How long is an average basketball court

Basketball Court Dimensions, Gym Size, Hoop Height

Basketball court dimensions and size vary based on the level of play. To help explain the various sizes, we’ve created a chart and diagrams that should help you. And we’ve organized the material into a helpful Q & A format.

What is a basketball court size?

Well, it depends on each court you measure — but there are some standards. The age of the players who will be the primary users and budgets are considerations for court builders.

Basketball Court Dimensions

Regulation basketball court dimensions are 94 feet long by 50 feet wide.

Basketball court size varies depending on the league and level of play. The court measures 94 feet long by 50 feet wide for NBA court dimensions and WNBA and college. Note the paint area – the free throw lane – is 16 feet across. The foul line is 15 feet from the face of the backboard and 2 inches wide.

International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and Olympic basketball courts call for the court to be slightly smaller at 91. 9 feet by 49.2 feet. In meters, that’s 28 by 15 meters.

NBA Court Dimensions Diagram

High school basketball court dimensions

The high school and junior high basketball gym courts measure 84 feet long by 50 feet wide. Court markings reflect those dimensions.

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High School Basketball Court Diagram

At a younger level of play than college or pro, the court length is 10 feet shorter at 84 feet.

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How long is a basketball court?

So, what are court dimensions in feet? The high school court is 84 feet long. The length of an NBA court is exactly 10 feet longer. College and professional league games, including the WNBA, are played on a 94-foot-long court.

One of the most famous college facilities is Pauley Pavilion, where the UCLA Bruins play.

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College Basketball Court Diagram

What are court dimensions in meters?
The metric size of a professional court is 28. 65 meters long by 15.24 meters wide. The high school court measures 25.6 meters long.

What are half-court dimensions?
Half-court dimensions are 47 feet long for the pros and 42 feet long for high school.

See Basketball Roles and Responsibilities of Each Position.

What are the half-court dimensions for a backyard?
Youth half-court dimensions are usually 42 feet long by 37 feet wide. High school half courts are slightly larger, 50 feet long by 42 feet wide.

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What are backyard court dimensions?
Backyard courts can be whatever size you wish (or can fit), but typically they are 90 feet long by 50 feet wide.

What are youth court dimensions – Middle School and High school?
The middle school court size is 74 feet long by 42 feet wide. High school courts are slightly larger, at 84 feet long by 50 feet wide.

Looking for a basketball court in your area to play? Check out The Original Basketball Court Finder.

Basketball Hoop Height and Size

It’s critical that you set the goal at the proper height. Here are your guidelines.

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What is the regulation basketball rim height? How tall is a hoop?

The distance from the gym floor to the rim is 10 feet. This rim height is the same for Junior High, High School, NCAA, WNBA, FIBA, and the NBA. Some kids’ leagues will lower the hoop to 8 feet or 9 feet to acknowledge that younger kids have difficulty shooting at ten feet-high hoops.

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How wide is an NBA basketball hoop? What is the NBA rim size?

The rim size is the same for all game levels – junior high, high school, NCAA, WNBA, NBA, and FIBA – at 18 inches in diameter.

Basketball Free Throw and 3-Point Distance

Read the guidelines below carefully, as the three-point distance varies by player.

What is the free-throw line distance? How far is the free-throw line?

The free-throw line is measured from the shooting line that intersects the key to the floor directly underneath the backboard. The free throw distance in the NBA, WNBA, and NCAA is 15 feet.

Did you know that Steve Nash was the best percentage shooter of free throws in the NBA? He shot 90.43% from the line making 3,060 of 3,384 attempts.

What is the high school 3-point line distance?
The 3-point line for high school is 19.9 feet from the basket.

What is the college 3-point line distance?
The 3-point line for both NCAA men and women is set at 20 feet, 9 inches from the hoop.

What is the WNBA 3-point line distance?
The WNBA 3-point line is 22.15 feet from the basket. From the corners, the distance is 21.65 feet.

What is the NBA 3-point line distance?
The pros shoot 3-pointers from beyond the arc, 23.75 feet from the basket. From the corners, the distance is 22 feet.

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Size of the Basketball

Matching the size of the basketball to players’ hand size makes a difference. Read on.

What is the ball diameter and circumference?

The size of the ball is different for men’s, women’s, and youth leagues.

For the NBA, men’s college, and boys ages 15 and up, players play with a 9.43-9.51 inch diameter (the width measured left to right) basketball. The ball’s circumference (the distance measured around the outside) is 29.5 inches. The official NBA game ball is made by Spalding and measures 9.43-9.51 inches in diameter, or 29.5 inches (75cm) in circumference.

NCAA women and the WNBA use a slightly smaller ball with a roughly 9.07-9.23 inch diameter and 28.5-inch circumference.

The ball used in boys’ youth leagues has a 28.5-inch circumference. Girls’ youth basketballs are 27.5 inches in circumference. Kids 5 to 8 years old use the smallest ball at 25.5 inches in circumference.

Backboard, Baseline, and Key

The backboard is four feet out from the baseline, marking the end of the players’ active playing surface.

