How many yards is half a basketball court

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

Diagram and Measurements – Backyard Sidekick

The dimensions of a basketball court play an important role in how the game is played. For example, getting the right distance to the free throw line is a big deal when you’re going to spend hours and hours practicing.

The NBA (National Basketball Association) official court size is 94 feet long by 50 feet wide, where the international court is a bit smaller. The FIBA (International Basketball Federation) rules state the court size should be 91.9 feet long by 49.2 feet wide for international basketball games.

There are also different size courts for high school, parks, and some college basketball games, with different distances for line markings like the 3-point line. Keep reading for detailed dimensions and free diagrams of the different court set ups.

Even though basketball court dimensions will differ between organization or level of school, they aren’t too far off from each other either. Here’s a helpful chart to show the different basketball court dimensions quickly before we dive into more detail.

Court Type	Length	Width	Free Throw	3-Point Line
NBA	94′	50′	15′	23.75′
FIBA	91.9′	49.2′	15.09′	22.15′
NCAA	94′	50′	15′	22. 15′
High School	84′	50′	15′	19.75′

Notice how almost all of the free throw distances are 15 feet, or close to it. The 3-point line distance is pretty close across the board, but high school basketball courts are around 10 feet smaller and have a shorter 3-point line distance.

The good thing about the key and free throw line being the same across all court types, is that for home use, you can use something like this Easy Basketball Court Stencil Kit (link to Amazon) and still be practicing your free throws at the same distance the professionals do.

NBA Court Dimensions

An NBA court will be 94 feet in length by 50 wide, with the half court line at 47 feet, directly in the center of the court. The free throw line is 19 feet from the edge of the court and 15 feet from the front of the backboard. The 3 point shooting line is 23.75′ or 23’9′ from the center of the hoop.

Here’s a handy diagram of an NBA basketball court with dimensions.

Here are some more details about the court line markings and dimensions of an NBA basketball court.

• Court Size – 94′ by 50′
• The Key – 16′ wide with backboard extending 4′ onto the court into the key. A 6′ radius half circle extends away from the basket at the top of the key.
• Foul Line – 19′ from the baseline (edge of the court) and 15′ away from the backboard.
• 3-Point Line – The 3-point line is 22′ feet from the basket on the sides of the court and 23’9″ from the basket around the arc of the 3-point line.
• Restricted Arc – A half circle with a radius of 4′ under the basket where players can not draw charging fouls.
• Backboard – 72″ wide by 42″ tall with an inner square 24″ wide by 18″ tall.
• Rim/Hoop – Top of rim is 10′ from the ground and 18″ in diameter.
• Line Markings – All line markings are 2″ wide.

FIBA Court Dimensions

A FIBA court will be 91.9 feet in length by 49.2 wide, with the half court line at 45.95 feet, directly in the center of the court. The free throw line is 19 feet from the edge of the court and 15.09 feet from the front of the backboard. The 3 point shooting line is 22.15′ from the center of the hoop.

I was crazy to me that the international court dimensions were so weirdly close to college or NBA courts, but off enough to make things difficult. The reason being is that the international courts needed to be done in metric rather than feet and inches. So they came up with nice round numbers in the metric system that translates to odd and difficult numbers to work with.

If you look at the FIBA court dimensions in meters, it makes a bit more sense. A FIBA court is 28 meters long by 15 meters wide. These courts are necessary to play on if we want to play basketball in the Olympics and other international competitions.

Here’s a quick video explaining the differences NBA players have to overcome to play internationally.

College Basketball Court Dimensions

An NCAA basketball court will be 94 feet in length by 50 wide, with the half court line at 47 feet, directly in the center of the court. The free throw line is 19 feet from the edge of the court and 15 feet from the front of the backboard. The 3 point shooting line is 22.15′ from the center of the hoop.

The NCAA basketball court dimensions are very similar to the NBA with the exception of the 3-point line being slight closer. About a foot and a half distance can make a big deal if you get used to shooting on a college court and move to the NBA, but it doesn’t seem to be a big hurdle for the professional players.

High School Basketball Court Dimensions

A high school basketball court will be 84 feet in length by 50 wide, with the half court line at 42 feet, directly in the center of the court. The free throw line is 19 feet from the edge of the court and 15 feet from the front of the backboard. The 3 point shooting line is 19’9″ from the center of the hoop.

The high school basketball court key and free throw line matches the NBA distances. The court is about 10 feet shorter in length, but is the same width as a college level or NBA court.

The three point line is significantly closer to the hoop on a high school basketball court, partly because the court it shorter, but also to allow the players at that skill level an opportunity to make those 3-point shots.

Basketball Hoop Height

The top of the basketball hoop is 10 feet from the ground on all regulation basketball courts including the NBA, NCAA, FIBA, and high school basketball courts. Basketball rims, sometimes referred to as the hoop or basket, are a regulation 18 inches in diameter.

It’s recommended that 8 to 10 year olds play on an 8 foot rim height, and 11 year olds play on a 9 foot rim height. This way younger players can gradually get used to the height of a basketball hoop without being discouraged from playing the game early on.

Basketball Backboard Dimensions

The regulation dimensions of a basketball backboard are 72 inches wide by 42 inches tall with an inner square to help players aim for the backboard measuring 24 inches wide by 18 inches tall. This translates to a backboard 6 feet wide by 3.5 feet tall for regulation basketball courts.

Basketball backboards sold for recreational or training basketball play are sold in a variety of sizes. The most common being 60, 54, 52, 48, and 44 inches wide. For a typical two car driveway, a 54 or 60 inch backboard is most commonly used and is fitting for a court that size.

Here are some common questions I get about this topic.

How Long Is A Basketball Court In Meters?

A regulation NBA or NCAA basketball court measures 94 feet long by 50 feet wide which is 28.7 meters long by 15.2 meters wide. The FIBA international basketball courts are a little smaller and were designed using meters as a measurement coming in at 28 meters long by 15 meters wide.

How Far Is The 3 Point Line From The Basket In High School?

On a regulation high school basketball court the 3 point line is 19 feet 9 inches from the basketball hoop. The top of the rim is 10 feet from the ground and the front of the backboard is 4 feet in from the side of the court, making the free throw line 15 feet from the hoop.

Is NBA Court Bigger Than NCAA?

The regulation NCAA basketball court is the same size as an NBA basketball court at 94 feet in length by 50 feet wide. The only noticeable difference between the two courts is the 3-point line distance. The NBA 3-point line is 23.75′ from the hoop, where the NCAA is 22.15′ from the hoop.

Helpful Links:

• Easy Basketball Court Stencil Kit (link to Amazon)
• Recommended Basketball Gear
• 14 Fun Basketball Games For All Ages
• 10 At Home Basketball Drills

Sharing is caring!

• Facebook
• Twitter

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 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 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