How high is a table tennis net? You might also want to know how wide it should be or how tight the tension should be. Iโve just researched this info in the official ITTF, (or International Table Tennis Federation) rules and regulations handbook to save you the time of having to look it up yourself.
15.25 cm, or 6 in from the top of the table to the top of the net is the ITTF regulation height. This height should be exactly the same across the entire width of the net. The net should also overhang 15.25 cm, or 6 in over the edges of the table. The tension should be between 6-20 N.
If you want a more simplified version of the essential rules in this handbook, then read our article here: Official Ping Pong Rules: The Ultimate Guide to Serving, Scoring and More
Table Tennis Net Height and How it is Measured
When measuring from the top of the table to the top of the net the height is supposed to be 15.25 CM or a 6 in. This exact height is supposed to be kept for the entire width of the net. In competition, a tool called a net gauge is used to easily measure this height.
These tools can be bought for less than $2, they usually can double as a racket thickness gauge and some weighted ones can be used to set the net tension like this butterfly one pictured below. You can buy one from Megaspin.net, they have a few different options including the weighted one below.
How Wide is a Ping Pong Net?
The Net Overhang
The ITTF handbook actually only states regulations for how far the net is supposed to overhang past the edge of the table. The net should overhang 15.25 CM or 6 in past the edge of the table.
Total Width
However now the entire width for the net can now be figured if you know the width of the table. The regulation width for a ping pong table is 1.525 m, or 152.5 cm, or 5 ft. so this means that the entire width of the net should be 1.83 m, or 183 cm, or 6 ft wide.
Tension of the Ping Pong Net: How Tight?
The net should be pretty tight, if it is too loose balls that hit the middle of the net may make it over the net too easily and give players easy, undeserved points. I couldnโt find the official tension for the net in the ITTF handbook but according to Google the net tension is supposed to be between 6 to 20 newtons.
Umpires will measure the tension of the net with a weighted tool that looks like a net height gauge except that it has a weight of 100 G. The weight is placed in the middle of the net and you want the the bottom of the gauge to just barely touch the table or to be slightly above the table.
The Importance of Proper Net Set Up
If you are serious at all about playing table tennis then you should know that setting up the net correctly is crucial, especially if you compete or plan on competing in the future. When practicing you want to practice in the same conditions that you will encounter in competition.
If the net is the wrong height, then you might make mistakes when you play on a table with the proper net height. If the net has improper tension then mistakes could also be made when playing in competition where the net has the proper tension.
If the net is too loose as in not being tight enough balls may go over the top of the net too easily. this can result in easy points and unfair play. Conversely if the ball is too tight you could have the opposite problem.
Having a good quality net is also important so that you can set it up properly and so it reacts well when it is hit by the ball. You should buy a net made by a well known TT brand such as JOOLA or Butterfly to ensure that you can adjust it correctly. Megaspin.net has many quality nets available here.
How to Adjust the Height / Tension of the Net
The first thing that you should do is make sure that the posts are set up correctly and that they are centered. first adjust the tension by loosening or tightening the strings on the sides of the post. Then you can adjust the height by loosening or tightening the screws that are under the very ends of the net on the post.
PingSkills made the best video that I could find on how to do this:
The Complete ITTF Regulations for the Table Tennis Net
These are the exact rules in full in the ITTF handbook. I copied and pasted everything in the Latest version of the handbook about the net right here:
“THE NET ASSEMBLY
- The net assembly shall consist of the net, its suspension and the supporting posts, including the clamps attaching them to the table.
- The net shall be suspended by a cord attached at each end to an upright post 15.25cm high, the outside limits of the post being 15.25cm outside the sideline.
- The top of the net, along its whole length, shall be 15.25cm above the playing surface.
- The bottom of the net, along its whole length, shall be as close as possible to the playing surface and the ends of the net shall be attached to the supporting posts from top to bottom.”
Here is a link to the official ITTF rules and regulations handbook if you want to see it for yourself. Tip: the easiest way to find info in the handbook is to scroll all the way to the bottom and look at the table of contents first.
ITTF Table Tennis Nets Approved for Competition
For a net to be used in an official tournament it actually has to be a net that is approved by the ITTF. I looked into it and found the official list on their site. Here is a link to the list of approved Nets on ITTF’s website.
Setup Your Table Tennis Net and Go Play!
Now that you know how high a table tennis net should be, how wide, and how to setup the proper tension, you can go and play with confidence. Now go out there and serve, smash, keep those rallies long and get some TT wins!
Read: What is a Let in Table Tennis? The Official ITTF Rules.
