Lawn Bowling Green Dimensions Calculator
🎯 Lawn Bowling Green Dimensions Calculator
Size a lawn bowls green by rink count, playable length, ditch width, bank apron, rink centers, and marking area.
Use this layout calculator to compare full club greens, compact club greens, indoor rinks, and training greens. It treats the green as the playable surface first, then adds ditches and banks around it for the full footprint.
📏Green Inputs
Enter green dimensions in meters.
Used for the layout rating and comparison notes.
Count parallel rinks across the green width.
Common outdoor rinks are about 4.3 m to 5.8 m wide.
Lawn bowls rinks are commonly planned from 31 m to 40 m.
Extra playable edge outside the outside rink lines.
Typical planning range is about 200 mm to 380 mm.
Horizontal bank or surround outside each ditch.
Bank height is checked separately from footprint size.
Reserved marking area behind the active mat and jack line zone.
Visible side boundary allowance used in the marking summary.
Adds a planning allowance to the final footprint area only.
📊Result Cards
Green Layout Summary
Playable Green
37 x 31.6
m surface
Rink Layout
6
rinks at 5.0 m each
Outer Footprint
38.8 x 33.4
m with ditch and bank
Marking Area
148
sq m both ends
Layout typeClub outdoor green
Calculated playable width31.6 m
Rink center spacing5.0 m
First and last centerline3.3 m / 28.3 m
Ditch plus bank added per side0.9 m
Playable area before surround1169.2 sq m
Buffered planning area1425.8 sq m
Ditch and bank checkStandard planning range
Layout noteSix-rink club green
🧮Green Component Grid
31-40 m
Common length range
4.3-5.8 m
Common rink width
200-380
Ditch width mm
230+ mm
Bank height target
8 Rinks
Full club or championship green with roughly square width.
6 Rinks
Common club layout with strong capacity and easier width.
4 Rinks
Compact facility layout for smaller outdoor sites.
2-3 Rinks
Training green or practice strip with full-length play.
📋Reference Tables
| Preset Layout | Rinks | Playable Length | Approx Playable Width |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Bowls full green | 8 | 40 m | 40 m with 5 m rinks |
| Club green | 6 | 36 m to 38 m | 30 m to 33 m |
| Compact green | 4 | 31 m to 34 m | 18 m to 23 m |
| Training green | 2 to 3 | 31 m to 33 m | 10 m to 17 m |
| Feature | Typical Planning Range | Calculator Input | Layout Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rink width | 4.3 m to 5.8 m | Target rink width | Sets center spacing and total width |
| Green length | 31 m to 40 m | Playable green length | Sets end-to-end rink distance |
| Ditch width | 200 mm to 380 mm | Ditch width | Adds surround outside the green |
| Bank height | 230 mm or more | Bank height | Flags low-bank planning risk |
| Rink Count | 5.0 m Rink Width | With 0.8 m Side Margins | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 rinks | 40.0 m | 41.6 m | Full club capacity |
| 6 rinks | 30.0 m | 31.6 m | Typical club programming |
| 4 rinks | 20.0 m | 21.6 m | Compact site |
| 3 rinks | 15.0 m | 16.6 m | Training and coaching |
| Marking Element | How It Is Estimated | Calculator Output | Practical Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rink centerlines | Rink width spacing | Center-to-center distance | Match markers on both banks |
| Outside rink centers | Side margin plus half rink | First and last centerline | Keep equal margins |
| End marking zone | Length times setback at both ends | Total marking area | Leave room for mat and jack marks |
| Boundary strip | Perimeter strip width | Marking allowance note | Keep visible but narrow |
💡Tips
Tip 1: Size width from rink count first
For lawn bowls, the number of parallel rinks drives the green width. Choose a target rink width, add side margins, then check whether the full ditch and bank surround still fits the site.
Tip 2: Separate playable green from footprint
The playable surface stops at the ditch. The full construction footprint also includes the ditch width and bank apron on all four sides, so compare both numbers before marking.
This calculator focuses on lawn bowling green dimensions, rink count planning, ditches, banks, centerline spacing, and marking-area estimates.
When a person decide to build or renovate a lawn bowling green, the person must first consider the available space in which to build the lawn bowling green. The size of the lawn bowling green that can be constructed is a primary factor in the construction of a lawn bowling green. A person must decide how wide the lawn bowling green should be in relation to the number of rinks that the lawn bowling green should include, and the person must also decide how much space is needed for the ditches and banks that will surround the lawn bowling green.
These initial choices for the lawn bowling green will impact whether the lawn bowling green feels cramped or whether it is likely to include enough space for the players to feel comfortable in they game. The number of rinks that the lawn bowling green should include will impact the width of the lawn bowling green. Each rink require a certain amount of width for both players to stand on each side of the bowling mat, as well as for each player to swing their bowl without colliding with another player’s bowling rink.