The key is 16 feet wide and 19 feet from the foul line to the baseline.

Inside the key, a four-foot arc is designated to align with the center of the basket to mark the restricted arc. If a defender is within this arc, they cannot draw a charging foul.

Regulation backboards are six feet wide and 42 inches tall.

Free throw markings

Short lines are drawn three feet apart along both sides of the key area to designate the standing positions for rebounders when a free throw is being shot. The first line is drawn seven feet from the baseline.

A six-foot arc (half circle) starting from the free-throw line away from the basket completes the key area.

Core components of basketball courts

Baskets, free-throw lines, three-point arcs, and the half-court line are some of basketball courts’ foundational elements. Court lines mark 94 feet in length by 50 feet in width for NBA courts. The half-court line is at 47 feet. Indoor courts are frequently made of hardwood-like polished maple. Outdoor courts may be composed of asphalt, concrete, or other pavements.

The words baseline and end line both refer to the ends of the court running behind the goals.

In the middle of the half-court line is a tip-off circle that has a six-foot radius. This is where the opening jump ball takes place.

The backcourt refers to the half of the court where the team’s basket is defended. The boundary lines include their end line, sidelines, and the half-court line of the playing court.

For international play, the standard court size is 28m long and 15m wide, measured from the inner edge of the boundary line.

The 3-Point line

The NBA 3-point arc is 22 feet to the center of the rim. Women’s and Men’s college basketball court features a 3-point arc of 20 feet 9 inches. High school basketball courts have a 3-point arc that is 19 feet 9 inches away from the center of the rim.

Great Basketball Courts Everyone Should See

Rucker Park in Harlem, New York. Where street legends go to make their name. Home of Kareem Abdul Jabaar, Nate Archibald, and Connie Hawkins. Even Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant have made appearances.

United Center, Chicago, Illinois. Michael Jordan won 6 NBA titles while calling this his home court.

Hoosiers Gym in Knightstown, Indiana. Gene Hackman + Dennis Hopper + Picket Fence = the best basketball movie ever.

Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. Home to the UCLA Bruins and John Wooden’s greatest college hoops dynasty.

Madison Square Garden, Manhattan, New York. Home of the Knicks with a household name that needs no introductions.

The Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. One word: “Showtime!”

The Swim Gym, Beverly Hills High School in Los Angeles. Remember “It’s a Wonderful Life” and the retractable gym floor? This is the place. Built in 1939, a 25-yard pool was placed under the gym floor. It’s a Wonderful Life was a 1946 movie.

Timing of a Game

Here are the total game times for basketball games for each level of play. Remember that time-outs, TV breaks, half time, and other play stoppages will draw out the real-time of a game 2 to 3 times longer than the timed play.

How long is a high school game?

High school basketball games consist of four 8-minute quarters for 32 minutes of game time.

Length of college basketball game?

In the NCAA, college games consist of two 20-minute halves for 40 minutes of game time.

How long is a WNBA basketball game?

WNBA basketball games consist of four 10-minute quarters for 40 minutes of game time.

Length of an NBA basketball game?

NBA games consist of four 12-minute quarters for 48 minutes of game time.

How long is the shot clock?

The shot clock requires offenses to shoot before a timed period runs out. If a shot is not made during that period, a shot clock violation is called, and the ball is turned over to the opposing team.

In high school games, the shot clock varies. For men’s college hoops, the shot clock is 35 seconds, and for women’s college is 30 seconds.

The WNBA shot clock is 30 seconds, while the NBA limits the shot clock to only 24 seconds.

Basketball Court Fun Facts

Do you know everything about hoops courts? Try answering these trivia questions.

1.) What type of wood is used for NBA courts?

Maple is selected for its hardness and light color. The lightness helps provide contrast to the ball to follow the action in person and on TV. The lighter color reflects light better, too.

2.) How often does the NBA require teams to replace the floors in arenas?

Every ten years. But, sometimes, a team receives a waiver if the floor is still in great shape.

3.) What three NBA teams were ranked the highest in appearance by the Chicago Tribune?

Charlotte Hornets, Brooklyn Nets, and the Boston Celtics floors were ranked the highest by a panel selected by the newspaper.

By Greg Johnson & Mike O’Halloran

Greg is a designer and writer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Mike has authored three books on basketball coaching and has coached ten different teams.

You’re on our Basketball Court Dimensions page.

Further Reading

Hoops Quotes

Slogans

NBA Players By The Numbers: Wingspans, Verticals, Hand Sizes

Fun Basketball Games For Kids to Improve Shooting

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 must 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.

How long is a basketball court (and why)?

Last updated: August 26, 2022 / author Sandeep Bhandari / Fact verified / 4 minutes

The basketball court is approximately 91.86 feet long. Rectangular area with baskets fixed in the corner of the area. An indoor basketball court is made from polished wood. Standard paving materials such as concrete (or asphalt) are used to construct outdoor basketball courts.

The size of each basketball court may vary as it comes in different sizes. The height of the basket to be placed above the floor is fixed. The basket should be placed at a distance of 3.05 meters from the floor.