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How long is a basketball field


Basketball Court Dimensions & Markings

The playing area of a basketball court in the UK is 91.8ft (28m) in length and 49.21ft (15m) wide. Indoor courts should be 22.96ft (7m) in height.

Sport England's requirements are split into four levels of play: International, Premier (national competition), Club (regional competition) and Community (schools/recreational). This allows courts to be more flexible with sizes. The dimensions of a basketball court in these cases also include a minimum length and width: 85.3ft (26m) x 45.93ft (14m).

Court aspect

Dimensions

Length (International)

28m

Width (International)

15m

Height (International)

7m

Length (other levels)

26-28m

Width (other levels)

14-15m

Height (other levels)

7m

How long is a basketball court?

The length of a basketball court is 28m. These measurements can be reduced to 26m for Premier, Club and Community courts where only smaller spaces are available.

How wide is a basketball court?

The width of an International-standard basketball court in the UK is usually 15m. The court lines can be reduced by no more than 1m (14m) if required for lower levels of play.

What is the total area of a basketball court?

The total area of a professional basketball court is 420m². The minimum area allowed under Basketball England's guidance is 364m². These measurements apply to both indoor and outdoor courts.

The addition of 2.05m run-offs and 2m for teams and officials on the sideline increases the total area to 677.31m².

Basketball court dimensions in feet

A basketball court is 91.86ft long and 49.21ft wide. The total playing area for a court is 4520.43 ft² and 7290.5ft² if run-offs and sidelines are required.

Court aspect

Dimensions

Length

91. 86ft

Width

49.21ft

Height

22.96ft

Playing area

4520.43ft²

Playing area (including run-offs and sidelines)

7290.5ft²

Basketball court dimensions in yards


A basketball court is 30.62 yards long, and 16.4 yards wide. The total playing area for a court is 502.31yds² and 810yds² if run-offs and sidelines are required.

Court aspect

Dimensions

Length

30.62yds

Width

16.4yds

Playing area

502.31yds²

Playing area (including run-offs and sidelines)

810yds²

Basketball court markings

Regulation line markings must be 50mm width in a contrasting colour to the playing surface.

Sidelines

The outer edge of the court is denoted by the sidelines, which run the length of the court. On a full-sized court they measure 28m.

Baseline and endline

The terms baseline and endline both refer to the ends of the court running behind the goals. Typically they measure 15m.

The use of the different terms depends on the direction a team is playing. Endline is the term for the end of the court which a team is defending, baseline is the for the attacking end.

Mid court

This is the halfway mark on the court and is used to denote the offensive playing area during a game.

On a full-sized court, the mid court line would be 14m from each endline.

Centre circle

Used for the opening tip off, the centre circle has a 3.6m diameter.

Three point line

The three point lines are the arcs that mark a range boundary from each hoop. Scoring from outside this line is worth three points. The distance of the line will vary depending on the level of game, but is typically 6. 75m from the basket.

Free throw line

The free throw line, marked 4.6m from the backboard, is the mark at which a player must stand when shooting free throws.

Free throw circle

The free throw circle is the same size as the centre circle (3.6m in diameter). Shooters must stay inside this circle when taking a free throw. The circle is also used for jump balls.

Free throw lane lines/key

Lane lines run from the free throw line to the baseline, to form the 'key'. The shape and width can vary depending on the level of the game, but FIBA (International Basketball Federation) regulation changes in 2010 set it as a 4.9m by 5.8m rectangle.

Some also include space markings to keep opposing players from obstructing the free throw shooter.

