Basketball is played on a rectangular court with a basket at each end. That basic description hides the part that matters to builders, coaches, and facility managers: NBA, NCAA, NFHS, WNBA, and FIBA courts do not use exactly the same dimensions or markings.
Basketball court standards at a glance
| Rule set | Playing court | Three-point line | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| NBA | 94 × 50 ft 28.65 × 15.24 m |
23 ft 9 in at the arc; 22 ft at the corners | NBA professional play |
| WNBA | 94 × 50 ft 28.65 × 15.24 m |
22 ft 1¾ in; 22 ft at the corners | WNBA professional play |
| NCAA | 94 × 50 ft 28.65 × 15.24 m |
22 ft 1¾ in to the outside edge | US college basketball |
| NFHS | 84 × 50 ft or 94 × 50 ft | 19 ft 9 in | US high school basketball |
| FIBA | 28 × 15 m 91 ft 10.4 in × 49 ft 2.6 in |
6.75 m; 6.60 m at the corners | International competition |
The court is only one part of the specification. A regulation setup also defines the basket height, rim diameter, backboard size, net length, ball size, padding, boundary clearance, game clock, and shot clocks. Those measurements are covered in the linked guide below.
The shared measurements
The most familiar number is the basket height: the top edge of the rim is 10 ft (3.05 m) above the floor in NBA, WNBA, NCAA, NFHS, and FIBA play. The inside diameter of the ring is approximately 18 in (45.0 to 45.9 cm). Full-size NBA and NCAA courts are 94 ft long, while FIBA uses a slightly shorter 28 m court. High school gyms may use either an 84 ft or 94 ft floor.
Why the lines differ
The three-point line causes most layout conflicts. An NBA arc reaches 23 ft 9 in from basket center, while NCAA and WNBA use 22 ft 1¾ in. NFHS keeps the older 19 ft 9 in distance. FIBA uses 6.75 m. A multi-use gym may therefore need several arcs, and the corner transitions are not identical. Before painting, identify the rule set and verify which edge of each line controls the measurement.
Balls and basket equipment
Men’s full-court competition normally uses a size 7 ball; women’s competition normally uses size 6. FIBA’s current equipment specification gives ranges rather than one nominal number: size 7 is 750-770 mm in circumference and 580-620 g in weight, while size 6 is 715-730 mm and 510-550 g.
Basketball has no center net and no separate “net height” like tennis or volleyball. Each basket has a short net suspended from the rim. The rim height is the controlling measurement. NBA nets are 18 in long; WNBA rules allow 15-18 in, and FIBA specifies 400-450 mm.
Use this hub
Start with the dimensions guide for a sourced court comparison, an original court diagram, equipment drawings, ball specifications, and planning notes. Future Basketball guides will separate line marking, half-court planning, 3×3 layouts, and the history of the game’s equipment so each subject can be updated without blurring one rule set into another.
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Basketball court guides and tools
Use the verified guides below for dimensions, markings, planning details, and the history behind the playing surface.
Dimensions
Basketball Court Dimensions, Markings and Equipment
Official NBA, NCAA, NFHS, WNBA, and FIBA court dimensions, plus three-point lines, hoop height, backboards, rims, nets, ball sizes, weights, padding, and planning clearances.
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