A 94-by-50-foot rectangle is only the start of a regulation basketball court. The specification also covers the playing surface, three-point arc, free-throw lane, basket, backboard, net, ball, clocks, supports, and safety padding. The details change with the rulebook, so a line plan drawn for an NBA court cannot simply be reused for high school or FIBA play.
Court diagram
Court versions
Basketball court layouts by rule set
The same court drawn five times, each from its own rule book. The floor, the lane and the three-point line are what change.
The drawing is an original perspective view of an NBA court, drawn to scale from Rule No. 1. It shows the 94 × 50 ft playing surface, the 16 ft free-throw lane, the free-throw line 19 ft from the baseline, the 23 ft 9 in three-point arc with its 22 ft corners, and the rim 10 ft above the floor. The five smaller layouts show how the same court is marked under each rule book, and the comparison tables that follow list the NBA, WNBA, NCAA, NFHS, and FIBA differences.
Quick answer
NBA, WNBA, and NCAA courts measure 94 ft by 50 ft (28.65 × 15.24 m). NFHS gives 84 ft by 50 ft as the optimum high school court, with 94 ft by 50 ft common where space allows. A FIBA court measures 28 × 15 m (91 ft 10.4 in × 49 ft 2.6 in). NBA, WNBA, NCAA, and FIBA all publish the top of the rim at 10 ft (3.05 m) above the floor; the NFHS’s own free court diagram does not state a rim height, though 10 ft is the figure used in practice.
The biggest visible differences are the three-point line and restricted area. NBA uses a 23 ft 9 in arc with 22 ft corners. NCAA and WNBA use 22 ft 1¾ in at the arc. NFHS uses 19 ft 9 in. FIBA uses 6.75 m at the arc and 6.60 m in the corners.
Full-court dimensions by governing body
| Rule set | Length | Width | Area inside boundary | Main three-point distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NBA | 94 ft 28.65 m | 50 ft 15.24 m | 4,700 sq ft 436.64 m² | 23 ft 9 in; 22 ft at corners |
| WNBA | 94 ft 28.65 m | 50 ft 15.24 m | 4,700 sq ft 436.64 m² | 22 ft 1¾ in; 22 ft at corners |
| NCAA men and women | 94 ft 28.65 m | 50 ft 15.24 m | 4,700 sq ft 436.64 m² | 22 ft 1¾ in to outside edge; 21 ft 7⅞ in in the corners |
| NFHS high school | 84 ft optimum, 94 ft common 25.60 or 28.65 m | 50 ft 15.24 m | 4,200 sq ft at 84 ft 4,700 sq ft at 94 ft | 19 ft 9 in |
| FIBA | 28 m 91 ft 10.4 in | 15 m 49 ft 2.6 in | 420 m² 4,520.8 sq ft | 6.75 m; 6.60 m at corners |
NBA court dimensions and markings
The NBA playing court is 94 ft long by 50 ft wide. The free-throw line is 15 ft from the plane of the backboard and is 2 in wide. The three-point area uses two straight lines 3 ft from the sidelines. Those lines meet an arc 23 ft 9 in from the center of the basket, leaving a shorter 22 ft corner three.
The restricted area is marked by a 4 ft radius semicircle measured from basket center, with short parallel sections extending to the face of the backboard. The lane is 16 ft wide. Sideline hash marks sit 28 ft from each baseline and extend 3 ft onto the court. The substitution box is identified by marks 4 ft to either side of the midcourt line in front of the scorer’s table.
NCAA court dimensions and markings
The NCAA men’s and women’s court is also 94 × 50 ft. The current full-court diagram places the free-throw line 19 ft from the inside edge of the end line when measured to the outside edge of the line. The familiar 15 ft free-throw distance is measured from the plane of the backboard, not from the baseline. Mixing those two reference points is a common layout error.
The NCAA three-point line is 22 ft 1¾ in to its outside edge, and 21 ft 7⅞ in in the corners. The restricted area shown on the 2026-27 common diagram has a 4 ft radius, measured from the center of the ring to the inner edge of the line, and is marked for men’s play only. The diagram specifies a minimum 3 ft out-of-bounds area and calls 10 ft of unobstructed space preferable. That extra space is not part of the 94 × 50 ft playing court.