Basketball court lines in feet and yards

Court marking

Dimensions (ft)

Sidelines

91.86ft

Baseline and endline

49. 21ft

Mid court

45.93ft

Centre circle

11.81ft diameter

Three point line

22.14ft from the basket

Free throw line

11.81ft, 15.09ft from the backboard

Free throw circle

11.81ft diameter

Free throw lane lines/key

16ft x 19ft


Court marking

Dimensions (yds)

Sidelines

30.62yds

Baseline and endline

16.4yds

Mid court

15.31yds

Centre circle

3.93yds diameter

Three point line

7.38yds from the basket

Free throw line

3. 93yds, 5.03yds from the backboard

Free throw circle

3.93yds diameter

Free throw lane lines/key

5.33yds x 6.33yds

Basketball goal dimensions

A number of basketball goal systems are available: wall hinged, ceiling mounted or free-standing practice goals.

Backboards

Backboard dimensions are 1.8m x 1.22m, with a minimum thickness of 19mm. Backboards can be made of either timber or transparent material and must be fitted with padding at all levels above U16.

Backboard line markings should be 50mm in width and either black or white, depending on the material of the board. The inner rectangle should measure 0.45m x 0.59m.

Goals


The basketball goal (also known as a ring or hoop) is typically 18 inches (45.72cm) in diameter and must be positioned 3.05m from the floor.

Nets are typically white and suspended from the ring. They should be no shorter than 45cm.

Download the PDF

The images and diagrams showing the dimensions of a basketball court in this article are available in a downloadable PDF

Check out our range of basketball equipment, including goals, backboards and accessories.


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How Long Is A Basketball Court? An Ultimate Guide For Beginners

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How long is a basketball court? Basketball court dimensions have a few variables that depend on levels of play. 

The NBA basketball court is 94 feet in length and 50 feet in width. The FIBA states that the court dimensions are 91.9 feet in length and 49.2 feet in width for international basketball games.

Now, let’s read to discover!

Contents

What is a basketball court size?

The size of basketball courts has some variations. The most popular court sizes are NBA, FIBA, High school, and College.

NBA Basketball Court Dimensions 

NBA court dimensions

The NBA basketball court size is 94 feet in length and 50 feet in width. The half-court line is 47 feet long. How long is a basketball court in yards? These dimensions are 31.3 yards long and 16.67 yards wide.

The distance of the free-throw line stays at 19 feet from the edge of an NBA basketball court. The distance stays at 15 feet if it is from the front of the backboard.

The 3-point line of the NBA court is 22 feet from the corner of the court. You can also have the 3-point line at 23,9 feet from other positions on the NBA court.

The restricted area is one half-circle accompanied by a radius of 4 feet surrounding the hoop in an NBA court. Here, any player is unable to draw charging fouls.

Related:

  • How long is a NBA game
  • How long is a college basketball game
  • How long is halftime in NBA

FIBA Basketball Court Dimensions

FIBA Basketball Court Dimensions

How long is a basketball court in feet? FIBA basketball court dimensions are 91.9 feet long and 49.2 feet wide. The half-court line is 45.95 feet in length.

The free-throw lane stays at 19 feet from the edge of the basketball court. The distance will be 15.09 feet if it is from the front of the backboard. The FIBA three-point line measures 22.15 feet from the center of the basket.

The fun fact is that the international court dimensions are nearly identical to college or NBA courts, but hard enough for calculations. It is because FIBA needs the basketball court dimensions in metric instead of either feet or inches.  

How long is a basketball court in meters? If you consider the FIBA basketball court dimensions in metric, it will look simpler. A FIBA basketball court measures 28 meters in length and 15 meters in width. This type of basketball court is necessary if you like to play basketball in international competitions.

High School Basketball Court Dimensions

High school basketball court dimensions

High school basketball court dimensions are 84 feet long and 50 feet wide. The half-court line is 42 feet in length. 

The free-throw line measures 19 feet from the edge of a basketball court. The distance will be 15 feet if it is from the front of the backboard. The 3 point line is 19,9 feet from the center of the basket.

The key, as well as the free-throw line of the high school basketball court, are similar to the NBA distances. The length of the high school basketball court is roughly 10 feet that is shorter, yet the width is similar to the college or NBA court.

