Badminton rules

Badminton formats and variations

The ways a match is played, what changes in each, and which you can score free on 1SCOR.

Checked against the BWF Laws of Badminton, Version 5.0, in force since 26 April 2025Last checked Read the official rulebook ↗

At a glance

FormatGamesGame toWhere it’s usedFree scorer
3 × 21Best of 321; 2 clear from 20-all; 30 winsStandard until 3 January 2027Yes
3 × 15Best of 315; 2 clear from 14-all; 21 winsStandard from 4 January 2027; by agreement beforeNot yet
One game to 21121; 2 clear from 20-all; 30 winsBy agreement before the matchYes
5 × 11Best of 511By agreement before the matchNot yet
Social game111 or 15, as agreedInformal: club nights and practiceNot yet
STANDARD

Best of three games to 21

The standard match under the Laws until 3 January 2027.

  • Every rally wins a point Law 7.3
  • 2 clear from 20-all; at 29-all the next point wins Law 7.4, 7.5
  • 60-second break at 11; change ends at 11 in game 3 Law 16.2.1, 8.1.3
Singles or doublesScore this format →
FROM 2027

Best of three games to 15

Voted in by BWF members on 25 April 2026. The standard match from 4 January 2027; until then, an alternative law.

  • Games to 15; 2 clear from 14-all Law 7.2, 7.4
  • At 20-all the next point wins, so 21 is the most Law 7.5
  • 60-second break at 8; change ends at 8 in game 3 Law 16.2.1, 8.1.3
Not in the free scorer yet

One game to 21

An alternative law, played by agreement before the match.

  • One game, scored like a standard game Section 4.1.4
  • Change ends when a side reaches 11 Section 4.1.4
Pick best of 1 in the free scorerScore this format →

Best of five games to 11

An alternative law, played by agreement before the match.

  • Games to 11, best of five Section 4.1.4
  • Change ends after each game, and at 6 in game five Section 4.1.4
  • The 60-second break is only in game five, at 6 Section 4.1.4
Not in the free scorer yet

Social games

Not a BWF format: a common way to fit more games into a club night.

  • One game to 11 or 15, rally scoring
  • Agree the target and any deuce rule before you start
Informal

Rules are written by 1SCOR in our own words and checked against the official rulebook. They are not the rulebook: for anything official, read the rulebook itself.