How to Choose the Size of a Lawn Bowling Green
Therefore, the more rinks that are placed in a lawn bowling green, the more wider the lawn bowling green will need to be. Thus, a lawn bowling green that is to include 8 rinks will be wider than a lawn bowling green that is to include 4 rinks. You can use a calculator to determine the width of the lawn bowling green that is required if the lawn bowling green is to include a certain number of rinks.
In addition to the number of rinks that will be played on the lawn bowling green, the length of the lawn bowling green is another important consideration. A longer lawn bowling green will allow players to take more draw shots with their bowls, as well as allow for the placement of the jack more than halfway along each end of the lawn bowling green. However, a longer lawn bowling green will cost more to maintain, as it will require more time to mow the lawn bowling green.
Lawn bowling greens that are shorter in length is useful for individuals that are desiring to include a game element that includes fewer draws for the players bowls. Shorter lawn bowling greens also limit the types of shots that the players can take. The length of the lawn bowling green should be according to the type of lawn bowling that the members of the area desire to play.
In addition to the rinks that will be included on the lawn bowling green, the lawn bowling green will also have a ditch that drains any bowls that are overthrown onto the lawn bowling green, as well as a bank that stops the players bowls from rolling past the end of the lawn bowling green without damaging the bowls. These ditches and banks extend along the edges of the lawn bowling green. The ditch must be constructed wide enough to ensure that any overthrown bowls is caught.
Additionally, the bank must be constructed high enough and with the proper slope to ensure that it will stop the bowls without damaging them. The inclusion of these elements along each edge of the lawn bowling green will impact the total width and length of the lawn bowling green. The calculator helps to display the difference between the lawn bowling green that is to be used for playing lawn bowling and the total size of the lawn bowling green that will be claimed by the ditch and bank.
Marking areas behind each end of the lawn bowling green are also important for the functionality of the lawn bowling green. Players require areas to place their mats, the jack, and scoreboards or benches. If the setback zone is too narrow, the area behind each end of the lawn bowling green will become congested with players who is using the lawn bowling green at the same time.
This tool will estimate the total area that needs to be marked based off your chosen setback to determine if the area is large enough to accommodate players. The size of the club and the way in which the club intends to use the lawn bowling green will influence some of the decisions regarding the lawn bowling green. For instance, clubs that intend to host many competitive lawn bowling games will likely want to choose the maximum number of rinks and lengths for the lawn bowling green.
Other clubs that are likely to only have a few players may instead choose to set up a lawn bowling green that accommodates only four or five games. Training greens are often smaller than the other types of greens, but training greens often must have a full length to allow beginners to practice the distances that is required to successfully bowl on the lawn bowling green. These options can all be selected through the layout type selector on the lawn bowling green calculator.
Many people think of the size of the lawn bowling green that is to be used for playing lawn bowls as the only consideration in the planning of that lawn bowling green. For example, most people dont consider the area that the ditches and banks that are created by the lawn bowling green will occupy. Additionally, many people may not consider whether the width of the rinks will leave enough space for the players shoulders to move between the various games.
These errors can be found in the calculations for the lawn bowling green, which will help to ensure that clubs do not make such mistakes when purchasing the turf for their lawn bowling green. In some cases, the weather and maintenance of the lawn bowling green will also influence the layout of the lawn bowling green. For instance, clubs located in areas that are often windy may wish to provide margins beside each game that allow for the players to avoid walking onto the other lawn bowling green games.
Additionally, areas with clay soil may require lawn bowling greens with channels for draining excess water, which would impact the total area of the lawn bowling green. These factors can be considered when walking the site where the lawn bowling green is to be constructed. Calculating the dimensions of a lawn bowling green allows clubs to understand the capacity of the lawn bowling green prior to spending any money on the construction of that lawn bowling green.
For instance, clubs may find that based upon the width of the bank and ditch, they can only construct six rinks into the area, instead of the eight that were first considered. However, six rinks may still be able to fully function well if the length and marking zones is built and sized appropriately. By considering these dimensions, clubs can understand if the lawn bowling green will be constructed according to the capacity of the club, as opposed to making mistakes based upon guesswork.
Finally, determining the dimensions of the lawn bowling green will ensure that the lawn bowling green can accommodate the number of people that will use the lawn bowling green. While adjustments to the grass or rolling schedule can be made at any time, the footprint of the lawn bowling green is permanent and difficult to change once established. You should of thought about this earlier to avoid problems.
The lawn bowling greens size is very important. It is actualy a big decision.
