How long is a nba basketball court in yards

How Many Yards is a Basketball Court?

Basketball is a game that is played in a rectangular court. It can be played indoors or outdoors, and the court itself is often used for conditioning drills. And speaking of conditioning drills, if you want to be precise about running laps, it would also be best to know the exact measurements of the basketball court in yards or in other units of measurement. So, do you know how many yards is a basketball court? 

Before we answer that question, let us see the standard basketball court dimensions used in high school and college competitions, as well as professional leagues such as the NBA and WNBA.

The length and dimensions of a basketball court depend on the level of competition. For example, in high school basketball competitions, the basketball court’s standard dimensions are 84 feet by 50 feet. In junior high school, the standard size of the basketball court is 74 feet long and 42 feet wide.

The free throw line, or the foul line, measures 15 feet from the front of the backboard, and 18 feet and 10 inches from the baseline. The key or the lane in a high school basketball court is typically 12 feet in width. The backboard may extend four feet over the baseline and into the key and an arc six feet in length that runs from the free throw line, completing the lane.

The three-point line in high school also differs from college and the NBA. It is typically 19 feet and nine inches at the farthest. Junior high school pretty much uses the same dimensions. 

In college, a basketball court measurement is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide. The free throw line (or foul line) is the same as in high school and professional courts at 15 feet from the front of the backboard and 18 feet and 10 inches from the baseline.

The lane or the paint is also similar in dimensions in high school basketball. It has a width of 12 feet, with the backboard extending four feet over the baseline in the direction of the key. To complete the lane or key, a six-foot arc extends from the foul line.

It is the distance of the three-point arc that differs from high school basketball. That distance measures 20.75 feet or 20 feet and 9 inches, having a restricted area with a radius of three feet from the center of the basket. The restricted area is a place underneath the basket where a defensive player cannot draw charges. In order to draw a charge, the defensive player must establish his feet outside the restricted area.

An NBA basketball court (as well as the WNBA) has a dimension of 94 feet by 50 feet, the same as the standard NCAA basketball court. Similar to the other basketball court mentioned above, the free throw line is 15 feet away from the front of the backboard and 18 feet and 10 inches from the baseline.

The differences are the measurements of the key, the distance of the arc or the three-point line, and the size of the restricted area. Instead of 12 feet, the key or paint in the NBA is 16 feet wide, with the backboard extending four feet over the baseline to the direction of the key. A six-foot arc (or semi-circle) runs away from the free throw line from the basket to complete the lane.

The three-point line measures 22 feet, considerably longer than the high school and college basketball measurements. The line that extends from the baseline to the end of the three-point arc is 16 feet and nine inches. The restricted area has a radius of four feet from the center of the basket instead of three feet in college basketball.

Regardless of the level of basketball play, the hoop’s standard distance from the floor is 10 feet. The backboard is also similar across all levels, 72 inches in width and 42 inches in length. The diameter of the hoop is 18 inches, and the inner backboard square measures 24 inches or 18 inches. The lines on the court are usually two inches wide, although, understandably, there is no standard rule on the colors of the line.

A WNBA court is very similar to the NBA court other than the three-point line’s distance. The WNBA uses the FIBA measurement, which is at 22.15 feet or 22 feet and 2 inches. 

In knowing how to calculate the basketball court in yards or in other units of measurement, the most important thing to know is how to convert between these units. Since “foot” is primarily used as the unit of measure in basketball courts, it is imperative to understand how to convert “foot” to “yards.”

Approximately, one foot is equal to ⅓ or 0.33333 yards. Since a high school basketball court dimension measures 84 feet by 50 feet, those numbers will simply be (84 x ⅓) by (50x ⅓) or 28 yards by 16.67 yards. 

In calculating the dimensions of an NCAA and NBA basketball court in yards, convert 94 feet and 50 feet by multiplying each to ⅓. Hence, college and professional basketball courts measure 31.3 yards by 16.67 yards.

If you want to know the dimensions of a basketball court in inches, then use the conversion 1 foot is equal to 12 inches. That means you merely have to multiply the measurements in feet to 12 to know the basketball court measurements in inches. So, a high school basketball court that is 84 feet in length and 50 feet in width is 1,008 inches in length and 600 inches in width. An NCAA and NBA court measures 1,128 inches in length and 600 inches in width.

If you have previously wondered why the height of the basketball hoop is 10 feet, it’s not really rocket science. The answer is not about human anatomy and the game’s mechanics. Instead, it is merely because of what’s there when Dr. James Naismith invented the game.