The 3-point line is quite close to the backboard on the high school basketball court. The reason is that the high school court is shorter. However, it can allow basketball players at that level of basketball games to score at the 3-point line.

College Basketball Court Diagram

An NCAA basketball court is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. The half-court line is 47 feet in length. 

The free-throw line stays at 19 feet from the edge of the basketball court. The distance is 15 feet if it is from the front of the backboard. The 3-point line is 22.15 feet from the center of the basket.

The NCAA basketball court has the same dimensions as the NBA court, excluding the 3-point line that is a bit closer. Just one foot with a half distance will be an issue if you get familiar to shoot on a college basketball court diagram and transfer to the NBA court.

Basketball Backboard Dimensions

Basketball Hoop Height and Size

The official dimensions of a basketball backboard measure 72 inches in width and 42 inches in height. The inner rectangle helps each player point to the basket that is 24 inches in width and 18 inches in height. These measurements translate to the backboard 6 feet in width and 3.5 feet in height for official basketball courts.

Any basketball backboard designed for recreation or training comes in a wide range of sizes. The most popular sizes are 60 inches, 54 inches, 52 inches, 48 inches, and 44 inches in width. 

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions that will help you to know more about basketball court dimensions.

1. How Long Is A Basketball Court In The Metric Unit?

Official NBA and NCAA basketball court dimensions measure 94 feet in length and 50 feet in width. They are equal to 28.7 meters in length and 15.2 meters in width. 

The FIBA international basketball court is a bit smaller. It mainly uses meters as major measurements. These international basketball courts come in at 28 meters in length and 15 meters in width.

2. What is the distance of a 3-point line from the backboard in high school basketball courts?

For high school basketball courts, the 3-point line measures 19.75 feet from the hoop. The top of the hoop is 10 feet from the floor. The front of the backboard measures four feet from the side of the floor which makes the free-throw line extend 15 feet from the goal.

3. Is the NBA basketball court larger than the NCAA?

Official NCAA basketball courts have the same size as NBA basketball courts at 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. Only noticeable difference between the NBA and NCAA is the 3-point line. The 3-point line of NBA courts is 23.75 feet from the goal while the 3-point line of the NCAA is 22.15 feet from the goal.

Conclusion

How long is a basketball court size? The basketball court dimensions normally depend on a certain level of playing in NBA, FIBA, NCAA, or High schools. 

It would be a big deal when you move from this type to other types of basketball courts. However, if you are a professional NBA player, you will have great performance no matter what kind of basketball court.

Basketball court markings: standards and norms

Author of the article

Khvatkov Dmitry

Consultant in the production of rubber coatings

Basketball field marking requirements are approved by the FIBA ​​standard. The site must be flat with a hard surface, free of bends, cracks and other obstacles. The accepted dimensions of the field are 28 m long and 16 m wide. By NBA standards, the field is slightly larger: 28.7 m (94' ft) long and 15.3 m (50' ft) wide.

Areas not intended for international competitions may differ from accepted standards (for public use, in schools or universities, etc.) and usually vary from 20 to 28 m in length and from 12 to 16 m in width.

Basketball Court Marking Standards

Basketball court markings are conventionally divided into 5 components:

  • Boundary lines. They are located along the perimeter of the site and set its size. The lines that run along the field are called side lines, and those that are behind the baskets are called front lines.
  • Central line. Divides the court in half parallel to the front lines.
  • Central zone. It is a circle and is placed in the middle of the center line, and, accordingly, in the center of the entire field.
  • Three-point line. It is a semi-ellipse and is located around the shields on both sides of the field. It limits the close range.
  • Free throw line. It is located in front of the boards parallel to the front line and is limited on the sides by paint lines.

The standard line width is 5 cm. All outlines and lines must be of the same color (usually white) and be clearly visible from anywhere on the court.

Common lines

Common lines are used to limit the playing area of ​​the court. The side lines (along the field) according to FIBA ​​standards should be 28 m long, and the front lines - 16 m. For public areas, deviations from the accepted standards are allowed. Typically, basketball courts in schools or gyms are made from 20 m long and 12 m wide.

