Best Gym Divider Curtains & Court Divider Nets for Indoor Pickleball (2026)
By the PickleCourt USA team · Updated
The short answer
Match the divider to what the floor does the rest of the week. In a shared school or rec gym, use a full-height, ceiling-hung curtain with solid vinyl at the bottom and mesh above it. A Draper fold-up, a Porter Center-Roll (for low or finished ceilings) or an IPI by Bison curtain (if you want graphics) all fit. On a floor that stays pickleball, a low barrier between courts stops the rolling balls that cause most interruptions. Douglas makes a 4-foot system designed for pickleball, with a freestanding version for indoor floors you can't drill. AAE makes a 36-inch removable net. In a tennis building, 10- to 12-foot hanging nets from Douglas or Putterman (with Putterman's optional solid skirt) give full-height ball stop with no motor. Every spec below comes from the manufacturer. Nobody paid to be listed, and we don't sell dividers.
Who this guide is for
This guide is for recreation directors, athletic directors, YMCA and club operators, and facility managers who are running more than one pickleball court indoors. The sport makes dividers matter more than basketball or volleyball do. Courts sit side by side with only a few feet between them, the ball is light and rolls a long way, and players stop the point whenever a stray ball rolls onto their court. On a busy open-play night, that adds up to a lot of interrupted points.
It covers ceiling-hung gym divider curtains, low court-to-court barriers and hanging divider nets. If you're still deciding how many courts fit, start with our court space requirements guide. If the courts themselves are going down on a gym floor, see gym-floor pickleball courts. For outdoor fences, the windscreens guide is the better fit.
How we compared them
- Height and coverage: a full-height wall, a hanging net, or a low ball stop between courts
- Fabric: solid vinyl weight, mesh open area, net material and break strength, as each maker publishes them
- Storage: stack height or how the system clears the floor when courts are put away
- Operation and mounting: motorized hoist, manual track, bolted posts or freestanding frames
- Building fit: clearances, cut-outs for bleachers and doors, load on the steel, fire testing
- The pickleball problem it solves: rolling balls, sight lines, noise between courts, or sharing the room with other sports
Divider systems compared
| System | Type | Fabric / net | Storage | Operation | Best for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Draper Fold-Up gym divider curtain | Full-height ceiling-hung curtain | 18 oz vinyl-coated polyester solid; 9 oz vinyl-coated polyester mesh, 45–50% open; any mesh/solid combination | Accordion-folds to the ceiling; about 2-1/2 ft stack | Electric winch | School and rec-center gyms that need a full wall between a pickleball bank and basketball or volleyball | site |
| Draper Roll-Up and Walk-Draw curtains | Full-height curtain (roll-up) or track-hung curtain (walk-draw) | Vinyl and vinyl-coated polyester mesh, in Draper's color range | Roll-up: rolls onto a bottom tube (about 2 ft stack, per Draper). Walk-draw: pulls back along an overhead track | Electric (roll-up); manual, pulled by hand (walk-draw) | Low-clearance spaces (roll-up) and boxing in a single court or a corner for a small club (walk-draw) | site |
| Porter Athletic No. 2080 Center-Roll divider curtain | Full-height ceiling-hung curtain | 19 oz Flexivide vinyl (solid); Fleximesh vinyl-coated mesh (Porter spec sheets list an 8 oz mesh); all solid, all mesh, or both | Rolls to within 14 in of the ceiling or support structure; can store above a ceiling through a 1-ft opening | Electric center-tube drive, 26 ft/min (current Porter page) | Gyms with low steel or finished ceilings, and curtains that need cut-outs for bleachers or passageways | site |
