Indoor and beach volleyball share a common origin, but decades of evolution have turned them into distinct sports. One thrives under stadium lights, the other under open skies, each shaped by environment, culture, and competition.
The indoor game emphasizes speed, precision and powerful plays, driven by team coordination and specialized roles. Meanwhile, the beach variant leans on versatility, adaptability and the unpredictable nature of sand and weather.
Despite the shared net and basic rules, subtle differences in equipment, surfaces and team dynamics have led to contrasting styles of play—and contrasting identities—within the global volleyball community.
Team size
Indoor volleyball features six players per side, allowing for specialized roles like setters, middle blockers, outside hitters and liberos. With constant rotations and strategic subbing, it becomes a chess match of positioning and timing.
Clayton Stanley #13 of the United States serves while taking on Russia during the semifinal volleyball game at the Capital Indoor Stadium on Day 14 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. (Source: Nick Laham/Getty Images)
Beach volleyball trims that number down to just two players per team. With no substitutions or coaches on the sand, each athlete must master every skill: setting, digging, spiking and even reading the wind. Chemistry between partners becomes essential.
Court size
The standard indoor volleyball court measures 18 by 9 meters, framed by a hardwood floor that rewards speed and explosive movement. The net height is also regulated—2.43 meters for men and 2.24 meters for women.
Beach volleyball courts are more compact—16 by 8 meters—and sit on a surface that’s as much an opponent as the players across the net. Sand slows movement, makes jumping harder, and removes the centerline found in indoor play, demanding agility over brute power.
Rules and scoring
Scoring may look similar on paper, but each version of volleyball brings its own tempo. Indoor matches are best-of-five sets, with each set played to 25 points (except a tiebreaker set, which goes to 15). The pace is steady but demands endurance.
A general view during the Men’s Preliminary Phase – Pool B match between Team Italy and Team Chile on day seven of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. (Source: Elsa/Getty Images)
Beach volleyball speeds things up: matches are best-of-three sets, with the first two sets to 21 points and the third to 15. Every point feels crucial—especially with wind, sun, and shifting sand adding variables that don’t exist inside a gym.
Gear differences
Indoor players wear cushioned court shoes for grip and impact absorption, along with uniforms, knee pads and performance gear tailored for the demands of a hardwood surface and high-impact play, as Olympics.com reported.
On the beach, it’s all about minimalism. Players go barefoot for better feel and balance in the sand. Their uniforms are designed for heat and airflow, often including sunglasses and hats. Even the ball is different—slightly larger, lighter and textured for better control in the wind.
