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Basketball is played on a rectangular court, with baskets at opposite ends. The size of a basketball court depends on the level of play and the league in which the game is being played. For instance, the court size for the National Basketball Association (NBA) is 94 feet by 50 feet, while the court size for the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) is 28 metres by 15 metres.
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What You'll Learn
NBA court dimensions
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has the largest court dimensions of any level of basketball, be it domestic or international. The outer dimensions of an NBA court are 94 feet long by 50 feet wide. The half-court line is halfway between each end line. The tip-off circle, which often sports the home team's logo, is in the middle of the half-court line and has a six-foot radius. The key, or free throw lane, is 16 feet wide and 19 feet from the baseline to the foul line. A semicircle with a six-foot radius extends from the foul line. The backboard protrudes four feet out from the baseline, and the rim of the basket hangs 10 feet off the ground.
The three-point line in the NBA is of variable distance, ranging from 22 feet in the corners to 23.75 feet behind the top of the key. The distance was shortened to a uniform 22 feet around the basket during the 1994-95, 1995-96, and 1996-97 seasons to address decreased scoring. The no-charge zone arc has a radius of 4 feet from below the centre of the basket.
The free throw lane shall be marked at each end of the court, with all boundary lines being part of the lane. A free throw line shall be drawn across each of the circles indicated in the court diagram and shall be 15 feet from the plane of the face of the backboard. The three-point field goal area has parallel lines 3 feet from the sidelines, extending from the baseline, and an arc of 23 feet 9 inches from the middle of the basket, which intersects the parallel lines.
The backboard shall be a rectangle measuring 6 feet horizontally and 3.5 feet vertically, with its front surface being flat and transparent. It must contain four strips of red LED lights, synchronized with the game clock, outlining the inside of the four sides of the backboard to indicate the expiration of time. A transparent backboard shall be marked with a 2-inch white rectangle.
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FIBA court dimensions
A basketball court is a rectangular playing surface with baskets at each end. The dimensions of a basketball court vary depending on the league and level of play.
The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) rules specify a court size of 28 by 15 meters (approximately 92 by 49 feet). This is slightly smaller than the court size in the National Basketball Association (NBA), which measures 28.7 by 15.2 meters (94 by 50 feet).
FIBA courts feature a key or shaded lane, which is the painted area beneath the basket. Since 2010, the FIBA-spec key has been a rectangle measuring 4.9 meters wide and 5.8 meters long. The three-point line in FIBA is located 6.75 meters from the basket, and the restricted area arc has a radius of 1.25 meters.
The basket in FIBA, as in other leagues, is positioned 3.05 meters (10 feet) above the floor. The backboard dimensions are 1.8 meters by 1.22 meters, with a minimum thickness of 19 millimeters. The free throw circle has a diameter of 3.5 meters, and the regulation line markings are 50 millimeters wide in a contrasting colour to the playing surface.
Variations in Court Dimensions
It is worth noting that basketball court dimensions can vary depending on the level of play and geographical location. For example, in the United States, amateur basketball courts in high schools may be shorter, measuring 84 feet or even 74 feet in length.
Additionally, the three-point line distance can vary between leagues. FIBA and the NCAA adopted the three-point line in 1986, and the distance has changed over time. The current FIBA three-point line is 6.75 meters from the basket, while the NBA three-point line ranges from 6.7 to 7.24 meters.
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NCAA court dimensions
The dimensions of a basketball court can vary depending on the league and level of play. NCAA basketball courts are similar in size to NBA and WNBA courts, but there are some significant differences.
Firstly, the key or free throw lane in NCAA basketball is 12 feet wide, whereas in the NBA and FIBA, it is 16 feet wide. The first box on the side of the key is also closer to the baseline in NCAA basketball, at six feet rather than seven. The restricted area under the basket is smaller in NCAA basketball, with a three-foot diameter compared to the NBA's four-foot diameter.
The most noticeable difference between NCAA and other basketball courts is the distance of the three-point line. In NCAA basketball, the three-point line is 20 feet, nine inches from the centre of the basket. This difference in distance can be a significant adjustment for shooters transitioning to professional leagues.
The dimensions of the NCAA basketball court are dictated by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. The court measures 94 feet in length and 50 feet in width, the same as an NBA court. The basket is 10 feet off the ground, and the foul line is 15 feet from the backboard.
The NCAA women's basketball three-point line and no-charge arc have undergone recent changes. The three-point line moved back one foot to 20.75 feet for the 2011-2012 season, and the no-charge arc was reduced to a radius of 9 inches for the 2023-2024 season.
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High school court dimensions
High school basketball courts are smaller than their college and professional counterparts. The court is 10 feet shorter, measuring 84 feet in length, but retains the same 50-foot width as larger courts. The basket is 10 feet off the ground, and the backboard is supposed to have the same measurements as the NCAA and NBA courts. The foul line is 15 feet from the backboard, and the key is 19 feet long and 12 feet wide. The three-point line is shorter than in college or professional basketball, with the high school free throw line just 19 feet, 9 inches from the centre of the basket.
The high school landscape isn't as standardised as college and professional basketball, but there are some consistent rules. The three-point arc, for example, is a feature of all basketball courts. A basket made from behind the three-point arc is worth three points, and a basket made from within the line or with a player's foot touching the line is worth two points. The free-throw line, where players stand when taking a foul shot, is located within the three-point arc, 15 feet from the plane of the backboard. A foul shot is worth one point.
The key, free throw lane, or shaded lane refers to the usually painted area beneath the basket. For the NBA, it is 16.02 feet wide (4.88 metres), but for high school, it is 12 feet wide (3.66 metres). The no-charge zone arc rule first appeared in the NBA in the 1997-98 season. In NCAA women's basketball, the no-charge arc was reduced to a radius of 9 inches (22.86 cm) for the 2023-24 season—in other words, the size of the basket.
The smallest recommended full court size is 74 feet by 42 feet, which is used for elementary school play. The smallest court size is the 25 feet by 25 feet square court used in homes or commercial gyms.
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Junior high court dimensions
The standard size of a basketball court varies according to the level of competition. Junior high and middle school players typically play on a court that is 74 feet long and 42 feet wide, or 3,108 sq ft. This is the smallest recommended full court size, used for elementary school play.
The size of a basketball court for junior high players is notably smaller than that of high school courts, which are usually 84 feet long and 50 feet wide, or 4,200 sq ft. High school courts are also a little different from college and professional courts, which are typically 94 feet long and 50 feet wide, or 4,700 sq ft.
The size of a basketball court can also vary depending on whether it is for indoor or outdoor use. Indoor basketball courts are usually made of polished wood, whereas outdoor courts are generally made from materials such as concrete or asphalt.
In the UK, basketball court dimensions are slightly different. The playing area is 91.8 ft long and 49.21 ft wide, with a minimum area of 364m².
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Frequently asked questions
The NBA basketball court is 94 feet long and 50 feet wide.
The standard size of a basketball court is 91.86 feet long and 49.21 feet wide.
A FIBA basketball court is 28 meters long and 15 meters wide.
