Basketball Court Dimensions: NBA, NCAA, High School and FIBA
Court sizes and markings for every level of play, in feet and meters, plus the space a backyard or gym court really needs.
A regulation NBA or NCAA basketball court is 94 × 50 ft (28.65 × 15.24 m). High school courts are usually 84 × 50 ft (25.6 × 15.24 m), and international FIBA courts are 28 × 15 m (91.9 × 49.2 ft). The rim is 10 ft (3.05 m) high at every level from age 12 up.
- NBA / NCAA
- 94 × 50 ft
- High school
- 84 × 50 ft
- FIBA
- 28 × 15 m
- NBA half court
- 47 × 50 ft
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Basketball court dimensions by level
Court width is a fixed 50 ft in American play. Length is what changes: 94 ft for the pros and colleges, 84 ft for most high schools, and shorter for middle-school gyms. FIBA, which governs basketball outside the US, uses a slightly smaller metric court.
| Level | Length × width (ft) | Length × width (m) | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBA | 94 × 50 | 28.65 × 15.24 | 4,700 sq ft (437 m²) |
| WNBA | 94 × 50 | 28.65 × 15.24 | 4,700 sq ft (437 m²) |
| NCAA (men and women) | 94 × 50 | 28.65 × 15.24 | 4,700 sq ft (437 m²) |
| High school (NFHS) | 84 × 50 (up to 94 × 50 allowed) | 25.60 × 15.24 | 4,200 sq ft (390 m²) |
| Junior high / middle school | 74 × 42 | 22.56 × 12.80 | 3,108 sq ft (289 m²) |
| FIBA (international, Olympics) | 91.9 × 49.2 | 28 × 15 | 4,521 sq ft (420 m²) |
| FIBA 3x3 (half court) | 36.1 × 49.2 | 11 × 15 | 1,776 sq ft (165 m²) |
Court dimensions are measured to the inside edge of the boundary lines, which are 2 in (5 cm) wide and are out of bounds. Many older gyms have shorter floors (74 or 84 ft) because they were built before the 94-ft court became common below college level.
Court markings: three-point line, key and free-throw line
The lines are where leagues really differ. The three-point arc and the lane width change how the game is played far more than an extra 10 ft of floor.
| Marking | NBA | NCAA | High school | FIBA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-point line, top of arc | 23 ft 9 in (7.24 m) | 22 ft 1¾ in (6.75 m) | 19 ft 9 in (6.02 m) | 6.75 m (22 ft 1¾ in) |
| 3-point line, corners | 22 ft (6.71 m) | about 21 ft 8 in (6.6 m) | 19 ft 9 in | 6.60 m (21 ft 8 in) |
| Lane (key) width | 16 ft (4.88 m) | 12 ft (3.66 m) | 12 ft (3.66 m) | 4.90 m (16 ft 1 in) |
| Free-throw line from backboard | 15 ft (4.57 m) | 15 ft | 15 ft | 4.60 m (15 ft 1 in) |
| Free-throw line from baseline | 19 ft (5.79 m) | 19 ft | 19 ft | 5.80 m (19 ft) |
| Restricted-area arc radius | 4 ft (1.22 m) | 4 ft (men) | none | 1.25 m (4 ft 1 in) |
| Center circle diameter | 12 ft (3.66 m) | 12 ft | 12 ft | 3.60 m (11 ft 10 in) |
| Backboard face from baseline | 4 ft (1.22 m) | 4 ft | 4 ft | 1.20 m |
All arc distances are measured from the center of the basket, which sits 5 ft 3 in (1.6 m) in from the baseline: 4 ft to the backboard, 6 in from the board to the rim, and 9 in to the rim's center. The NBA, NCAA and FIBA arcs become straight lines parallel to the sideline near the corners, which is why the corner three is shorter.
The NCAA moved its men's line to the international 22 ft 1¾ in for Division I in 2019-20 (Divisions II and III in 2020-21), and the women's game followed in 2021-22. The WNBA uses the same arc distance. High school lines remain at 19 ft 9 in under NFHS rules, but confirm with your state association before painting a new floor.
NBA court vs college and high school courts
- NBA vs NCAA: same 94 × 50 ft floor. The NBA arc is 1 ft 7¼ in deeper at the top, and the lane is 4 ft wider. A college gym can host an NBA preseason game after the lines are re-taped.
- NBA vs high school: the high school court is 10 ft shorter, so each half is 42 ft deep instead of 47 ft. The three-point line is 4 ft closer to the basket.
- NBA vs FIBA: the FIBA court is about 2 ft 2 in shorter and 9½ in narrower. FIBA's lane is about the same width as the NBA's (4.9 m vs 16 ft) but its three-point line is 1 ft 7¼ in closer.
Basketball court dimensions in meters and yards
Converted from the official figures. FIBA courts are defined in meters, so the metric values are exact for FIBA and rounded for everyone else.
| Court | Feet | Meters | Centimeters | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBA / NCAA | 94 × 50 | 28.65 × 15.24 | 2865 × 1524 | 31.3 × 16.7 |
| High school | 84 × 50 | 25.60 × 15.24 | 2560 × 1524 | 28 × 16.7 |
| FIBA | 91.86 × 49.21 | 28 × 15 | 2800 × 1500 | 30.6 × 16.4 |
Half court dimensions
A regulation half court is half the full length and the full width: 47 × 50 ft (14.3 × 15.24 m) for the NBA and NCAA, and 42 × 50 ft (12.8 × 15.24 m) for high school. Few homes have room for that, so residential courts are built to whatever depth the markings require.