| IPI by Bison divider curtains (Fold Up, Roll Up, Top Roll, Walk Draw) | Full-height curtain family | Common build: 8 ft of 18 oz flame-retardant, polyester-reinforced solid vinyl below; vinyl-encapsulated polyester mesh above with at least a 50% open grid | Retracts electrically to the ceiling (Fold Up, Roll Up, Top Roll) or draws to the side (Walk Draw) | Typically 115 V, 3/4 HP single-phase reversible hoist; upgradeable to 1 HP for larger curtains | Facilities that want sponsor or school graphics on the curtain and published fire testing | site |
| Douglas Pickleball Court Divider Systems (4 ft) | Low court-to-court barrier on posts or a freestanding frame | VCP or VCP MAX windscreen mesh (VCP MAX: 85% windbreak) or #420 knotless pylon netting, with 1-1/2 in vinyl tape borders and #2 brass grommets | Movable version is a freestanding steel frame; in-ground and surface-mount versions stay put | Manual: in-ground posts, bolt-down posts, or movable frames in 21 ft, 31 ft 6 in and 42 ft lengths | Dedicated pickleball floors and converted tennis courts where balls roll into the next court | site |
| Douglas custom divider netting (10–12 ft) | Hanging court divider net | #420 knotless pylon, 1-1/2 in square mesh, 125 lb break strength; or HTPP polypropylene, 1-3/4 in mesh, 250 lb break strength | Hangs from a cable; can be split into sections for handling | Manual; indoor nets get a 12 in solid vinyl kickplate | Multi-court tennis and pickleball buildings that need full-height ball stop without a motorized curtain | site |
| Putterman DVNET-CSTM divider net | Hanging court divider net | #18 knotted nylon, 1-7/8 in square mesh, 190 lb break strength; vinyl borders; heat-resistant and weather-treated | Hangs from a cable | Manual; optional mesh or vinyl bottom skirt attached with Velcro | Tennis clubs adding pickleball lines that want a knotted net with an optional solid skirt | site |
| AAE ICD-36X120-N indoor court divider | 36 in low net on removable aluminum ground bars | #N420 knotless nylon, 1-1/2 in square, flame-retardant, with a 1/4 in rope border | Ground bars lift out of their bases with a locking spring pin | Manual; sewn vinyl ground-bar flaps hold the net taut to the floor | Rec centers that need a quick, removable ball stop between temporary courts on a shared floor | site |
Not a ranking. Specs are as published by each manufacturer when we checked. No prices, because every one of these is quoted to your room.
Draper Fold-Up gym divider curtain
Draper's Fold-Up curtain is the classic school-gym divider. Lift cables pass through grommets and fold the curtain up in an accordion, with no horizontal cables, ropes or pulleys. Draper lists solid vinyl, vinyl-coated polyester mesh, or mesh on top and solid on the bottom. Every seam is vertical and electronically welded with a 1-inch full-contact weld, and Draper argues vertical seams are stronger because the curtain's weight pulls with the weld rather than across it. Total hanging weight is about half a pound per square foot, and the curtain stacks to roughly 2-1/2 feet below the supporting steel. Draper requires at least 6 inches between the vertical edges of adjoining curtains and fixed objects, recommends 3 feet of clearance at the ends for egress, and says the curtain can't be cut out around bleachers or doors. Draper's own dealer comparison lists its fold-up mesh at 45–50% open, its hoist lines at no more than 9 ft 3 in on center, and a GREENGUARD Children & Schools certification.
Source: https://www.draperinc.com/gymequipment/productdetail/179
Draper Roll-Up and Walk-Draw curtains
Draper makes two other divider styles worth knowing about for pickleball. The Roll-Up rolls the curtain onto a tube at the bottom, a useful option when there isn't room for a fold-up stack. The Walk-Draw hangs from an overhead track on ball-bearing wheels, and staff simply walk the curtain into place or back into storage. Draper says the tracks can be designed to the shape and size of the room, which is the point for pickleball: you can box in one or two courts, wrap a corner, or separate a court from a walkway without motorizing a full gym-width wall. Walk-draw is the simplest system mechanically. The trade-off is that it parks somewhere on the floor perimeter, so plan where the bundled curtain lives when courts are out.
