How high is the net above the playing surface in table tennis?

The official table tennis net is 15.25 centimetres high above the playing surface.

The net stretches across the table and is supported by posts positioned outside the sidelines. Under International Table Tennis Federation regulations, the top of the net must be 15.25 centimetres above the table throughout its width. The net assembly also extends beyond the table edges, but the playing height refers to the part crossing the table.

Players often confuse net height with the height of the table itself. The tabletop is 76 centimetres above the floor, while the net rises only 15.25 centimetres above that surface. A net that is too high or too low can significantly affect serves, returns, and low attacking shots.

The net divides the table into two courts but does not extend across the full surrounding playing area. During a serve, the ball must travel over or around the net and land on the opponent’s court. Contact with the net can still be legal if the ball otherwise lands correctly.