Volleyball · Formats
How beach volleyball scoring works
Beach volleyball is played best of 3 sets with rally scoring: sets 1 and 2 go to 21 points and a deciding third set to 15, every set won by 2 with no cap. Teams of 2 switch sides every 7 points played, or every 5 in the third set.
Beach volleyball scoring at a glance
| Rule | Beach volleyball (FIVB) |
|---|---|
| Players | 2 per team, with no substitutions |
| How points are scored | Rally scoring: every rally gives 1 point to the team that wins it, whoever served |
| Sets 1 and 2 | To 21 points, won by 2, no cap |
| Match | Best of 3 sets: the first team to win 2 sets |
| Deciding set | Set 3, played only at 1-1 in sets, to 15 points, won by 2, no cap |
| Switching sides in sets 1 and 2 | Every 7 points played |
| Switching sides in set 3 | Every 5 points played |
| Time-outs | 1 per team per set, 30 seconds |
How many points is a set in beach volleyball?
Sets 1 and 2 go to 21 points, and the winner needs a lead of at least 2. A set can end 21-19, but not 21-20: from 20-all it carries on until one team is 2 points clear, so 22-20, 23-21 and 30-28 are all possible. There is no cap.
The deciding third set is shorter, to 15, with the same 2-point rule: 14-14 plays on to 16-14, 17-15 and so on. Indoor volleyball plays longer sets, to 25, and the indoor scoring guide covers rally scoring and serving in more depth.
How many sets are in a beach volleyball match?
A beach match is best of 3 sets: the first team to win 2 sets wins. It can end 2-0 or 2-1, and the third set is only played at one set all. Every set starts again at 0-0, and a finished match is written as its set scores, winner first, such as 21-17, 23-21.
This example picks up the second set of a match that Blues lead by a set.
| Rally | Won by | Score | Sets won (scores) | Serving next | What happened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blues | 19–18 | 1–0 (21–17) | Blues | Blues side out to lead 19-18 (37 points played). |
| 2 | Reds | 19–19 | 1–0 (21–17) | Reds | 19-all (38 points played). |
| 3 | Blues | 20–19 | 1–0 (21–17) | Blues | Blues lead 20-19: set point, and match point because they already have one set. |
| 4 | Reds | 20–20 | 1–0 (21–17) | Reds | Reds save it: 20-all. From here a team needs a 2-point lead. |
| 5 | Blues | 21–20 | 1–0 (21–17) | Blues | 21-20 is not a win: the lead is only 1. |
| 6 | Reds | 21–21 | 1–0 (21–17) | Reds | 21-all is 42 points played, a multiple of 7, so the teams switch sides before the next serve. |
| 7 | Blues | 22–21 | 1–0 (21–17) | Blues | Blues lead 22-21: match point again. |
| 8 | Blues | Blues win the match | 2–0 (21–17, 23–21) | – | 23-21 is a 2-point lead. Blues win the set and the match 2 sets to 0, after 44 points in the set. |
Scored point by point by the same scoring rules the app uses.
Who serves in beach volleyball?
The team that wins a rally serves the next one, as indoors, but with two players there is no rotation. Each team's service order, which partner serves first, is recorded on the score sheet and followed for the whole set. If the serving team wins the rally, the same player serves again. When the receiving team wins the rally, it takes the serve, and the player who did not serve last time serves.
So if Blues win the serve back and their last serve was Ana's, her partner serves now and keeps serving until Blues lose a rally. The first serve of each set follows the toss: in set 1 the toss winner chooses to serve, to receive or which side to start on, in set 2 the team that lost that toss chooses, and a deciding third set has a new toss.
Changing ends: every 7 points, or every 5 in set 3
Teams switch sides each time the points played, both scores added together, reach a multiple of 7 in sets 1 and 2 or of 5 in set 3. The side switch calculator lists every switch score and keeps the count as you tap each rally.
How is beach volleyball scoring different from indoor?
The scoring itself is the same: rally scoring, 1 point per rally, and every set won by 2 with no cap. The differences are the length of the match, the size of the teams, who serves and when they change ends.
| Rule | Beach | Indoor |
|---|---|---|
| Players per team | 2, no substitutions | 6 on court |
| Match | Best of 3 sets | Best of 5 sets |
| Points per set | 21 | 25 |
| Deciding set | Set 3, to 15 | Set 5, to 15 |
| Changing ends | Every 7 points played, every 5 in set 3 | After each set, and at 8 points in the fifth set |
| Time-outs per team per set | 1 | 2 |
| Does a block count as a hit? | Yes, as one of the team's 3 hits | No |
| Court | 16 m x 8 m | 18 m x 9 m |
The net is the same height on sand and indoors: 2.43 m for men, 2.24 m for women.
How the app handles it
To keep a beach score in the volleyball score tracker, choose 21 points per set, best of 3 and a 15-point deciding set (the deciding set is under Advanced). You tap the team that won each rally, every set runs until a team leads by 2 with no cap, finished sets are listed as a scoreline, and Undo takes back the last rally.
The app marks which team serves, not which partner, and it does not remind you to switch sides or track time-outs. Count points played in sevens or keep the side switch calculator open. Side A always serves the first rally, and the first serve of each new set goes to the team that won the previous set, rather than following the toss.
Questions
Is beach volleyball played to 21 or 25?
To 21. Sets 1 and 2 go to 21 and a deciding third set to 15, all won by 2. Sets to 25 are the indoor game.
Does a block count as a touch in beach volleyball?
Yes. On the beach the block counts as one of the team's 3 hits, so after a block touch the team has only 2 more. Indoors a block does not count.
Is there a libero in beach volleyball?
No. A team is just 2 players with no substitutes, so both play every rally and both take turns to serve. The libero, a back-row specialist, only exists in the indoor game.
How many time-outs do you get in beach volleyball?
1 per team per set, lasting 30 seconds, against 2 per set indoors. Some competitions add an automatic technical time-out as well, so check your event's rules.
Last reviewed September 25, 2026
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