Central lines

The center line is parallel to the front and divides the field exactly in half. According to the standards - it should extend beyond the side lines by 15 cm on both sides.

In the middle of the center line there is a circle with a diameter of 3.6 m, which limits the central zone of the field. In this zone, the ball is played at the beginning of the game.

Three-Point Line

Three-Point Lines are located around the backboards on both sides of the field and consist of two straight lines 2.9 long9 m and a semicircle. Straight lines run perpendicular to the front at a distance of 0.9 m from the side lines. Despite the fact that visually the distance from the ring to the side of the three-point line seems to be less than to its central part, the distance from the backboard to any point is 6.75 m.

Penalty lines

Penalty lines limit the nearest area at the backboard. They consist of a trapezoid and a free throw zone.

Despite the name, the "trapezium" is a rectangle (until 2009year it really was a trapezoid), which is located under the shield. Its dimensions are 5.8 meters long and 4.9 meters wide. The shield is located at a distance of 1.575 m from the end line in the middle of the site. In front of the backboard, at a distance of 1.25 m, there is a semicircle that limits the area for picking up the ball.

At a distance of 4.225 meters from the backboard, the trapeze zone ends and the free throw zone begins. It is a semicircle with a diameter of 3.6 m (like the central circle).

Paint zone lines

These lines are serifs on both sides of the trapezoid (parallel to the sidelines). They limit the areas for players who are fighting for the ball during a free throw.

Zones on the basketball field

The basketball court is divided into zones using markings. Each zone has its own specific rules.

Center circle

The center circle is used as a separate kick-off area at the start of the game. One representative from each team stand in a circle from their side and fight for the ball in a jump, after it is dropped by the referee. All players are exclusively on their side of the field, except for one who rebounds on the opponent's side.

Neutral zone

The peculiarity of this zone is that as soon as the player of the attacking team with the ball crosses the center line and is on the side of the opponent, he cannot pass the ball to the player of his team who is on the other side of the field (i.e. behind center line on your side).

Three-point zone

The three-point line limits the near zone of the shot. Hitting the basket from outside the basket brings the team three points. If the throw was made inside the zone, then it brings two points.

Three-second zone

This is the zone in close proximity to the ring. It is called three-second, since the player of the attacking team cannot be in it for more than three seconds. Most balls are thrown in this zone, so when attacking, it provides maximum protection.

Free throw area

In controversial situations, a free throw is provided from this area. The player of the attacking team must score the ball without stepping over the line of the trapezoid. At the same time, the players of both teams are not in the three-second zone. They take up positions along the paint lines on the sides of the trapezoid and may not step outside the lines until the free throw shooter has shot the ball.

How to mark a basketball field?

Basketball field markings, whether it is an international competition court or an open-air amateur field, are best applied using special equipment. This will ensure the long life of the coating, the lines will not clog and will promote fair play.

You can order the marking of a basketball court in Moscow and the Moscow region from Rezkom. We will measure the premises and develop a design project for the field so that it complies with generally accepted rules and is convenient for operation. For more details, you can contact our manager by phone 8-495-64-24-111.

Sports in your yard. Basketball playground. Dimensions

Basketball Playing Court

The playing court must be a flat rectangular hard surface without any obstacles.
For FIBA ​​major official competitions and for new playing fields under construction, the dimensions, measured from the inside edge of the boundary lines, must be 28 meters long and 15 meters wide. For all other competitions, the relevant FIBA ​​structures, such as the Zonal Commission or National Federations, have the right to approve existing playing fields with a minimum dimension of 26 meters in length and 14 meters in width.

Ceiling.
The height of the ceiling or the distance to the lowest object above the playing area must be at least 7 meters.

Lighting.
The playing surface must be evenly and adequately lit. Light sources must be located where they will not interfere with Players and Officials.

