Badminton scoring rules, for singles and doubles

Published September 29, 2026 · Updated September 30, 2026 · by mister-guiiug

Lire en français

In short. In badminton, every rally scores a point. Under the BWF's new 3x15 system, in force in its Laws from 4 January 2027, a match is the best of three games to 15 points: at 14-all a side needs a two-point lead, and at 20-all the 21st point wins. France switched early, on 1 September 2026.

In badminton, every rally scores a point, and the score also tells you who serves and from which half of the court. The system changed in 2026: games are moving from 21 points to 15. Here are the scoring rules set by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), with worked examples.

The new format: games to 15

At its Annual General Meeting on 25 April 2026, the BWF adopted a new scoring system known as 3x15. It enters the Laws of Badminton on 4 January 2027. Until then, the Laws in force still use games to 21.

Some national federations switched earlier. In France, the French Badminton Federation (FFBaD) has applied 3x15 since 1 September 2026 to every competition it organises or authorises, tournaments included.

The 21-point format does not disappear: the BWF keeps it as an alternative scoring system, to be agreed in advance, and the FFBaD keeps it for its Promobad events.

Match format

A match is played as the best of three games: the first player or pair to win two games wins the match. There are therefore two or three games.

Each game is played to 15 points. The side winning a game serves first in the next game.

A point on every rally

Every rally scores a point for whoever wins it, whether they served or not: this is rally-point scoring. A rally is won when the shuttle lands inside the opponent's court, or when the opponent commits a fault: shuttle out, into the net, hit twice in a row, and so on.

A shuttle landing on the line is in.

Winning a game: 15 points, a two-point lead, a cap at 21

1. The first side to 15 points wins the game, provided it leads by two points. At 15-13, the game is over.
2. At 14-all, play continues until one side leads by two points: 16-14, 17-15, and so on.
3. At 20-all, the next point decides: the side scoring the 21st point wins the game, 21-20.

A game can therefore never go beyond 21 points.

Who serves, and from which side

The side that wins the rally serves the next point. The service court depends on the server's own score:

• even score (0, 2, 4…): serve from the right service court;
• odd score (1, 3, 5…): serve from the left service court.

The serve always goes diagonally, into the opposite service court.

A singles example. Lea serves at 0-0 from the right. She wins the rally: 1-0, she now serves from the left. Tom wins the next rally: 1-1, so he serves, from his left because his score is odd. Tom wins again: 2-1 to Tom, and he serves from the right.

Doubles

In doubles, the odd or even rule applies to the serving side's score.

• When the serving side wins the rally, the same player serves again and the two partners swap service courts.
• When the receiving side wins the rally, it takes over the serve without its players changing places. The server is the player standing in the service court matching the side's new score: right if even, left if odd.

So only a serving side that wins the rally changes position.

Changing ends and taking a break

Players change ends:

• at the end of the first game;
• at the end of the second game, if there is a third;
• in the third game, when a side first reaches 8 points.

The Laws also allow an interval of up to 60 seconds in each game when the leading score reaches 8 points, and of up to 2 minutes between games.

The previous 21-point format

Under the previous format, games went to 21 points: a two-point lead was needed from 20-all, with a cap at 30, the 30th point winning the game at 29-all. In the third game, players changed ends at 11 points, and the 60-second interval also came at 11 points.

In a club or among friends, nothing stops you agreeing on another format, as long as everyone agrees before you start.

How Miss Badminton helps

Miss Badminton turns a phone or tablet into a scoreboard, with no account: matches stay on the device.

• The 2026 format in one tap. The Standard match button starts a singles match, best of three games to 15, with a two-point lead needed from 14-all and a cap at 21. The 21-point format button keeps the previous format, with a cap at 30.
• Singles or doubles. For doubles, the setup wizard starts from the same format.
• One tap per point. Tap the half of the side that won the rally; a long press takes a point away, and a button undoes the last point.
• The serve on screen. A marker in the serving side's colour sits in its service court, right or left depending on whether its score is even or odd.
• Game point and match point are flagged on screen, including at 20-all in games to 15, where the next point wins the game.
• Change-of-ends reminders at the end of each game, and in the third game when a side reaches 8 points (11 in the 21-point format). A button swaps the sides at any time.
• Your formats. 1, 2, 3 or 5 games to win; games to 5, 11, 15, 21, 30 or 31 points; a two-point lead or a single point; a cap at 21, at 30 or none; a change of ends at 8 or 11 points, in the deciding game or in every game; and an optional time limit per game.
• History and statistics: rankings, head-to-head records, game details, and corrections after the fact.

Frequently asked questions

How many points do you need to win a game of badminton?

15 points with a two-point lead under the 3x15 system: at 14-all, play goes on until one side leads by two, and at 20-all the 21st point wins. Under the previous format, games went to 21.

When did badminton switch to games of 15 points?

The BWF Laws make 3x15 the standard from 4 January 2027. Some federations switched earlier: France on 1 September 2026, for all competitions run or authorised by the FFBaD.

Who serves after a point in badminton?

The side that just won the rally. It serves from the right if its score is even, and from the left if it is odd.

When do players change ends in badminton?

At the end of each game (the second only if there is a third), and in the third game when a side reaches 8 points. Under the previous 21-point format, this change came at 11 points.

Is a shuttle that lands on the line in?

Yes. A line is part of the area it marks out, so a shuttle touching it is in.