Basketball Court Dimensions: NBA, FIBA and High School Sizes
Quick answer: A regulation NBA basketball court is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide (28.65 x 15.24 m), giving a playing area of 4,700 sq ft (437 m²). FIBA courts used in international and Olympic games are slightly smaller at 28 x 15 m (91.9 x 49.2 ft), and US high school courts are usually 84 x 50 ft. The hoop is always 10 feet (3.05 m) high.
| Court type | Length | Width | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBA / WNBA | 94 ft (28.65 m) | 50 ft (15.24 m) | 4,700 sq ft (437 m²) |
| NCAA (college) | 94 ft (28.65 m) | 50 ft (15.24 m) | 4,700 sq ft (437 m²) |
| FIBA (international) | 28 m (91.9 ft) | 15 m (49.2 ft) | 420 m² (4,521 sq ft) |
| US high school | 84 ft (25.6 m) | 50 ft (15.24 m) | 4,200 sq ft (390 m²) |
| Junior high (typical) | 74 ft (22.6 m) | 42 ft (12.8 m) | 3,108 sq ft (289 m²) |
A basketball court looks compact on TV, but it is bigger than most people expect. This guide covers the official sizes for the NBA, college, FIBA and high school, all the main court markings, how a court compares with a tennis court, a swimming pool and a football pitch, and how much space you need for a court at home.
NBA basketball court dimensions
The NBA court is 94 x 50 feet. Each half is 47 feet long, so a half court is 47 x 50 feet (14.3 x 15.24 m). NCAA college courts in the US use the same outer size; the main differences between leagues are in the markings.
Court markings and hoop measurements
| Marking | NBA | FIBA |
|---|---|---|
| Rim height | 10 ft (3.05 m) | 3.05 m (10 ft) |
| Rim diameter | 18 in (45.7 cm) | 45 cm (17.7 in) |
| Backboard | 6 x 3.5 ft (1.83 x 1.07 m) | 1.80 x 1.05 m |
| Three-point line (top of arc) | 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) | 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in) |
| Three-point line (corners) | 22 ft (6.71 m) | 6.60 m (21 ft 8 in) |
| Free-throw line from backboard | 15 ft (4.57 m) | about 4.6 m |
| Key (lane) width | 16 ft (4.88 m) | 4.9 m (16 ft 1 in) |
| Centre circle diameter | 12 ft (3.66 m) | 3.6 m (11.8 ft) |
The rim height of 10 feet goes back to 1891, when James Naismith nailed peach baskets to the balcony of a gym in Springfield, Massachusetts, which happened to be 10 feet off the floor. It has never changed. US college courts have used the FIBA three-point distance (22 ft 1.75 in) since 2019 for men and 2021 for women.
Basketball court compared to other sports venues
| Venue | Size | Area | Compared to an NBA court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Badminton court (doubles) | 13.4 x 6.1 m | 82 m² | about a fifth of the area |
| Volleyball court | 18 x 9 m | 162 m² | about 37% of the area |
| Tennis court (doubles) | 23.77 x 10.97 m | 261 m² | about 60% of the area |
| NBA basketball court | 28.65 x 15.24 m | 437 m² | – |
| Olympic swimming pool | 50 x 25 m | 1,250 m² | about 2.9 times the area |
| Football (soccer) pitch | about 105 x 68 m | about 7,140 m² | about 16 times the area |
- A doubles tennis court would fit completely inside a basketball court, with about 2.4 m to spare at each end and 2.1 m on each side.
- An Olympic pool is about 21 m longer than a basketball court and nearly 10 m wider.
- About 16 basketball courts fit on one full-size football pitch.
More ways to picture the size
- Cars: about six mid-size cars (around 4.7 m each) parked bumper to bumper would span the length of the court.
- Parking spaces: the court area is about the same as 35 standard parking spaces.
- Buildings: stood on end, the 28.65 m length is about as tall as a 9- or 10-storey building.
- Whales: a large blue whale (up to about 30 m) is roughly the length of the court.
- Paper: about 96 sheets of A4 paper laid end to end along their long side would cover the length.
- People: about 16 average adult men (1.75 m) lying head to toe would span the length. See how tall 6 feet is.
How much space do you need for a basketball court at home?
Most home courts are much smaller than regulation size. Common options are:
- Half court: a full regulation half court is 47 x 50 ft (14.3 x 15.24 m). Many home half courts are scaled down to around 30 x 30 ft to 30 x 50 ft (9 x 9 m to 9 x 15 m).
- Driveway or key-only court: about 20 x 20 ft (6 x 6 m) is enough for the key and shooting practice.
- Run-off space: professional courts have at least 2 m (about 6.5 ft) of clear space around the lines. At home, allow at least 1 m (3 ft) around the playing area for safety.
- Indoor ceiling height: FIBA requires at least 7 m of clear height above the court for top-level games. For casual indoor play, aim for well above the 3.05 m rim height so shots have room to arc.
Basketball court dimensions in every unit
| Measurement (NBA) | metres | feet | yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 28.65 | 94.0 | 31.3 |
| Width | 15.24 | 50.0 | 16.7 |
| Half-court length | 14.33 | 47.0 | 15.7 |
| Rim height | 3.05 | 10.0 | 3.3 |
| Area | 437 m² | 4,700 sq ft | 522 sq yd |
Convert any distance with the feet to metres converter.
Frequently asked questions
How big is an NBA basketball court?
94 feet long and 50 feet wide (28.65 x 15.24 m), with an area of 4,700 square feet (437 m²).
How big is a basketball court in metres?
An NBA court is 28.65 x 15.24 m. A FIBA international court is 28 x 15 m.
How big is a high school basketball court?
Usually 84 x 50 feet (25.6 x 15.24 m), which is 10 feet shorter than an NBA court.
How big is a half basketball court?
A regulation half court is 47 x 50 feet (14.3 x 15.24 m). Home half courts are often smaller, around 30 x 30 to 30 x 50 feet.
How tall is a basketball hoop?
The rim is 10 feet (3.05 m) above the floor at every level from high school to the NBA and FIBA.
How far is the three-point line in the NBA?
23 feet 9 inches (7.24 m) at the top of the arc and 22 feet (6.71 m) in the corners.
Is a basketball court bigger than a tennis court?
Yes. A doubles tennis court is 23.77 x 10.97 m, about 60% of the area of an NBA basketball court.
How many square feet is a basketball court?
An NBA or college court is 4,700 square feet. A high school court is 4,200 square feet.
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