NFHS high school court dimensions
NFHS gives 84 × 50 ft as the optimum high school court, and many school floors are built to the familiar 94 × 50 ft footprint instead where space allows. The court diagram even provides for gyms under 74 ft, which are divided by two lines 40 ft from the farther end line instead of a single division line. A shorter court keeps the same width but moves the division line and baskets closer together. The three-point arc is 19 ft 9 in from basket center to the outside edge of the line. That is why an older school gym can look familiar yet hold noticeably less open floor between the arcs.
State associations may adopt shot clocks and can impose facility requirements beyond the national playing rules. Before resurfacing a school gym, check the current NFHS diagram and the state association’s rules. A floor used by several competitions may need distinct line colors for NFHS, NCAA, volleyball, and other sports.
FIBA and WNBA differences
FIBA uses metric dimensions: 28 m long by 15 m wide. Its 6.75 m three-point arc is slightly closer than the NBA arc, and the corner distance is 6.60 m. FIBA boundary and court lines are 50 mm wide. FIBA also requires a further boundary lane around the court, free from obstructions and at least 2 m wide; the equipment specification adds that this lane must be a sharply contrasting color, at every level of play.
The WNBA uses the same 94 × 50 ft court footprint as the NBA but not the same arc. Its 2026 rulebook specifies a 22 ft 1¾ in arc with straight lines 36 in from the sidelines. The free-throw line, 4 ft restricted area, 10 ft rim, and 18 in ring diameter remain familiar.
What each basketball court line does
- End lines or baselines: The short boundary lines behind each basket. The court length is measured between their inside edges or as specified by the governing diagram.
- Sidelines: The long boundary lines. A player or ball touching the line is out of bounds.
- Division line: The center line that separates frontcourt from backcourt. On a 94 ft court it lies 47 ft from each end line. The basket centers sit 5 ft 3 in inside the end lines, so each basket is 41 ft 9 in from the division line, not 47 ft.
- Center circle: The circle used for the opening jump ball. Its size and line treatment must follow the selected rulebook.
- Free-throw line: The line used for foul shots. It is 15 ft from the plane of the backboard in NBA, WNBA, and NCAA rules.
- Free-throw lane: The rectangular area between the end line and free-throw line. Lane-space marks position players during free throws.
- Three-point line: An arc with straight corner sections. Its distance changes more than any other major court marking.
- Restricted-area arc: The semicircle under the basket used in block-charge rulings. It is a functional marking, and it is not identical across all rule sets.
- Coaching box and team-bench lines: Marks outside the sideline that control where coaches and substitutes may stand or sit.
Line width is part of the measurement. NBA and WNBA court rules repeatedly specify 2 in lines. FIBA uses 50 mm lines. When a rule measures to the outside edge, moving the paint line by half its width changes the legal geometry.
Half-court dimensions
A regulation half court is half the playing length plus the relevant basket and markings. For an NBA or NCAA footprint, the division line is 47 ft from each end line, so the marked half is 47 × 50 ft. That is 2,350 sq ft (218.32 m²) before adding run-off space. A half of an 84 ft NFHS court is 42 × 50 ft.
Backyard courts are often smaller, but “half court” does not mean any slab with one basket. If the goal is regulation practice, preserve the basket-to-free-throw-line distance, the lane, and the correct three-point geometry first. Then add safe clearance behind the hoop and around the sidelines. A reduced-width slab may cut off the corner-three locations even when the arc fits.
Basket and backboard dimensions
Unlike tennis or volleyball, basketball has no center net. Each end has a basket net hanging below a horizontal rim, so there is no separate “net height” to set. The controlling height is the top edge of the rim: 10 ft (3.05 m) above the playing floor.
| Equipment | NBA / WNBA reference | FIBA reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rim height | 10 ft above floor | 3,050 mm, tolerance up to ±6 mm |
| Rim inside diameter | 18 in | 450-459 mm |
| Rim material | Pressure-release metal safety ring | Solid steel, 16-20 mm metal diameter |
| Backboard size | 6 ft × 3 ft 6 in | 1,800 × 1,050 mm, with positive tolerances |
| Target rectangle | 24 × 18 in, 2 in line | 590 × 450 mm outside dimensions, 50 mm line |
| Net length | NBA: 18 in; WNBA: 15-18 in | 400-450 mm |
| Net attachment | White cord net that checks the ball momentarily | 12 attachment loops |
| Ring-to-backboard gap | Nearest inside edge 6 in from board face | 151 mm, ±2 mm |
Rim and pressure-release mechanism
The ring must stay horizontal in normal play but release under a defined load to reduce stress on the backboard and players. FIBA Level 1 rings use a positive-lock mechanism that releases under a static vertical load between 82 and 105 kg at the point farthest from the backboard. After release, the ring must return automatically to its original position.
