Teammates in Olympic beach volleyball must wear uniforms of the same color, and they must be numbered 1 and 2. The women can wear either a one-piece or two-piece bathing suit; shorts with sleeved or sleeveless tops; or a full body suit in cold weather. Due to the typically warm playing conditions, most opt for the two-piece. The men must wear shorts and a tank top. Players are allowed to wear hats and sunglasses.

The volleyball used in Olympic beach competition weighs between 260 and 280 grams (a bit more than half a pound) and has a circumference of 66 to 68 centimeters (26 to 26 3/4 inches). It is typically a combination of white and another bright color (such as yellow or blue).

The Olympic beach volleyball net is different heights for different events.

The height of the net for men is 2.43m (8 feet) and the height for women is 2.24m (7 feet, 4 inches).