A football field is 360 ft (120 yd), 109.73 m, from end line to end line and 160 ft (53 yd 1 ft), 48.77 m, from sideline to sideline. Between the goal lines the field of play is 300 ft (100 yd), 91.44 m, and each end zone adds 30 ft (10 yd), 9.14 m. Those four figures are the same in the NFL, NCAA and NFHS rule books, and so is the 10 ft (3.05 m) crossbar.
The inbounds lines and the goal are what change. Hash marks sit 70 ft 9 in from each sideline in the NFL, 60 ft in the NCAA and 53 ft 4 in under NFHS rules. NFL and NCAA uprights are 18 ft 6 in apart; high school uprights are 23 ft 4 in.
Field diagram
Full field dimensions
Each figure is in the unit its rule uses, with the metric conversion second. One row is derived, not printed in a rulebook.
| Measurement | Figure | Applies to | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall length, end line to end line | 360 ft (120 yd), 109.73 m | NFL, NCAA, NFHS | Official rule |
| Width, sideline to sideline | 160 ft (53 yd 1 ft), 48.77 m | NFL, NCAA, NFHS | Official rule |
| Field of play, goal line to goal line | 300 ft (100 yd), 91.44 m | NFL, NCAA, NFHS | Official rule |
| End zone depth, goal line to end line | 30 ft (10 yd), 9.14 m | NFL, NCAA, NFHS | Official rule |
| Hash mark (inbounds line) distance from sideline, NFL | 70 ft 9 in (21.56 m) | NFL | Official rule |
| Hash mark distance from sideline, NCAA | 60 ft (18.29 m) | NCAA | Official rule |
| Hash mark distance from sideline, NFHS | 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m) | NFHS | Official rule |
| Distance between the two hash rows, NFL | 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) | NFL | Official rule |
| Distance between the two hash rows, NCAA | 40 ft (12.19 m) | NCAA | Official rule |
| Distance between the two hash rows, NFHS | 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m) | NFHS | Derived calculation |
| Goal post width, inside of uprights, NFL and NCAA | 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) | NFL, NCAA | Official rule |
| Goal post width, inside of uprights, NFHS | 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m) | NFHS | Official rule |
| Crossbar height above the ground | 10 ft (3.05 m) | NFL, NCAA, NFHS | Official rule |
| Width of painted field lines | 4 in (10.2 cm) | NFL, NCAA, NFHS | Official rule |
What each line and marking does
The sidelines and end lines bound the rectangle. The two goal lines sit inside it, 100 yards apart under NCAA Rule 2-12-2, with the end line 10 yards behind each. The NFL describes the same geometry from the other direction, placing the goal line 30 ft from the inside edge of the end line. Field-dimension lines are 4 in wide in all three codes, but the NFL paints its goal line 8 in (20.3 cm) and the NCAA permits either 4 or 8 in.
The hash marks are where the codes part ways. The NFL calls them inbounds lines and measures its 70 ft 9 in offset to the inbound edge of the hash, which leaves 18 ft 6 in between the rows. The NCAA sets its hashes 60 ft from each sideline, the 60-40-60 ft chain on its diagram. The NFHS puts them 53 ft 4 in out, splitting the field of play lengthwise into thirds.
Goal posts
The goal stands on the end line, not the goal line. The NCAA and NFHS put the inside of the uprights and the crossbar in the same vertical plane as the inside edge of the end line. The NFL mounts its goal on a single standard behind the end line, so the scoring plane still falls in the same place. The top of the crossbar is 10 ft (3.05 m) above the ground in all three.
Width is where high school play differs. The NFL crossbar is 18 ft 6 in long and the NCAA sets its uprights 18 ft 6 in apart, inside to inside. In the NFL that span also happens to equal the gap between the hash rows. The NFHS uses 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m), with a note allowing games on a college or professional field.
Upright height is harder to compare, because two of the codes only publish a minimum. The NFL fixes 35 ft (10.67 m) above the crossbar. The NCAA requires at least 30 ft above the ground, which works out to at least 20 ft (6.10 m) above the crossbar. The NFHS requires at least 10 ft (3.05 m).
Borders, team areas and total space
Only the NFL requires a white border. Rule 1-1-2 sets it at a minimum of 6 ft (1.83 m) along the end lines and sidelines, with 12 ft permitted, and puts benches at least 30 ft (9.14 m) back. The league’s own field-markings appendix says 30 ft 4 in instead. We publish the figure from the rule text and leave the discrepancy visible rather than averaging it away.
