Pickleball Kitchen Rules
The kitchen is the non-volley zone. You can enter it, but you cannot volley from it.
What this page covers
You may stand in the kitchen when the ball has bounced.
You may not volley while touching the kitchen or its line.
Momentum after a volley cannot carry you into the kitchen.
A partner cannot pull you out of the kitchen to erase a fault.
Plain-English rules
- You may stand in the kitchen when the ball has bounced.
- You may not volley while touching the kitchen or its line.
- Momentum after a volley cannot carry you into the kitchen.
- A partner cannot pull you out of the kitchen to erase a fault.
- Kitchen faults apply even if the volley itself was strong or clean.
Official source
This page references the 2026 USA Pickleball Official Rulebook (PDF), published by USA Pickleball. Check event or league rules as well when a local format differs.
Relevant rulebook section: 11.A.
Edition 2026. Source checked .
Examples
Legal: the ball bounces in the kitchen and you step in to dink it.
Fault: you smash a volley, then your momentum steps onto the kitchen line.
Quick answers
Can you stand in the kitchen all rally?
Yes, but you can only hit balls that bounce first while you are there.
Is the kitchen line part of the kitchen?
Yes. Touching the line counts as touching the kitchen.