When Naismith thought about inventing a new game, the railings where he chose to hang the peach basketball were 10 feet off the ground. Therefore, there really was no forethought about the height of the hoop. The game of basketball has evolved so much since the day it was invented in Springfield, but the one thing that remained was the 10-foot hoop.

If there was absolutely no deliberation about the height of the hoop, that is not the case when it comes to the three-point line. The three-point line first appeared in 1961 by the American Basketball League. It was invented to increase excitement and scoring, but since the ABL folded in one and a half seasons, the idea never had the chance to hit off.

The second professional basketball league that adopted the three-point line was the American Basketball Association. It was a success, but when the ABA merged with the NBA, the decision-makers did not support having a three-point line and stubbornly refused to implement it. It was not until three years later, in the 1979-80 season, that it was introduced in the NBA.

After the NBA, college basketball adopted it in 1986, and high school basketball followed suit in 1987. Interestingly, the NBA tried to move the three-point line from 23 feet and nine inches to a uniform 22 feet from 1994 to 1997. Obviously, that did not last, but a four-point line or spot was possibly considered, but right now, that pretty extreme idea is only implemented in the Big 3 league.

A high basketball court has standard dimensions of 84 feet by 50 feet, while NCAA and NBA basketball courts measure 94 feet in length and 50 feet in width. 

There are a few key differences between a high school and college/professional basketball courts, such as the width of the lane, the length of the three-point line, and the size of the restricted area. Other than that, they are all pretty similar.

Most of the time, we often see the dimensions of a basketball measured in feet. So, what if you want to know how many yards is a basketball court? Just multiply feet by ⅓ or 0.33333 since one foot is equal to 0.33333 or ⅓ yard. Therefore, a high school basketball court measurement of 84 feet by 50 feet is 28 yards by 16.67 yards. All it needs is basic mathematics that involves the conversion of units and basic arithmetic.

If you found this post helpful, you’re definitely going to like our other basketball FAQ articles here.

> How High is an NBA Basketball Hoop?

> What Size is an NBA Basketball?

> How to Paint a Basketball Court

> How to Make a Basketball Court Cheap

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

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

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

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 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.

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 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. 

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

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.

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.

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.

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 with a length of 2.99 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 court. 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 side lines). 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.

Basketball court dimensions in meters (FIBA and NBA standard)

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12/24/2019 All sports Leave a comment 33,724 Views

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The size of the basketball court depends on the level of the competition, the governing organization, and the age of the students. Often, for training sessions or fights in amateur tournaments, different sizes of the playing court are used, but also in basketball there are officially established standard sizes of the field.

FIBA ​​and NBA Basketball Court Sizes

According to International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules, the court must be rectangular and measure 28 by 15 meters (91.9 by 49.2 feet). However, in the overseas version of basketball, where the ruling organization of this sport is the National Basketball Association (NBA), the dimensions of the field for professional competitions are slightly different - 28.7 and 15.24 meters (94 by 50 feet).

As for amateur basketball, the size of the fields can be completely different:

• For schools and universities: 21-28 m long, 12-15 m wide
• Mini basketball (for children under 12) - 17×12 meters

Basketball court markings

All field lines must be 5cm wide in white. The playing area is limited by the side and front lines. The middle line divides the court in half into equal parts. In the center of the middle line there is a circle with a diameter of 3.6 m (r - 1. 8 m), where a dropped ball is played before the start of each period.

How many periods in basketball: the difference between FIBA ​​and NBA

There is an arc near each hoop at a distance of 6.75 m from the end line. Balls thrown into the basket outside it bring 3 points, everything inside the arc - 2 points.

Basketball's free throw zone is marked by a 3.6m line 5.8m from the endline and 4.6m from the hoop.

See picture of a basketball court with all lines and dimensions.

Differences in the rules for the size and layout of the court in the NBA and FIBA ​​

Playground	FIBA ​​size	NBA size
Length (meters)	28	28.65
Width (meters)	15	15.24
Ring height (m)	3.05	3. 05
Center circle diameter (m)	3.60	3.60
3 points line (distance from the basket in meters)	6.75	7.24
Distance from the basket to the free-throw line (m)	4.60	4.67
Court line width (cm)	5	5

The First Basketball Court Dimensions: A Brief History

The first basketball court was limited to the size of the college gym it was located in. That hall measured 54 by 35 feet (16.45 × 10.66 meters).

In 1891, James Naismith, a physical education teacher at Springsfield College in Massachusetts, invented a new game he later called basketball. At the first stages of the formation of a newly-fledged sport, peach baskets were used instead of rings, and in its first 13 rules, the creator did not indicate the size of the site. As basketball grew in popularity, it became necessary to standardize the size of the field.

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