/Basketball Court Dimensions

Basketball Court Dimensions

Official NBA and FIBA basketball court measurements

Basketball Court Dimensions

Official NBA and FIBA basketball court measurements

League Standard

Measurement Unit

Court Layout

28.65 m

15.24 m

Court Dimensions

Court Length28.65 m

Court Width15.24 m

Rim Height3.05 m

Rim Diameter0.45 m

Line Distances

3-Point Line (Arc)7.24 m

3-Point (Corner)6.71 m

Free Throw Line4.57 m

Key Width4.88 m

NBA vs FIBA Standards

NBA

• Court: 94 × 50 feet (28.65 × 15.24 m)
• 3-point: 23.75 ft (7.24 m) at arc
• 3-point corner: 22 ft (6.71 m)
• Wider key: 16 feet (4.88 m)
• Used in North American leagues

FIBA

• Court: 91.86 × 49.21 feet (28 × 15 m)
• 3-point: 22.15 ft (6.75 m) uniform
• Uniform 3-point distance
• Trapezoid key shape
• Used in international competitions

Important Notes

Rim Standards: The rim must be exactly 10 feet (3.05m) from the floor and 18 inches (45.72cm) in diameter for both NBA and FIBA.

Backboard: Must be 6 feet (1.83m) wide by 3.5 feet (1.07m) tall, positioned 4 feet (1.22m) from the baseline.

Line Width: All court lines should be 2 inches (5cm) wide in contrasting color to the court surface.

Ceiling Height: Minimum 23 feet (7m) clearance required for competitive play, though 26 feet (7.92m) is preferred.

What are the Official Basketball Court Dimensions?

Basketball court dimensions differ between the NBA (North American professional league) and FIBA (International Basketball Federation, governing all international play including the Olympics). NBA courts are slightly larger at 28.65m × 15.24m compared to FIBA's 28m × 15m. Both standards are used worldwide — NBA dimensions in North American professional venues, FIBA in international and most non-US leagues.

The three-point line is one of the most impactful court features and has changed significantly over time. The NBA three-point line ranges from 7.24m at the wings to 6.70m in the corners. FIBA's three-point line is 6.75m (6.60m in corners) — notably shorter, which makes direct comparisons of three-point shooting percentages between NBA and international play challenging.

The key (painted area / lane) is rectangular and used to regulate positioning during free throws and define restricted zones. Under NBA rules it is 4.88m wide; under FIBA it is 4.90m wide and trapezoidal in shape — a notable difference that affects post play positioning.

NBA Length

28.65 m (94 ft)

NBA Width

15.24 m (50 ft)

FIBA Length

28.0 m

FIBA Width

15.0 m

NBA 3-pt (wing)

7.24 m (23.75 ft)

FIBA 3-pt (wing)

6.75 m

How to Use This Calculator

Standard: Select NBA or FIBA — affects court size, three-point line distance, and key shape.

Unit: Toggle between metres and feet based on your preference.

Measurements: All key dimensions are displayed on the interactive court diagram.

Key Court Zones

• Restricted area: 1.25m radius — no charge calls inside this arc
• Free throw line: 4.57m (NBA) / 4.60m (FIBA) from backboard
• Three-second lane: Offensive player cannot stay here for 3+ seconds
• Half-court: 8-second rule — ball must cross in NBA (8s) / FIBA (8s)
• Corner three: 6.70m (NBA) / 6.60m (FIBA) — shortest three

Source: NBA Official Rules 2023–24; FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2023; Basketball England Court Specifications

?Frequently Asked Questions

Why are NBA and FIBA courts different sizes?

The NBA developed its court standards independently in the 1940s–50s based on existing arena sizes in North America. FIBA standardised international play separately. The differences are small but meaningful — the shorter FIBA three-point line makes it easier to shoot threes, and NBA-trained players often find adapting to international play challenging partly because of these dimensional differences.

What is the key (painted area) and why does it matter?

The key (also called the lane or paint) is the rectangular area from the baseline to the free throw line. The three-second rule prevents offensive players from camping in this area, forcing perimeter play and ball movement. Post players (centres, power forwards) compete to establish position at the edge of the key. The key also defines the restricted area under the basket where charge calls are disallowed.

How high is a basketball hoop?

The basket rim is exactly 3.05 metres (10 feet) above the floor — a standard that applies to both NBA and FIBA, and has been unchanged since Dr. James Naismith nailed the original peach basket to a balcony railing at 10 feet in 1891. The backboard extends to 2.9m above floor level, and the basket centre is 1.575m horizontally from the baseline.