Backboard and target rectangle
NBA and WNBA backboards are 6 ft wide and 3 ft 6 in high, with a flat transparent face. The white target rectangle is 24 × 18 in. FIBA’s metric board is 1,800 × 1,050 mm, with a 590 × 450 mm target rectangle. These are close, but a technical drawing should use one system rather than rounding between them.
Basket net length
NBA Rule No. 1 specifies an 18 in white cord net. The 2026 WNBA book permits 15-18 in, and the NCAA rules book sets the same 15-18 in range. FIBA sets a 400-450 mm range, or about 15.7-17.7 in. In every case, the net is designed to check the ball momentarily as it passes through. It must not trap the ball or rebound it back out.
Basketball sizes, circumference, and weight
Labels such as size 7 and size 6 are handy shopping shorthand; official specifications work in tolerances. FIBA’s current equipment document gives exact circumference and weight ranges. Wilson, which supplies the official NBA, WNBA, and NCAA game balls, lists the common US nominal sizes as 29.5 in and 22 oz for size 7, and 28.5 in and 20 oz for size 6.
| Ball | Who uses it | Official FIBA circumference | Official FIBA weight | Common US nominal size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size 7 | Men’s full-court competition | 750-770 mm 29.5-30.3 in | 580-620 g 20.5-21.9 oz | 29.5 in, 22 oz |
| Size 6 | Women’s full-court competition | 715-730 mm 28.1-28.7 in | 510-550 g 18.0-19.4 oz | 28.5 in, 20 oz |
| Size 5 | Mini-basketball | 685-700 mm 27.0-27.6 in | 465-495 g 16.4-17.5 oz | 27.5 in varies by product |
| Lightweight size 5 | Mini-basketball | 685-700 mm | 360-390 g 12.7-13.8 oz | Special lightweight construction |
The 2026 WNBA rulebook spells it out: 28.5-29 in circumference, 18-20 oz, and 7 psi. NBA Rule No. 1 requires an approved league ball inflated between 7.5 and 8.5 psi. The NCAA sets its men’s ball at 29.5-30 in and 20-22 oz and controls inflation by a bounce test rather than a pressure number. FIBA also uses a rebound test: when dropped from roughly 1,800 mm, the ball must rebound to 1,035-1,085 mm, measured at the underside.
FIBA 3×3 is a special case. Its ball has the circumference of a size 6 ball but the weight of a size 7 ball. Do not infer 3×3 equipment from the full-court size table.
Backstop, padding, and safety space
The support behind the backboard is part of the playing environment. FIBA requires the backboard and support structure to be padded. Its Level 1 specification places the front of the backstop padding at least 2,000 mm beyond the outer edge of the end line; Level 2 requires at least 1,000 mm. Padding thickness and coverage are also specified so a player’s arm or leg cannot become trapped.
NCAA’s current diagram requires at least 3 ft of out-of-bounds area and prefers 10 ft of unobstructed space. The NBA court diagram goes further and calls for a minimum overall floor of 110 by 60 ft around the 94 by 50 ft court. Local codes may require more space for walls, doors, bleachers, accessible circulation, and emergency routes. Rulebook dimensions describe the game and are no substitute for a building or safety plan.
Floor, lighting, clocks, and scorer’s equipment
A competition court needs a flat, hard playing surface with consistent traction and no obstruction. Wood is common indoors, while synthetic systems are used in schools, training facilities, and outdoor courts. Surface choice affects shock absorption, ball rebound, slip resistance, maintenance, and line-paint compatibility. Being sold as a sports floor does not make a surface suitable for every competition level under the governing rules.
