Understanding basketball court dimensions is important for everyone. Whether you are a coach, player, or student, you need to know the proper size of a basketball court. At first glance, all basketball courts might look similar, but their size and markings vary depending on the level of play (NBA, high school, or recreational). This often leads to common questions like how long is a basketball court, how big is a basketball court, and what are NBA court dimensions.
In this guide, we will provide the official basketball court dimensions, including the full-court length and width, half-court basketball dimensions, NBA vs high school court size, and more.
Standard Basketball Court Dimensions (Full Court)
The full basketball court follows standardized measurements. These measurements are consistent across all levels of play.
The standard basketball court dimensions are as follows.
- Length: 94 feet
- Width: 50 feet
This answers one of the most common questions posted on the internet: how long is a basketball court?
The total playable area of the court is 4,700 square feet. It is the area inside the boundary line and not the surrounding out-of-bounds space required in gyms or arenas.
How Big is a Basketball Court?
By visuals, the size of a basketball court is slightly larger than a tennis court used for singles. The area of the court is used for spacing, movement, and game flow.
NBA Basketball Court Dimensions
The National Basketball Association, also known as the NBA, has the largest court dimensions in any level of basketball. The outer court dimensions in the NBA are 94 feet long and 50 feet wide.
Here are the key measurements of basketball court size in feet in the NBA.
- Length: 94 feet
- Width: 50 feet
- Three Point Line: 23 feet 9 inches from the basket and 22 feet in the corners
- Free throw Line: 15 feet from the backboard
- Key (paint): 16 feet wide
- Center circle radius: 6 feet
The half-court line, as the name suggests, is halfway between each end line on the court. From the middle of the half-court line, there is a circle with a six-foot radius. Most often, these circles include the logo of the home team.
The basketball hoop hangs 10 feet in the air, and the backboard protrudes four feet out from the baseline. The regulation basketball hoop height is fixed at 10 feet.
How Long is an NBA Basketball Court?
This is a burning question that many people on the internet are asking. The answer to this is 94 feet. The length of the NBA basketball court dimensions is identical to other regulation courts. The unique thing about the NBA is the exact placement of lines and restricted areas used at the professional level.
High School Basketball Court Dimensions
High school court follows the rules set by governing school athletics bodies. These rules are designed for younger players. The high school basketball court dimensions are slightly differnt than NBA.
High School Basketball Court Dimensions
- Length: 84 feet
- Width: 50 feet
The shorter length reduces fatigue and helps in maintaining proper spacing for younger players.
How Long is a High School Basketball Court?
A high school basketball court is 84 feet in length. It is 10 feet shorter than the NBA or college basketball courts. You can check out the length of a high school basketball game here.
FIBA Basketball Court Dimensions
Fédération Internationale de Basketball (FIBA) is an association of national organisations that governs international basketball. The dimensions of the FIBA system are slightly different than the NBA and the rest. They use meter system and not feet system.
The length of a FIBA court is 28 meters (almost 92 feet), and the width is 15 meters (just over 49 feet). The tip-off circle is also a bit smaller at 3.5 meters in diameter.
Backboard Specifications
The backboard is also an important aspect of basketball court dimensions. Have a look.
- Ring Height: It is 10 feet from the floor to the top of the ring. It is a universal standard across all levels of play.
- Ring Diameter: It is 18 inches internally.
- Backboard: It is a rectangle measuring 1.8m wide and 1.22m high.
- Inner Rectangle: It is the target box above the ring. It measures 0.59m wide and 0.45m high. It also has 50mm line markings.
Basketball Court Markings
- Sidelines – It is the outer edge of the court that runs through the length of the court.
- Baseline and Endline – They refer to the ends of the court running behind the goal. The use of the words depends on the direction a team is playing.
- Mid Court – This is a halfway mark on a court. It is used to denote the offensive playing area in the game. The basketball half-court dimensions are 14 meters from the baseline.
- Centre Circle – It is used for the opening tip-off. The center circle has a 3.6m diameter.
- Three Point Line – They are the arcs that mark a range from the hoop. Getting a basket in from that range is worth three points.
- Free Throw Line – It is the mark at which a player must stand for free throws. It is marked at 4.6m from the backboard.
- Free Throw Circle – The shooter taking the free throw must stay inside it. The dimensions of this circle are the same as the centre circle.
Related Read: What is a Triple Double in Basketball?
Conclusion
Knowing the correct basketball court dimensions helps players and coaches to make informed decisions on the court. The NBA court measures at 94 x 50 feet, while high school courts are slightly shorter at 84 feet.
If you understand basketball court size, it will ensure a proper setup and fair gameplay for everyone involved. To understand the game better, you can also learn about periods in basketball through the write-up here.
FAQs
1. What is a Standard Basketball Court with Dimensions?
Ans: A regulation basketball court is 94 feet long, while a high school court is 84 feet long.
2. What is the Size of a High School Basketball Court?
Ans: The high school courts are 84 feet long and are 50 feet wide.
3. What are half-court basketball dimensions?
Ans: A half-court typically measures 47 feet long and 50 feet wide.
