on a whim after work, which is roughly ten times more badminton per summer. Self-packing frames and pole sections joined by shock cord are worth paying for, and are the main reason the mid-tier nets here cost what they do.
Ground Type Changes What You Can Buy
Nets that anchor with ground stakes are more stable and cheaper, and completely useless on a driveway, patio or indoor floor. Freestanding nets use weighted or wide-footed bases instead, cost more, and are the only option on a hard surface. Check which one you are buying — a stake-anchored net on concrete will fall over sideways the first time somebody hits the tape.
Multi-Sport Nets Are a Real Compromise, Not a Free Upgrade
Combination volleyball and badminton nets adjust between two very different heights, which means the pole system has to be tall enough for volleyball and stable enough for badminton. Most handle it fine for casual play. What you give up is width: many combo nets are narrower than a doubles badminton court, so the tramlines simply do not exist. Fine for a garden knockabout, wrong if you are practising.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the regulation height for a badminton net?
5ft 1in (1.55m) at the posts and 5ft (1.524m) at the centre of the net, measured from the ground to the top of the tape. The slight dip in the middle is intentional and is part of the rules, not a defect. Court width is 20ft for doubles and 17ft for singles, so a net narrower than 20ft cannot cover a full doubles court.
Can I use a badminton net for volleyball or pickleball?
For casual play, yes — most portable nets in this category are sold as multi-sport and adjust between the relevant heights. The compromises are width and tension: a badminton net is usually narrower than a volleyball court needs, and pickleball nets are set much lower and take heavier ball impacts. It works for a garden. It does not work for practice you intend to take seriously.
Why does my badminton net sag in the middle?
Because the poles are bending towards each other under the tension of the net cord, not because the net has stretched. Thin aluminium poles on a 20ft span will always do this. The fixes are guy ropes staked out behind each pole, a winch or ratchet that tensions the top cord separately, or thicker steel poles — which is exactly what the premium nets on this page are paying for.
Can I set up a portable badminton net on concrete?
Only if it is freestanding. Any net that relies on ground stakes for stability will topple on a hard surface. Look for nets with weighted or wide tripod-style bases, and be aware they cost more and are heavier to carry precisely because the stability has to come from the base rather than the ground. Some models ship with both stakes and feet.
How long does a portable badminton net take to set up?
Two to five minutes for a well-designed self-packing frame with shock-corded poles, and fifteen or more for a cheap set with loose pole sections and separate guy ropes. It is worth caring about: the difference in setup time is the difference between a net that lives in the garden all summer and one that stays in the garage.