Volleyball is played in two distinct formats with different court dimensions: indoor volleyball (governed by FIBA's volleyball equivalent, FIVB) and beach volleyball. Indoor volleyball courts measure 18m × 9m, divided by a net into two equal halves of 9m × 9m. Beach volleyball courts are slightly smaller at 16m × 8m, reflecting the more demanding surface and smaller team sizes (2 players vs 6 players).

The net height varies by competition category. For men's indoor volleyball, the net is set at 2.43 metres. For women's indoor, it is 2.24 metres. Beach volleyball uses the same heights. The net is 1 metre wide and extends 1 metre beyond the sidelines, supported by posts set 0.5–1 metre outside the court.

The attack line (3-metre line) in indoor volleyball is a critical boundary — back-row players may not attack the ball above net height from in front of this line. This rule shapes team tactics significantly, creating the specialised roles of opposite hitter, libero (defensive specialist), and setter. Beach volleyball has no attack line due to the smaller team size.