Divide your player count by 4 for everyone on court at once, or by 5–6 for a comfortable open-play rotation. Set your numbers below to see courts needed, games per player, and how long people sit out — before your session, not during it.
Quick reference for doubles. “All playing” puts every attendee on court at once; “open play” assumes 5–6 players per court, which is what most drop-in sessions run.
Two courts handle a comfortable 10–12 player session, three courts fit 16–18, and four courts carry around 22. Past that, cap games by time rather than adding format complexity.
For the mechanics of who plays whom next, see how to rotate players in pickleball and the open play guide .