Badminton looks simple: hit the shuttle over the net and make it land in. The official rules, written by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in the Laws of Badminton, add a few details that decide close matches: how rally scoring works, where you must stand to serve, how high the shuttle may be at the serve and which lines count in singles versus doubles. This guide explains the rules as they apply in 2026, flags the 3×15 scoring change that takes effect in January 2027, and gives worked examples you can use when keeping score at the club, in a school PE lesson or at a local league night.
Scoring: rally scoring to 21
Every rally wins a point, no matter who served. That is the core of the 3×21 system the BWF has used since 2006.
- A match is the best of three games.
- A game is won by the first side to 21 points.
- At 20-all, the side that first gains a two-point lead wins (22-20, 23-21 and so on).
- At 29-all, the side scoring the 30th point wins, so 30 is the cap.
- The side that wins a game serves first in the next game.
Worked examples
| Score | Game over? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 21-19 | Yes | 21 reached with a two-point lead |
| 21-20 | No | Only one point clear after 20-all |
| 24-22 | Yes | Two clear points after 20-all |
| 30-29 | Yes | Cap reached at 29-all |
A full match might read 21-18, 19-21, 22-20. Player A won games one and three, so A wins 2-1 in games. Total points: A scored 21+19+22 = 62, B scored 18+21+20 = 59. Totals do not decide anything, but they are useful when your league uses point difference as a tie-breaker.
If you want to keep track on a phone or tablet courtside, our online scoreboard handles both sides, game count and serve indicator.
Intervals and changing ends
- When the leading score reaches 11 in any game, players get an interval of up to 60 seconds.
- Between games there is an interval of up to 120 seconds.
- Players change ends after each game, and in the third game they also change ends when the leading score reaches 11.
The service rules
Most arguments in club badminton are about the serve. The Laws describe a correct service in detail; the essentials are:
- Server and receiver stand inside diagonally opposite service courts without touching the lines.
- Part of both feet of server and receiver must stay in contact with the floor, in a stationary position, until the serve is made.
- The racket must first hit the base (cork) of the shuttle.
- The whole shuttle must be below 1.15 m from the court surface at the moment of impact. This fixed-height rule replaced the older “below the waist” wording and makes calls objective. Officials often use a small measuring device; at club level a tape mark on a post works fine.
- Once the server starts the forward movement, the racket must continue forward without a pause or feint.
- The shuttle must fly upward over the net and land in the receiver’s service court (on the line counts as in).
Which court do you serve from?
In singles, the server serves from the right service court when their score is even (0, 2, 4…) and from the left when it is odd. Win the rally and you score a point and serve again from the other court. Lose it and your opponent scores and serves.
In doubles, the same even/odd logic applies to the serving side’s score. Only the serving pair rotates: if they win the rally, the same server changes court and serves again. If the receiving pair wins, they gain the point and the serve, but nobody switches court; the player standing in the correct court for their new score serves. Partners only swap positions when they win a point on their own serve.
Court lines: singles vs doubles
A full court measures 13.40 m × 6.10 m (44 ft × 20 ft). The net is 1.524 m (5 ft) high at the centre and 1.55 m at the posts.
| Line | Singles | Doubles |
|---|---|---|
| Side boundary in rallies | Inner side line (5.18 m wide court) | Outer side line (6.10 m) |
| Long service line | Back boundary line | Inner back line, 0.76 m inside the back boundary |
| Short service line | 1.98 m from the net | 1.98 m from the net |
| Back boundary in rallies | Back boundary line | Back boundary line |
Remember the shape: singles is long and narrow; a doubles serve is short and wide. Once the serve is in, doubles uses the full court, back line included.
Faults you should know
A fault ends the rally and gives the point to the opponents. Common ones:
- The shuttle lands outside the boundaries, passes through or under the net, or fails to pass the net.
- The shuttle touches the ceiling or walls, or a player’s body or clothing.
- A player touches the net or posts with racket, body or clothing while the shuttle is in play.
- A player hits the shuttle on the opponent’s side of the net. Following through over the net after hitting on your own side is allowed.
- The same player hits the shuttle twice in a row, or both partners hit it in succession.
- A player invades the opponent’s court under the net and obstructs or distracts them.
- A player deliberately distracts an opponent by shouting or gesturing.
- A service fault, for example the shuttle above 1.15 m at impact or a foot lifted early.
A let is different: the rally is replayed with no point. Typical lets are a shuttle caught on top of the net after the serve, a receiver who was not ready, or a shuttle from the next court landing on yours.
The 3×15 system: what changes in 2027
The scoring debate is not new. The BWF tested 5×11 and earlier proposed 3×15 at the 2021 AGM, where it did not reach the required two-thirds majority. In 2026 it passed. At the 87th BWF Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark, on 25 April 2026, members approved 3×15 as the standard scoring system from 4 January 2027. The key points published by the BWF:
- Still best of three games, but each game is to 15 points.
- At 14-all a two-point lead is needed; the cap is 21 (at 20-all the next point wins).
- The 60-second interval comes when the leader reaches 8 points; in the third game ends change at 8 as well.
- The 120-second break between games stays.
- 3×21 remains an alternative for national associations, clubs and leagues.
Some federations started early: the German DBV allowed its tournament organisers to use 3×15 from August 2026, and France switched its sanctioned competitions from September 2026. Until your league says otherwise, play 3×21. If you organise club nights, decide the format before the first rally and write it on the draw sheet.
Practical tips for club and school games
- Agree the format first: 3×21 for matches, a single game to 21 (or 15) for round robins with many players.
- Spin for serve: toss a coin or spin a racket; the winner chooses to serve, receive or pick an end.
- Mark 1.15 m on a net post with tape so servers can check themselves.
- Call your own lines fairly in friendly play; when in doubt, play a let.
- Track the score aloud before each serve, server’s score first, or put a shared scoreboard on a screen so players and spectators see the same numbers.
Sources
Rules in this guide follow the BWF Laws of Badminton (current edition in force 2026, including the fixed 1.15 m service height) and BWF announcements of 25–26 April 2026 on the approved 3×15 scoring system, effective 4 January 2027. National bodies such as Badminton England and USA Badminton publish the same Laws for domestic play. For local leagues, always check your league handbook, which can set its own formats.