At higher levels, the equipment package includes a game clock, shot clocks, horn, scoreboards, possession indicators, and backboard light strips. NBA arena boards use four strips of red LED lights synchronized with the game clock and one amber strip for the shot clock. FIBA Level 1 specifications cover scoreboard visibility, timing displays, lighting, and the position of the scorer’s table. These systems need to be planned with the court, not added after the backstops and seating are fixed.
How to measure and mark a basketball court
- Choose the governing rule set and edition before drawing any line.
- Establish the two end lines, sidelines, and exact center line from surveyed control points.
- Locate each backboard plane and basket center. Do not assume the wall or support base is the reference.
- Set the free-throw line from the required reference plane, then mark the lane and circles.
- Lay out the three-point straight sections and arc from basket center using the rulebook’s specified line edge.
- Add restricted areas, lane spaces, hash marks, coaching boxes, bench areas, and substitution marks.
- Check line widths, clearances, basket height, board alignment, and ring level before paint cures.
Measure both ends independently. A court can be square and centered while one basket is still out of position. The final inspection should include diagonals, basket-to-line distances, rim height, ring level, and clearance to every obstacle.
Youth, recreational, and multi-use courts
Youth programs often lower baskets or use smaller balls, but the age bands and modifications belong to the local program rules. A 10 ft basket should not be described as a universal youth requirement. Likewise, a recreational half court can be useful without being regulation size, provided its reduced dimensions are stated plainly.
Multi-use floors need a line hierarchy. Use the primary sport’s lines as the strongest visual system and select contrasting colors for secondary layouts. Avoid near-identical arcs placed a few inches apart in the same color. A court can technically contain every required line and still be hard to officiate.
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 big is an NBA basketball court?
An NBA court is 94 ft long and 50 ft wide, or 28.65 × 15.24 m. The playing area inside the boundary is 4,700 sq ft (436.64 m²), before run-off space.
How high is a basketball hoop?
Under NBA, WNBA, NCAA, and FIBA rules, the top edge of a regulation rim is 10 ft (3.05 m) above the floor; FIBA allows a maximum tolerance of ±6 mm. The NFHS’s own free court diagram is a plan view and does not publish a rim height, though 10 ft is the figure used in practice.
How high is the basketball net?
There is no separate net-height measurement. The net hangs from the rim, whose top edge is 10 ft above the floor. NBA nets are 18 in long; WNBA and NCAA nets are 15-18 in; FIBA nets are 400-450 mm.
What is the diameter of a basketball rim?
NBA and WNBA rings have an 18 in inside diameter. FIBA permits 450-459 mm, approximately 17.7-18.1 in.
What size basketball do men and women use?
Men’s full-court competition normally uses size 7. Women’s competition normally uses size 6. FIBA specifies 750-770 mm and 580-620 g for size 7, and 715-730 mm and 510-550 g for size 6.
Are NBA and college courts the same size?
Yes. NBA and NCAA courts are both 94 × 50 ft. Their markings differ, particularly the three-point line and the lane. NBA uses a 23 ft 9 in arc and a 16 ft lane; NCAA uses 22 ft 1¾ in and a 12 ft lane.
How much space is needed around a basketball court?
It depends on the rule set and the facility. NCAA requires at least 3 ft outside the boundary and prefers 10 ft unobstructed. The NBA diagram sets a minimum 110 by 60 ft floor. FIBA’s equipment rules set minimum distances for backstop structures and spectator areas. Building and accessibility codes may require more.
Official and technical sources
- NBA Rule No. 1: Court Dimensions – Equipment
- 2026-27 NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Book, Rule 1 and the 2026-27 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Court diagram
- NFHS Basketball Resources and Court Diagram
- 2026 WNBA Official Rule Book
- FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2024, for the court, lines, and three-point area
- FIBA Official Basketball Rules: Basketball Equipment, for backstops, rings, nets, balls, padding, and court equipment
- Wilson basketball size guide
Verified September 5, 2026. FIBA publishes its rules and its equipment specification as two separate documents; the 2024 rules remain the current edition until the announced 2026 rules take effect on October 1, 2026, and every equipment figure quoted here is identical in the 2024 and 2026 equipment editions. Always check the latest governing document before construction, competition certification, or equipment purchase.