Lines.
All lines must be inked in the same color (preferably white), 5 cm wide and clearly visible.

Front and side lines.
The playing court must be limited by two front (on the short sides of the court) and two side (on the long sides of the court) lines. These lines are not part of the court. The playing court must be at least 2 meters away from any obstacles, including the team bench.

Central line.
The center line is drawn parallel to the end lines from the middle of the side lines and must extend 15 cm beyond each side line.

Center circle.
The center circle is marked in the center of the court and has a radius of 1.80 m measured to the outer edge of the circle. If the center circle is painted a different color, it must be the same color as the restricted areas.

Free throw lines, restricted areas and free throw areas.

The free throw line is drawn parallel to each end line. Its far edge is at a distance of 5.80 m from the inner edge of the end line, its length must be 3.60 m. Its middle must be on an imaginary line connecting the midpoints of the two end lines.
Restricted areas are defined areas on the court, bounded by end lines, free throw lines and lines that start from the end lines. Their outer edges are 3 m from the middle of the end lines and end at the outer edge of the free throw lines. These lines, excluding the end lines, are part of the restricted area. The restricted areas may be painted a different color, but they must be the same color as the center circle.
Free throw areas are limited areas extended towards the playing court in semicircles with a radius of 1.80 m, the centers of which are located in the middle of the free throw lines. The same semicircles must be drawn in dotted lines within the restricted areas.
The places along the free throw areas taken by Players during free throws are marked as shown in the diagram.

Three-point shooting area.

A team's three-point field goal area is the entire playing court, except for the area near the opponent's basket, bounded by: dropped from the center of the opponent's basket. The distance from this point to the inner edge of the middle of the end line is 1.575 m.
A semi-circle with a radius of 6.25 m to the outer edge of its line, centered on the same point as above, until it joins the parallel lines.

Shields.


Shields must be made of a suitable transparent material (preferably tempered safety glass) which is a single piece.
If they are made of other opaque material(s), they must be painted white.
The dimensions of the shields must be: 1.80 m horizontally and 1.05 m vertically.
All lines on the shield must be drawn as follows:
- in white if the shield is transparent.
- black in all other cases.
- 5 cm wide.
The front surface of the shields must be smooth.

Shield markings.
Boards must be rigidly mounted as follows:
- at both ends of the platform at right angles to the floor, parallel to the front lines.
- The vertical center line on their front surface, extended down to the floor, must touch a point on the floor lying 1.20 m from the inner edge of the middle of each end line, on an imaginary line drawn at right angles to that end line.

Shield supports.


The shield supports must be designed as follows:
- the front of the structure (including upholstery) must be located at a distance of at least 2.00 m from the outer edge of the front line, painted in a bright color contrasting with the color of the walls, to be clearly visible to the Players.
- The shield support must be so attached to the floor that it cannot be moved.
- any structure to which the backboard is attached must be padded with soft material behind the backboard along the bottom surface of the structure at a distance of 1.20 m from the front surface of the backboard.
- the minimum thickness of the upholstery must be 5 cm. It must have the same density as the upholstery of the panels.
- all backboard support structures must be completely padded with soft material to a minimum height of 2.15 m on the surface from the side of the platform. The minimum thickness of the upholstery must be 10 cm.

Baskets.


Baskets consist of rings and nets.

Rings.
Material - solid steel, inner diameter 45 cm and painted orange.
The metal bar of the ring must have a minimum diameter of 16 mm and a maximum diameter of 20 mm. On the bottom of the ring there must be devices for attaching nets, such as to prevent injury to the fingers.
The net must be attached to the ring at twelve equally spaced points along the entire perimeter of the ring. Net attachment devices must not have sharp edges or crevices that the Player's fingers could get into.
The ring is attached to the structure supporting the basket so that no force applied to the ring is transmitted directly to the shield. Therefore, there should be no direct contact between the ring and the device that secures the ring to the shield and the shield.


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