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, as is the 10 ft (3.05 m) crossbar.
What changes is the inbounds lines and the goal. 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 states the same geometry in reverse, 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 separate the codes. The NFL calls them inbounds lines and measures its 70 ft 9 in offset to the inbound edge of the hash, leaving 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, dividing the field of play longitudinally in 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 there. The crossbar top 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, a span that in the NFL also equals the gap between the hash rows. The NFHS uses 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m), with a note permitting play on a college or professional field.
Upright height above the crossbar is not comparable: two codes publish a minimum. The NFL fixes 35 ft (10.67 m). The NCAA requires at least 30 ft above the ground, leaving at least 20 ft (6.10 m) above the crossbar, a derived floor. The NFHS requires at least 10 ft (3.05 m).
Borders, team areas and total space
Only the NFL mandates a white border: Rule 1-1-2 requires one a minimum of 6 ft (1.83 m) wide along the end lines and sidelines, with 12 ft permitted, and puts benches a minimum of 30 ft (9.14 m) back. That conflicts with the league’s own field-markings appendix, which says 30 ft 4 in; the rule-text figure is published here and the discrepancy left standing rather than averaged.
The NCAA states no border width. It requires a solid white area between the sideline and the coaching line, and 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, reducible to not less than 6 ft where the stadium does not permit. The NFHS mandates no border at all, only a 4 in restraining line at least 2 yd (6 ft, 1.83 m) out.
Two totals follow as arithmetic on official figures. The playing surface, 360 by 160 ft, is 57,600 sq ft, about 5,351 m²; with the NFL minimum 6 ft border on all four sides the footprint is 372 by 172 ft, 113.39 by 52.43 m. Neither 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 limits. The NFHS diagram notes that a state association may alter the field dimensions by adoption, so a high school field may legally differ from these figures. NFHS nine-, eight- and six-player football use separate diagrams, not covered here.
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 centimetres long, a post standing a metre 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. 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 dimensions it 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 60 ft (18.29 m), leaving 40 ft (12.19 m); the NFHS 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m), leaving the same distance again.
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; 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, though the NFHS rule 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 limit on that verification: the current NFHS rules book is sold rather than published free, so four NFHS items — the 10 ft crossbar, the 4 in line width, the 2 yd coaches’ area and the upright minimum — were read in the 2018 edition. Every figure in both 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.