Bowling Green Maintenance: 03. Playing Surface

Flat lawn bowls is played on a green which will typically measure 38.4m x 38.4m (1,475m2), which is the traditional 126 feet for each side of a green, however, the green can be either rectangular or square.

The minimum length of green in the direction of play is 31m, whilst the maximum length is 40m. Traditionally the sizes of a green ranged from 30.2m (99 feet) to 40.2m (132 feet) per side. There are typically 6 rinks per green, with each rink being from 4.3m to 5.8m (traditionally this was 14 feet to 19 feet) in width for casual play, with a Regulation 1 made by Bowls England of 4.8m to 5.8m for national competitions and national championships. (World Bowls, Laws of the Sport of Bowls, Section 46, August 2022, accessed 1st October 2026).

For an English Bowling Federation and English Women’s Bowling Federation, the size of the green is a minimum of 34m and maximum of 40m in the direction of play, with the rink width being between 4.8m and 6.4m. (accessed 1st October 2026)

A crown bowling green will also be square in shape, with a standard green being 36.6m x 36.6m (120 feet for each side), although sizes can range from 27.4m x 27.4m (90 feet each side) to 54.9m x 54.9m (180 feet per side).

There are no rinks on a crown green bowls as play can take place in any directly – basically controlled randomness, as well as the green not being flat, having a circular crown which graduates evenly outwards.