Source: https://www.draperinc.com/gymequipment/productdetail/186
Porter Athletic No. 2080 Center-Roll divider curtain
Porter's Center-Roll works differently from a fold-up. Instead of hoist cables or straps, an aluminum tube in the middle of the curtain rotates and rolls the top and bottom halves up at the same time, so Porter says it rises about twice as fast as a standard curtain. It stores within 14 inches of the ceiling or support structure. Where the structure allows, it can roll up through a one-foot-wide slot and disappear above a ceiling. Porter's current product page lists 26 feet per minute, automatic overheating protection and permanent lubrication. It also says the Center-Roll can be designed with special openings for bleachers and passageways, which a Draper fold-up can't. Porter publishes an inspection checklist and wiring requirements for the 2080 on the same page, which tells you something about the ongoing upkeep any motorized curtain needs.
Source: https://porterathletic.com/belt-guided-center-roll-divider-curtain/
IPI by Bison divider curtains (Fold Up, Roll Up, Top Roll, Walk Draw)
Bison sells divider curtains under its IPI line in four styles. Its published 'common design' is useful for pickleball: 8 feet of solid vinyl at the bottom for visual and noise separation, with mesh above that has at least a 50% open grid so air handling still works. Bison says all fabric components are self-extinguishing and tested to UL-214 and NFPA 701, and every hem, seam and pocket has a minimum 1-inch full-contact electronic weld. Motorized hoists have thermal overload protection, worm-gear drives and upper and lower limit switches, and all exposed steel is galvanized or powder-coated with grade 5 hardware. IPI also offers full-color graphics on the solid vinyl (one side only), which can turn a divider into sponsor space for a club or a school's colors.
Douglas Pickleball Court Divider Systems (4 ft)
Douglas makes the one product on this page that is designed specifically for pickleball. Its 2026 divider-system sheet describes three mounting options. In-ground uses 2-7/8-inch, 8-gauge steel posts in 24-inch ground sleeves, about 4 feet above grade. Surface-mount uses 4 ft 3 in, 3-inch square, 11-gauge posts on a welded 7-by-7-inch baseplate that bolts to concrete. The movable version is a 4-foot-high freestanding frame with flat stabilizer legs, which Douglas says is designed specifically for indoor courts where drilling isn't allowed. Panels are custom-fabricated in VCP or VCP MAX windscreen mesh or #420 knotless pylon netting, with a top pocket that hides the tension cable. Douglas recommends panels up to 40 feet wide and offers an optional 4-foot wraparound pole pad made of 2-inch foam in vinyl. A 4-foot barrier stops rolling and low balls, not lobs, so it complements a full-height curtain rather than replacing one.
Source: https://douglas-sports.com/media/2026/02/Douglas-Pickleball-Divider-Systems.pdf
Douglas custom divider netting (10–12 ft)
Douglas also makes custom divider netting in standard 10- and 12-foot heights. Its product page lists #420 knotless pylon in 1-1/2-inch square mesh with a 125-pound break strength, or a premium HTPP polypropylene in 1-3/4-inch mesh with a 250-pound break strength. Borders are 1-1/2-inch double-sewn vinyl-coated polyester tape, with brass grommets every 18 inches along the top. Indoor nets get a 12-inch solid vinyl kickplate, and outdoor nets get a weighted, leaded rope bottom hem. Douglas notes that black netting is weather-treated, while natural white is for indoor use only. It sizes a standard tennis-court divider at 120 feet long and suggests splitting it into two 60-foot sections, adding a little extra length because nets bunch when hung. Because the mesh is open, a net stops balls but does nothing for sight lines or sound.
Source: https://douglas-sports.com/product/douglas-divider-netting
Putterman DVNET-CSTM divider net
Putterman Athletics' custom divider net sheet lists a #18 knotted nylon body in 1-7/8-inch square mesh, 190-pound break strength, vinyl borders, brass grommets every 12 inches along the top only, and black or green color. Putterman lists it as heat-resistant and weather-treated, with a 3-year limited warranty. The useful option for pickleball is the bottom skirt, offered for an additional charge in mesh or vinyl and attached with Velcro. A solid vinyl skirt along the floor stops the low, rolling balls that pickleball produces constantly, while the open net above keeps the room bright and the air moving.
