Basketball court (NBA) Official Size

An NBA basketball court is 94 x 50 feet, or 28.65 x 15.24 m (28,651 x 15,240 mm). That is the playing area inside the boundary lines; the arena floor around it is larger. FIBA and college courts are a little smaller.

This guide covers the exact court dimensions, every key marking and its distance, how the NBA, FIBA, and high-school courts differ, and how the court compares to a tennis court and a swimming pool.

Quick Answer: How Big Is a Basketball Court?

An NBA court is 28.65 m long and 15.24 m wide (94 x 50 ft), an area of about 436 m2 (4,700 ft2). The hoop is 3.05 m (10 ft) above the floor, the rim is 457 mm (18 in) across, and the NBA three-point line is 7.24 m (23 ft 9 in) from the basket at the top of the arc.

Basketball Court Dimensions at a Glance

• NBA playing area: 28.65 x 15.24 m / 2865 x 1524 cm / 94 x 50 ft
• Centre circle: 3.66 m (12 ft) diameter
• The key (paint): 4.88 m (16 ft) wide, from the baseline to the free-throw line
• Backboard: 1.83 m (6 ft) wide, 1.07 m (3.5 ft) tall
• Rim: 457 mm (18 in) inside diameter, 3.05 m off the floor
• Restricted-area arc: 1.22 m (4 ft) radius under the basket

What Does a Basketball Court Look Like in Size?

A full NBA court is about the length of two school buses parked end to end and the width of a doubles tennis court plus a bit. The half-court a pickup game uses is roughly 14.3 x 15.2 m, about the footprint of a small house.

6 Everyday Comparisons for a Basketball Court

1. A tennis court (doubles, 23.77 x 10.97 m) is 4.9 m shorter and 4.3 m narrower than an NBA court.
2. An Olympic swimming pool (50 x 25 m) is 21.3 m longer and 9.8 m wider.
3. A soccer field (105 x 68 m) is nearly 4 times the length and 4.5 times the width.
4. A doubles badminton court (13.4 x 6.1 m) fits inside one half of a basketball court.
5. A standard car parking bay (5 x 2.5 m) – about 35 of them would tile an NBA court.
6. An NBA court vs a FIBA court: the FIBA court is 0.65 m shorter and 0.24 m narrower, and the three-point line is nearly half a metre closer.

Basketball Court Size in Different Units

Court Sizes by Level

The biggest practical difference for players moving between systems is the three-point line: 7.24 m in the NBA versus 6.75 m under FIBA.

Common Mistakes When Comparing Basketball Court Dimensions

1. Assuming all courts are 94 x 50 ft. High school courts are usually 84 ft long, and FIBA courts are metric-rounded to 28 x 15 m.
2. Confusing the playing area with the arena floor. The lines mark the court; there is run-off space and seating beyond.
3. Thinking the three-point line is one distance. It varies by level, and even within a court it is shorter in the corners (6.70 m in the NBA).
4. Forgetting the rim height is universal. Every level from junior high up uses a 3.05 m (10 ft) rim.
5. Mixing up the key width. The NBA key is 16 ft wide; older FIBA keys were trapezoidal before 2010.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big is an NBA basketball court?

94 x 50 feet (28.65 x 15.24 m).

How big is a FIBA basketball court?

28 x 15 m (about 91.9 x 49.2 ft).

How far is the three-point line?

7.24 m (23 ft 9 in) in the NBA, 6.75 m (22 ft 1.75 in) under FIBA.

How high is a basketball hoop?

3.05 m (10 ft) at every level from junior high upward.

How wide is the rim?

457 mm (18 in) inside diameter.

How big is a high school basketball court?

Usually 84 x 50 ft (25.6 x 15.24 m).

Final Takeaway

An NBA basketball court is 94 x 50 ft (28.65 x 15.24 m), with a 10-ft rim, an 18-inch hoop, and a three-point line 7.24 m from the basket. FIBA courts are slightly smaller at 28 x 15 m with a closer three-point line, and US high school courts are 10 ft shorter at 84 ft.