The NCAA states no border width. It does require a solid white area between the sideline and the coaching line, and it puts that line 6 ft outside the sideline, so the 6 ft (1.83 m) figure is derived. Limit lines run 12 ft (3.66 m) outside the sidelines and end lines, and can be brought in to no less than 6 ft where the stadium doesn’t allow more. The NFHS requires no border at all, only a 4 in restraining line at least 2 yd (6 ft, 1.83 m) out.
Two totals can be worked out from the official figures. The playing surface, 360 by 160 ft, is 57,600 sq ft, about 5,351 m². Add the NFL’s minimum 6 ft border on all four sides and the footprint becomes 372 by 172 ft, 113.39 by 52.43 m. Neither total is printed in any rulebook.
Where the rule sets differ
These are the figures that change between the codes. Everything above is identical in all three.
| Figure | NFL | NCAA | NFHS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hash mark distance from sideline | 70 ft 9 in (21.56 m) | 60 ft (18.29 m) | 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m) |
| Distance between the two hash rows | 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) | 40 ft (12.19 m) | 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m), derived |
| Goal post width, inside of uprights | 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) | 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) | 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m) |
| Upright height above the crossbar | 35 ft (10.67 m), fixed | At least 20 ft (6.10 m), derived | At least 10 ft (3.05 m) |
| White border along sidelines and end lines | At least 6 ft (1.83 m) | Not stated; 6 ft (1.83 m) derived | None mandated |
| Sideline to the front of the team area | 30 ft (9.14 m) | 12 ft (3.66 m) | 2 yd (6 ft, 1.83 m) |
| Team area extent along the field | Between the 30-yard lines | Between the 20-yard lines | Between the 25-yard lines |
Two caveats. The NFHS diagram notes that a state association may alter the field dimensions by adoption, so a high school field can legally differ from these figures. NFHS nine-, eight- and six-player football use separate diagrams, which this guide doesn’t cover.
Overhead plan
The same surface seen from straight above, drawn to scale. Nothing is foreshortened here, so every figure can be read off the drawing the way a tape measure would take it.
Detail sheet
A rule book fixes more than the shape of the surface, and the rest of it is too small to draw at court scale: a mark a few centimeters long, a post standing a meter off the sideline, the clearance around the whole thing. Each one here has its own frame and its own scale.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a football field?
360 ft (120 yd), 109.73 m, end line to end line: 300 ft (100 yd), 91.44 m, of field of play plus a 30 ft (10 yd), 9.14 m, end zone at each end. It is identical under NFL Rule 1-1-1, NCAA Rule 2-12-2 and NFHS Rule 1-1-2.
How wide is a football field?
160 ft, which is 53 yd 1 ft or 48.77 m, in all three codes. The NFHS diagram breaks it down as 68 ft 4 in, plus 23 ft 4 in between the uprights, plus 68 ft 4 in.
Why are NFL hash marks narrower than college hash marks?
Each code sets its own offset. The NFL uses 70 ft 9 in (21.56 m), leaving 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) between the rows. The NCAA uses 60 ft (18.29 m), leaving 40 ft (12.19 m). The NFHS uses 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m), which leaves the same distance again between the rows.
How tall is a football goal post?
The crossbar is 10 ft (3.05 m) above the ground everywhere. Above it, the NFL fixes 35 ft (10.67 m). The NCAA requires at least 30 ft above the ground, so at least 20 ft (6.10 m) above the crossbar, and the NFHS at least 10 ft (3.05 m).
How wide are football goal posts?
18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) inside to inside in the NFL and the NCAA, and 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m) in NFHS high school play. The NFHS rule still allows a game on a field with the narrower posts.
Official sources
Every figure here was read from these documents on September 5, 2026.
- National Football League, Official Playing Rules of the NFL, 2026 edition.
- National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations, 2026 edition, Appendix D.
- National Federation of State High School Associations, Football Field Diagram, 11-player Football Field, 2026 edition.
- National Federation of State High School Associations, NFHS Football Rules Book, 2018 edition.
One caveat on that check: the current NFHS rules book is sold rather than published for free. Four NFHS items were therefore read in the 2018 edition: the 10 ft crossbar, the 4 in line width, the 2 yd coaches’ area and the upright minimum. Every figure in both documents matches.
How each figure is checked, dated and marked official or derived is set out on the methodology page. If a number here looks wrong, report it through corrections.