AAE ICD-36X120-N indoor court divider
Aluminum Athletic Equipment, based in Royersford, Pennsylvania, publishes a customer drawing for its ICD-36X120-N Indoor Court Divider. It's a 36-inch-high net of #N420 knotless nylon in 1-1/2-inch square mesh, flame-retardant, with a 1/4-inch rope border. Uprights are 1-1/4-inch square aluminum, with 1-inch square aluminum ground bars and sewn vinyl flaps every 8 inches that keep the net tight to the floor and reduce sag. The ground bars lock into their bases with a spring pin, so the divider comes out when the floor goes back to basketball. AAE's drawing shows a 20-foot section and notes a minimum order span of 60 feet. Confirm on your quote how the bases attach to your floor.
Source: https://aaesports.com/content/docs/icd-36x120-n-packet.pdf
Buying criteria that change the answer
1. Full height or low barrier?
A full-height curtain separates sports, stops lobs and overheads, and blocks sight lines. It also needs structural steel to hang from, power for the hoist, and someone with a key switch. A low barrier, 36 inches (AAE) or 4 feet (Douglas), stops most of what actually interrupts pickleball: drives and rollers that skip under the next court's net. If the room is pickleball-only, start with low barriers and add a curtain only where pickleball sits next to another sport.
2. Solid at the bottom, mesh at the top
The manufacturers' own standard builds point the same way. IPI's common design is 8 feet of 18 oz solid vinyl below with mesh of at least 50% open area above, and Draper's mesh is 45–50% open. Solid vinyl at floor level stops low balls and visual distraction. Mesh above keeps the HVAC working and the room bright. Putterman's optional vinyl skirt does the same thing for a hanging net.
3. Storage height and the ceiling you actually have
Draper puts its fold-up stack at about 2-1/2 feet. Porter says its Center-Roll stores within 14 inches of the ceiling or support structure, and can roll up into a ceiling slot. In a low gym, or one where the curtain would hang in front of a basketball backboard or a light fixture when stored, that difference decides the product.
4. Cut-outs, clearances and egress
Draper says its fold-up can't be cut out around bleachers or doors, needs at least 6 inches to fixed objects, and should have 3 feet clear at the ends for egress. Porter says the Center-Roll can be built with openings for bleachers and passageways. Walk-draw tracks can follow the room's shape. Ask your fire marshal how a deployed divider affects exit paths before you choose where it runs.
5. Fire testing and certifications
IPI says its curtain fabrics are self-extinguishing and tested to UL-214 and NFPA 701. Draper's and Porter's fabrics carry GREENGUARD Children & Schools certification for low emissions, according to Draper's own comparison sheet. AAE lists its indoor divider net as flame-retardant. A public building usually needs the fire test paperwork in the submittal, so ask for it with the quote.
6. Maintenance and controls
Motorized curtains have winches, limit switches and cables that need periodic inspection. Porter publishes an inspection checklist for its 2080. Decide who is allowed to run them (key switch, wall station or remote) and make sure nobody is standing under a curtain while it moves. Nets and low barriers have no motor, but their tension cables and grommets loosen over time.
Scenarios
A middle-school gym with pickleball three nights a week
Put a full-height fold-up or roll-up curtain between the pickleball half and the basketball half, solid at the bottom and mesh above. Between the pickleball courts themselves, use AAE-style removable low nets or Douglas movable frames that come out when the floor goes back to school use.
A converted warehouse or dedicated pickleball club
Run Douglas 4-foot divider panels between every court, bolted down if the slab allows, plus hanging nets or walk-draw curtains along walkways and the café or seating area. A ceiling-hung motorized curtain is often unnecessary when the room only ever hosts pickleball.
A tennis building adding pickleball lines
Many indoor tennis buildings already have 10- to 12-foot divider nets between tennis courts. Adding a solid skirt or a low barrier along the pickleball lines, plus low nets between the new pickleball courts inside each tennis court, solves the rolling-ball problem without new steel.
A one-time tournament or company event in a rented gym
Don't buy curtains for one weekend. Use whatever dividers the venue has, add movable low barriers, and lay courts out with full runoff so stray balls stay home.