The useful number is how far each line sits from the baseline. The free-throw line is 19 ft out. The top of the three-point arc is 25 ft out for a high school line, 27 ft 4¾ in for NCAA and FIBA, and 29 ft for the NBA. A high school arc spans 39½ ft from side to side, so it needs a court at least 40 ft wide.
| Court size | Metric | What fits |
|---|---|---|
| 20 × 20 ft | 6.1 × 6.1 m | Free-throw line and a 12-ft lane, close shots only |
| 30 × 30 ft | 9.1 × 9.1 m | Full lane and free-throw circle; the top of a high school arc, but not its corners |
| 30 × 50 ft | 9.1 × 15.2 m | Full high school three-point arc with 5 ft behind it |
| 35 × 50 ft | 10.7 × 15.2 m | NCAA/FIBA arc with a few feet of room |
| 47 × 50 ft | 14.3 × 15.2 m | Regulation NBA/NCAA half court |
Measure from where the backboard will hang, not from the edge of the driveway. With the pole set 4 ft or more behind the board, the free-throw line sits 19 ft from the baseline you choose, and a two-car driveway (usually 18 to 24 ft wide) holds a 12-ft lane with room on both sides. See the basketball hoop size guide for pole offsets and backboard sizes.
Space around the court and ceiling height
The court lines are only part of the footprint. Players run past the lines, and walls or bleachers right at the boundary cause injuries.
- Run-off: Basketball England's facility standards, based on FIBA rules, require 2 m (6½ ft) of clear space around senior courts and 1 m for junior play. NFHS rules call for a restraining line to be marked when less than 3 ft of clear space exists outside a boundary. Designers commonly plan 6 to 10 ft where the building allows it.
- Total floor needed: an NBA court with 10 ft on every side takes 114 × 70 ft (7,980 sq ft, 741 m²). A high school court with 6 ft all round takes 96 × 62 ft (5,952 sq ft).
- Ceiling: FIBA-level venues need at least 7 m (23 ft) of clear height above the floor. Recreational gyms often have 20 to 24 ft. Below about 18 ft, high-arc shots from the three-point line can hit the ceiling or lights.
- Backboard support: the face of the backboard is 4 ft inside the baseline, so the support (pole or wall bracket) needs at least that much projection, plus padding.
How to lay out a court
- Mark the baseline and sidelines. Check the rectangle is square by measuring both diagonals. A 94 × 50 ft court has diagonals of 106 ft 5⅝ in; an 84 × 50 ft court, 97 ft 9 in.
- Find the basket center. Measure 5 ft 3 in in from the baseline at the midpoint of the width. Every arc and the free-throw line are set from this point or the baseline.
- Mark the lane. Center a 12-ft (high school, NCAA) or 16-ft (NBA) rectangle on the basket, extending 19 ft from the baseline to the outside edge of the free-throw line.
- Swing the arcs. Use a tape anchored at the basket center: 6 ft for the free-throw circle (centered on the free-throw line, not the basket), and the three-point radius for your level.
- Paint 2 in lines and keep all measurements to the outside edges of boundary lines and the inside edges of the lane, as the rule books specify.
For the hoop itself (rim height, backboard sizes and youth heights), see the basketball hoop dimensions guide. Courts for other sports are compared in the tennis court dimensions guide and the sports equipment and playing area sizes hub.
Frequently asked questions
What is the basketball court size in the NBA?
An NBA court is 94 ft long and 50 ft wide (28.65 × 15.24 m), an area of 4,700 sq ft (437 m²). The three-point line is 23 ft 9 in from the basket at the top and 22 ft in the corners, and the lane is 16 ft wide.
How does an NBA court compare with a normal court?
An NBA court is 10 ft longer than a typical high school court (94 vs 84 ft) and the same 50 ft wide. Its three-point line is 4 ft farther out (23 ft 9 in vs 19 ft 9 in) and its lane is 16 ft wide instead of 12 ft.
Is a college basketball court the same size as an NBA court?
Yes, both are 94 × 50 ft. The markings differ: NCAA courts use the 22 ft 1¾ in (6.75 m) international three-point distance and a 12-ft lane, while the NBA uses 23 ft 9 in and a 16-ft lane.
How big is a basketball court in yards?
An NBA or NCAA court is 31⅓ × 16⅔ yards (94 × 50 ft). A high school court is 28 × 16⅔ yards.
What size is a wheelchair (parasport) basketball court?
Wheelchair basketball is played on a standard FIBA court, 28 × 15 m, with the rim at the usual 3.05 m (10 ft). The lines and three-point distance are the same as in running basketball.
What size is a 3x3 basketball court?
FIBA 3x3 uses a half court 15 m wide and 11 m deep (49.2 × 36.1 ft), with one basket. The arc that scores 2 points sits 6.75 m from the basket, the same distance as the FIBA three-point line.