Dividers planned? Now the courts.
Tell us the room, the floor and how many courts you want. We'll tell you honestly whether a roll-out court fits. Buy or rent, quote only.
Planning a one-day company tournament or team event in a gym, not a permanent setup? A turnkey corporate event (courts, branding, staff and teardown) is a different job. See corporate pickleball events.
In partnership with Pickleball Events Co
Indoor pickleball divider FAQs
What is the best divider between indoor pickleball courts?
It depends on what the floor does when pickleball isn't on it. In a shared school or rec-center gym, a full-height curtain is usually the answer, with mesh on top for air and light and solid vinyl on the bottom for low balls and sight lines. Draper, Porter and IPI by Bison all build them. On a floor that stays pickleball, a 4-foot low barrier such as the Douglas Pickleball Divider System or AAE's 36-inch indoor court divider stops the rolling balls that cause most interruptions, at far less structural cost than a ceiling-hung curtain.
Should a pickleball divider be mesh or solid?
Usually both. Manufacturers' standard builds put solid vinyl at the bottom (IPI's common design uses 8 feet of 18 oz solid vinyl) and mesh above it. Draper lists its mesh at 45 to 50% open, and IPI's at a minimum 50% open grid, so heating, cooling and light still pass through. Solid vinyl at floor level matters most in pickleball because so many balls are low drives, dinks and rollers.
How much clearance does a gym divider curtain need?
Check the specific product. Draper says its fold-up curtain stacks to about 2-1/2 feet, needs at least 6 inches between the curtain's vertical edges and fixed objects, and recommends 3 feet at the ends for egress. Porter says its Center-Roll stores within 14 inches of the ceiling or support structure. Any ceiling-hung curtain also needs the building's steel checked for the load. Draper puts its fold-up hanging weight at about half a pound per square foot of curtain.
Do divider nets reduce pickleball noise?
Not much. Open netting stops balls but lets sound and sight lines straight through. Solid vinyl curtain sections block sight lines and, as IPI puts it, help buffer noise between courts. Neither one fixes a noise complaint from outside the building. That calls for acoustic treatment of the building or room.
How many pickleball courts fit between dividers in a gym?
USA Pickleball's construction guidance gives a 20-by-44-foot lined court with at least 30 by 60 feet of total playing space, and 34 by 64 preferred. Lay out each court's full playing space first, then run dividers along the gaps between them. Draper requires at least 6 inches of clearance between curtain edges and fixed objects. Basketball standards, bleachers and existing curtain tracks usually decide the final count more than raw square footage does.
How much do gym divider curtains cost?
We don't publish divider prices, and none of the manufacturers here publish list prices on the pages we used. The price depends on curtain size, fabric mix, motorization, controls, the steel it hangs from and installation labor. Ask at least two dealers to quote the same fabric weights, mesh open area, stack height and control type.
Does PickleCourt USA sell divider curtains or nets?
No. PickleCourt USA quotes roll-out pickleball courts (surface plus lines, with optional net packages) to buy or rent for homes, facilities and events. We aren't a dealer for Draper, Porter, Bison/IPI, Douglas, Putterman or AAE, and nobody paid to be on this page.
Related: best court windscreens · best portable nets & posts · gym-floor courts · sports-complex courts · YMCA courts
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Get a QuoteSources checked October 26, 2026: Draper Fold-Up, Roll-Up and Walk-Draw gym divider curtain product pages and Draper's Draper/Porter ridge-fold divider comparison sheet; Porter Athletic Belt Guided Center-Roll divider curtain page (No. 2080) and Center-Roll product data; Bison, Inc. divider curtains page and IPI by Bison 2023-24 catalog; Douglas Pickleball Divider Systems sheet (2026) and Douglas custom divider netting page; Putterman Athletics divider net sheet (DVNET-CSTM); Aluminum Athletic Equipment ICD-36X120-N customer specification; USA Pickleball court dimension and playing-area guidance. We are not affiliated with any manufacturer listed, and no one paid for placement.